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Watermark | Luxury Waters’-Edge Home | Stoke Gabriel, Devon

Watermark

Stoke Gabriel, Totnes, Devon, UK

Many tides ago, a boat repair workshop stood on this spot by the River Dart. One by one, the long-petioled willows, sessile oaks, and ancient yews of the woodland grew up, and Watermark became part of the forest. More than 200 years later, it’s been reimagined as a luxury waters’-edge home by a Sydney girl and Surrey boy, with big windows and a hot tub terrace that lend themselves to sipping good wine, living on tidal time, and waiting for the splash of seals.

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Introduction

For the owners of Watermark, there was nothing to lose when this peaceful riverfront home came on the market while they just so happened to be in Devon, daydreaming of living on the water. What followed was a major renovation that involved installing the finest “disappearing” windows in Europe, and sagely retaining the quirks of an 1800s boathouse. Between microcement and one-of-a-kind balustrades made in the city, there’s an urban lilt to the project. But, bringing Australian influence to the utterly English creek, the red stone home is very much in cahoots with the great outdoors; expect canoes instead of cars, children crabbing on the causeway, and chic shacks serving St. Ewe eggs and lemon-thyme wine.

Inside

In the middle of a South Hams AONB, just paces from one of the prettiest villages in Devon, there are very few references that point to Watermark being on the edge of Stoke Gabriel. Almost everything is worldly, modern, and made-to-order; a work desk crafted in Poland, bark paper artwork made in the mountains of Mexico, and a self-designed kitchen from across the way in Newton Ferrers. The luxury waters’-edge home is filled with light and clean lines, with little to distract. It's as if a therapist found a citadel and decided to stay. With breakaway spaces and a balcony that appears to float over the River Dart at high tide, staying here feels a bit like being out to sea without a paddle (nor want of one).

Outside

Like a scene from an Enid Blyton story, it’s not uncommon to see rewilded children bounding along the pontoon in single file, claiming colourful skiffs as their ships, and making expeditionary lunches of bakewell flapjacks and fresh brioche from The River Shack. Adults, too. After all, it’s the kind of place you come to be young and free. The experience of living in the "Jewel of the River Dart" is enhanced by all sorts of gentle hobbies, which take the form of paddle board yoga, twitching for osprey, and taking to the water in tandem kayaks. You needn’t be in a luxury resort in the Maldives to experience swanky swim-up living: it’s all here in Stoke Gabriel. Why walk when you can paddle for your Pinot Noir?

The Facts

  • SleepsUp to 4 guests
    From £2,395 per week, £1,795 per short break
  • Alternative group optionUp to 2 guests
  • Bedrooms and bathroomsThere are two bedrooms, both on the second floor, and both with en suites. There is a ground floor WC.
    View bedrooms
  • FeaturesHot tub
  • PetsSorry, no pets
  • Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
  • FamilyBabes-in-arms and children aged 5 and above are very welcome; one cot and one highchair are available upon request.
  • PracticalitiesParking for one car is available opposite The River Shack café, less than 50 metres from the property. There is additional parking in the adjacent café car park, which is free from October to April and £6 a day during peak seasons. The kitchen has an oven, induction hob, dishwasher, two under-counter fridges (one with small freezer), microwave, washing machine, and tumble dryer. There is underfloor heating throughout the ground floor and en suites. Please note that the property’s waterfront aspect and authentic architectural features require guests to exercise due diligence if travelling with children.
  • Homestay includesA luxury welcome hamper, iPad, Wi-Fi internet, 65” Smart TV with Sky Q (all Sky channels and apps including Netflix and Amazon Prime), Nespresso Magimix, coal barbecue, books and board games, luxury bed linens, towels and bathrobes, and fuel for the bio ethanol log burner to get you started.House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
  • Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
  • Eco-friendlyBioethanol wood burner and underfloor heating
  • RestrictionsParties considered on prior permission from the owner.
  • Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions

Get in touch

Enquire Book

Despite its modernity, the interiors have retained a tactile, soft quality
Come rain or shine, the window seats offer the best view in the house
Watermark presents little focus spaces for reading and writing

Prices & Availability

Stoke Gabriel

Within touching distance of the English Riviera and across the pond from award-winning vineyard Sandridge Barton, Stoke Gabriel is a pretty town on the River Dart; think water sports, seafood, and Champagne every lunch.

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Stoke Gabriel
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Getting there

  • On the Map This luxury waters'-edge home is located on the River Dart in Devon's Stoke Gabriel, ideally located for visiting the South Hams and English Riviera.
  • By Car Watermark is 15 minutes from Totnes, one hour from Exeter and Plymouth, two hours from Bristol, and four hours from London by car.
  • By Train Totnes and Paignton are 15 minutes away by car. There are regular trains from London Paddington to Paignton via Newton Abbot with a journey time of three-and-a-half hours on Great Western Railways.
  • By Air Exeter Airport is 40 minutes away, and Cornwall and Bristol Airports are two hours away by car.

 

From the owner

“The sheer joy of this house is its openness to the river, and the opportunity it presents to be a part of the movement of an ever-changing landscape. We are so lucky to have five unique outdoor areas from which to watch it unfold.”

From the owner

Our home reflects a unique blend of influences. One of us grew up in the vibrant beauty of Sydney, the product of a creative New Zealand-Italian mother, and a perfectionist Canadian-Polish father. The other is born in Leicestershire and raised in Surrey, and learned to balance British reserve with Australian exuberance!

We particularly love the five outdoor areas of Watermark: the garden with a bench to watch the water activities, the ground floor balcony, the main bedroom balcony with its stunning Dart River views, the side terrace, and the rear garden with a bench offering views over the Mill Pool. Even on rainy days, you can watch from the living room or the bay window in the main bedroom.

The property overhangs the water, with kayak, canoe, and paddleboard hire just 20 meters from our gate. The River Shack café, named one of the "21 Best Places to Eat in Devon" by The Times, is just a stone’s throw away and serves excellent food.

We love sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine or a book, expecting our reading to be interrupted by all sorts of human and animal play on the river. We hope you feel at home here, and embrace all of the restorative qualities of riverside living.

Nigel and Karen

Owner recommendations

Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Stoke Gabriel with an insider's perspective.

The River Shack, The Quay

To Eat

The River Shack, The Quay

Full of delicious plates and interesting wines, The River Shack sits on the quay in Stoke Gabriel and serves food for the entire group; woodfired pizzas, salads, burgers, brioche, and pancake stacks. The ideal spot to sit, sip, and watch the swimmers.

Water sports, Stoke Gabriel

To Do

Water sports, Stoke Gabriel

You can hire kayaks, paddle boards, and canoes right outside Watermark. This part of the River Dart is so peaceful, but also so joyful; children crabbing, people doing yoga on their boards, and everyone making the most of waterfront living.

Circa, Sandridge Barton

To Eat

Circa, Sandridge Barton

Located inside an old stone milking parlour, a legacy of the dairy farm that it once was, Circa is all about showcasing the best produce from the estate and the local area. Think wonderful food and lovely wine grown only a stone’s throw away.

Swimming in the River Dart

To Do

Swimming in the River Dart

Stoke Gabriel and several other areas on the River Dart have been designated as bathing water sites. The most energetic swimmers dive off the pontoon, and the lucky are occasionally joined by the seals which sometimes frequent the area.

Guest Testimonials

Read reviews on TrustPilot and Google

Watermark is pure elegance as a space and in every detail. It has been so relaxing to spend time here and actually forget about time and slip into being led by the tides and sound of water running over the causeway. We´ll miss sitting on the balcony over the water at high tide watching the fish. We had some great adventures paddling down to Dittisham and back, then hiring a little motor boat and cruising down to Dartmouth. We´ve had a fabulous break - and we´ll be back.

Watermark is wonderful!  The accommodation and amenities are delightful!  It is very apparent much time and thought went into its design.  We enjoyed coming "home" from day trips and sitting in the two chairs and watching the water activities.  It was lovely to be able to walk to The Castle, Emma´s and, of course, The River Shack.  We do hope we can return!  Thank you!

This was our first time in Devon and we´re so glad that we chose Stoke Gabriel as our base and more importantly Watermark. It is a fabulous home and such a relaxing place to be. Our teenage boys loved their adventure to Haldon Forest Park, Splash Down in Quay West and kayaking with Totnes Kayaks. We had a really memorable day out cruising the South Devon coastline. We are returning home with so many happy memories and experiences to share.

Pure perfection! Never seen such a perfect and luxurious house; the owners thought of things we didn´t know existed.  Every detail is thought through; it´s truly mind blowing!  And the best thing was the view, seeing constant changing scenery due to the tides, and beautiful surroundings.  Charming village.  But our biggest surprise: the seals!  Kayaking with little seal faces popping up around the kayak was priceless. Anticipating the tides you can quite easily kayak to the sea.  A perfect stay.

Bliss personified. Watermark exceeded every expectation. The setting is totally idyllic - always something of interest to observe from the many sitting out areas. We were fascinated by the ever-changing colours, weather patterns, birdlife, and the entertaining shenanigans of people in kayaks and on the pontoon and weir. Such a pretty, authentic village, with some lovely walks from the doorstep. A totally stunning house, so brilliantly designed, with every conceivable comfort. The hot tub was much appreciated after long walks along the Dart Trail or coastal paths. In sum, a sublime, faultless stay and we very much hope to return.

Karen, the host, was wonderful. The quality and aesthetics of Watermark, the well-thought-out cosy corners, the location, and the view – everything exceeded our expectations. We really enjoyed staying here and found more than we were looking for. Thank you so much!

What an amazing place! We love the South Hams, but this was our first time in Stoke Gabriel. The weather has been fantastic but even in the dreariest of weather, I’m sure Watermark would still be perfect. The attention to detail is outstanding; everything has been thought of.

We have had a lovely stay and for March the weather could not have been better. A beautiful, serene location. Congratulations on achieving a unique and stunning re-modelling of this boathouse.

Thank you for a wonderful few days in your beautiful house – we’ve had great fun in the hot tub and have been admiring the lighting throughout the house. The girls have loved it and wanted to say a huge thank you for letting them stay! We would love to come back in the summer and enjoy the BBQ. What a wonderful holiday!

Karen, you have done an amazing job of the redesign. So calm and tasteful. I love the canvas in the living area. Indeed I love everything! This was our first experience of a hot tub and I must say it was rather nice to sit in it this morning for a while with that beautiful view and the sound of birdsong!

Your house is just beautiful and so well appointed! Thank you for a wonderful week, your house is amazing and incredibly peaceful, I could sit and watch the water for hours!

Your place is stunning! Love, love your boathouse! You´ve done a remarkable job down to the finest details. I have to tell you, never in the 80+ homes we’ve stayed in (and we’ve stayed in some pretty spectacular homes), have we felt like we could live in them. That said, we could move right into this boathouse forever!

Everything about this house is amazing – from the setting, the views from every window, the different terraces and garden to sit in, the comfort of the furnishings, and the wonderful ambience the house generates. We were privileged to be able to stay here and would love a return visit.

OK, so insert any superlative you can think of here...I know it´s impossible to pick just one! For me architectural detailing is a bit of a thing, suffice to say no issues here. A tour de force in every respect, huge thanks to the owners for putting this place together and then having the energy and courage to let us share it with them. Thank you.

What an amazing house in such a fantastic location! We´ve loved watching all the activity outside - kayaks, crazy high tides, ospreys! The River Shack is brilliant. Great food at Circa, the Tamarind Tree in Totnes and Rockfish in Brixham. Kayaks from the pontoon and the steam train to Dartmouth were great fun. Thank you!

Superb in every way. A home brilliantly conceived and executed. It was a delight to stay at Watermark. The location is outstanding, and the care and concern of our host was very reassuring and much appreciated. We cannot wait to stay again.

We have loved every moment of our stay in your beautiful home. Such comfort and the lovely view whichever way you look, we felt blessed to be here - even on the rainy days. Thank you, hope to be back. And the geese, this evening by moon light - what a bonus!

We´ve had a lovely stay and would very much like to return one day soon. We´ve stayed with other holiday homes, and we´re struggling to think of one we´ve enjoyed more than Watermark. The views and relaxation from the hot tub are worth it! Thank you for making such a lovely home for us to enjoy.

We have had the best of times here in your beautiful cottage in Stoke Gabriel. The water, River Shack, lawns, lake, boats coming in and going out, Jacuzzi, sun and shadow playing on the water, high tides and low tides - this is heaven on earth. We´re already waiting for our next time here.

We have loved every minute here! This home and village were the perfect relaxing hideaway for my husband, 1-year old son and me. Our son spent hours just watching the boats, kayaks and birds from the deck and absolutely loved it. We felt like we were staying in a fancy hotel here, with all the lovely, comfortable details and high design. Thank you Karen for being such a kind, responsive and generous host! We´re so grateful. Thanks so much for the loveliest holiday.

Everything really has been perfect, Karen. We are having the most wonderful time. Stoke Gabriel is simply stunning and every time we head out we just want to come back and enjoy the house and river and cook up a storm on the patio. We´d come back in a flash. Must admit, I´m welling up a little at the thought of leaving. It´s been so perfect and tranquil; just what we all needed. Thank you.

We have had the most wonderful holiday, all we´d hoped for and so much more. A simply stunning home in the most idyllic location. It´s been fabulous to explore the South Devon coastline but most of all enjoy the calm of the river every day on our paddleboards, along with evenings relaxing on the terrace. We really could not have wanted for more. It´s been truly perfect and we´ll definitely be coming back. Thank you.

We have loved our week here and its been a privilege to be your first guests! Highlights include the location, extreme comfort, picture perfect views, welcoming village, Rivershack, Church Inn, Octavia and Totnes Kayaks (and paddleboards), hot tub and the Dart. Wish we could live here. Thank you so much

There are too many things we love about the house to mention them all, including the location, plants, books, blinds, that every chair is comfortable, that even though the house is the focus for a lot of interest you´re still private.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you're curious about pet policies, the nearest walkable pubs, or wild swimming spots, we have the answers to common property-specific queries here. For everything else, visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Press

Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.

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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.

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