MAGIC OF THE MOOR

Having fallen in love with the moorland, Sue and Steve Osmond built a cabin, so friends can share their corner of Cornwall

- ANNABELLE GRUNDY

AT HOME WITH

Owners Sue Osmond, regional manager of a rural membership organisation (cla.org.uk), and her husband Steve, a retired Royal Navy engineer. The couple bought the property in 2011.

House One-bedroom timberclad cabin with a slate roof.

After many years of holidaying in North Cornwall, Sue and Steve Osmond felt the time was right to make a permanent move to the area. The couple sold their Dorset home and took a holiday cottage near Bodmin Moor, while they searched for a place to put down roots.

‘We wanted a rural spot, with a bit of space, and within striking distance of Polzeath Beach, which is one of our favourites,’ says Sue. ‘While we were out on the moor one day, we noticed this remote farmhouse up a track, and incredibly, it was for sale. The views were just spectacular, and we simply fell in love with it.’

The two-bedroom, 200-year-old property sat on a plot with a large barn and a dilapidated summer house. Sue and Steve spent their first few years renovating the farmhouse, and settling into life on the moor.

‘We’re isolated here, which might not suit everyone, but we love the peace and quiet,’ says Sue. ‘Although our nearest neighbour is a mile away, there’s a real sense of community, too. People look out for each other, and there’s always someone you can call on.’