After the death of their father, Maria and her younger brother Peter and goveness Miss Heliotrope travel towards Moonacre Manor to live with their Uncle Benjamin Merryweather. As they enter the sealed valley Maria finds her dreams coming to life: a little white horse, a huge dog and the boy she dreamt about so often. They find that the peaceful valley is in a family feud between the Blackhearts and Merryweather's dating back generations.