In some circles, the charms of Cotswold villages such as Bourton-on-the-Hill, Blockley and Evenlode are considered almost too well known. The chances of sitting behind a long snake of mountain bike riders dressed in arresting fluorescent Lycra when driving home after lunch on a Sunday are high. And the constant stream of walkers clutching water-proof maps can get depressing. But short of buying a property which boasts a mile-long drive and acres of surrounding private land, living in the Cotswolds means living with tourists.
Nudging a little to the north might be the answer. The villages near the Worcestershire town of Evesham have wonderful vistas of the Cotswolds escarpment in one direction, and the Clee Hills in the other. The same honey-coloured stone does start to diminish as soon as you cross the Gloucestershire border but there are some pretty Georgian towns that match Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Camden for loveliness and ? better yet ? the tourists don?t know about them.
Jackson-Stops & Staff are currently marketing a Grade II listed farmhouse in Atch Lench, a hamlet which lies 4 miles from Evesham. Once a cider mill, the 5-bedroomed house dates from the 17th century and has Georgian additions. The current owners have lived in the property for 28 years during which time the house has been completely restored. Features from its past have been revealed along the way: a stone well lies, covered by glass, in floor of the kitchen, a large Inglenook fireplace dominates the sitting room and flagstone floors have been exposed in the kitchen and family room.
| The farmhouse has a guide price of £850,000 |
?The series of hamlets that make up the Lenches is such a friendly area,? explains Gill Bell whose husband has been commuting to Birmingham, 45 minutes away. ?It?s not false and not full of tourists. The area is also has lots of good walks and bridle paths.?
Evesham mainline station has regular trains to London Paddington (1hr 40mins). The nearest shopping town is Stratford-upon-Avon, which is twenty minutes by car.
| The drawing room |
The farmhouse has a guide price of £850,000.
Please contact Jackson-Stops & Staff Chipping Campden office on 01386 840224 for more details. Click here for more details
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