A picture-perfect home in the Lancashire countryside that is on the market for the first time in 350 years
Higher Lee is an exceptional country home where unique architecture and stunning surroundings combine.


For sale for the first time in 350 years, Higher Lee is a Grade II*-listed country home of some considerable charm. With six bedrooms, the property offers the ideal mix of peaceful seclusion, set as it is at the base of Lee Fell in the Forest of Bowland AONB, and connectivity, with hyper-fast broadband and the county town of Lancaster a 15-minute drive away.
Now on the market via Davis & Bowring for £1.45 million, the property is one of a handful in the area not owned by the Duke of Westminster, giving it the benefit of being marooned in a very private and well-managed estate, and was once owned by the Earl of Sefton, who left it to his land agent when he died without an heir in 1972.
As well as six bedrooms in the main house, the property also has a former coach house and six acres of grounds that feature a croquet lawn, ornamental streams and direct access to the surrounding AONB.
The coach house is located opposite a charming stone courtyard and is currently used as a games room. Attached to this is a two-storey former cottage which could provide excellent ancillary accommodation with all the right planning approvals.
The interiors, although now slightly dated, are undoubtedly unique, and it wouldn’t take much to modernise the property.
The setting is truly spectacular. Rolling hills flanked by mature tree lines surround the property giving the sense of a secret idyll hidden within the Forest of Bowland AONB.
The vibrant city of Lancaster is approximately eight miles to the north west of Higher Lee, home to Medieval Lancaster Castle and the highly-rated Lancaster University. The buzzing riverside city offers plenty to do, from visiting the Maritime Museum, following the meandering footpaths to St George’s Quay or relaxing in Williamson Park.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
There are also a number of quirky boutiques and independent shops and galleries to explore, plus a twice-weekly market.
Schooling in the area is excellent, with Lancaster Girls’ Grammar School, Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy and St Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School, to name a few.
Higher Lee is currently on the market via Davis & Bowring for £1.45 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
How many puppies in the average litter? Country Life Quiz of the Day
Plus a 1960s house, Hollywood's most famous cavewoman and more in Friday's quiz.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Love, sex and death: Our near-universal obsession with the rose
No flower is more entwined with myth, religion, politics and the human form than the humble rose — and now there's a new coffee table book celebrating them in all of their glory.
By Amy de la Haye Last updated
-
The sounds of spring and stained glass in an Arts-and-Crafts masterpiece in Dorset
With 35 acres, more than 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and tennis court, Winterfield has it all.
By James Fisher Published
-
An eight-bedroom wonder in East Sussex where the outdoors are an adventure
The interiors of Old Middleton are pretty good too.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
A lakeside farmhouse on the market in the beautiful heart of Pembrokeshire
A lake, streams, 15 acres and five bedrooms. Rogershook might have it all.
By James Fisher Published
-
An idyllic countryside home that's light, spacious and comes with a Grade II-listed folly
Hagg House is a gorgeous family home that just happens to have a miniature castle in the gardens. Annabel Dixon explains more.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A historic villa for sale on the Via Nomentana worthy of Rome's rich history
Three floors, lots of balconies, and a private garden in one of Rome's loveliest neighbourhoods.
By James Fisher Published
-
Eight bedrooms of unlisted Edwardian elegance with sweeping views of Somerset
Ashton House sits near the market town of Chard and comes with a wealth of amenities both inside and out.
By Arabella Youens Published
-
A waterside cottage in Devon with a private quay, idyllic views and the prettiest summerhouse we've seen in years
Right beside the picturesque Yealm Estuary, No 1 Noss Mayo is an idyllic home that feels like an escape from the world. Annabel Dixon takes a look.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
This elegant Greek villa offers would-be buyers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live in the shadow of the Acropolis
Athenian Legacy consists of two houses in walking —and almost touching — distance of one of the world’s most famous and precious landmarks.
By Rosie Paterson Published