Nobody really knows which is the oldest road in Britain, but when discussion turns to that subject then one name is certain to pop up: The Ridgeway.
This 87-mile route from Overton Hill, near Avebury, to Ivinghoe Beacon, just outside Leighton Buzzard, has been walked for at least four millennia, and probably even more. As it trails through the countryside it passes by equally ancient sites: the stone circle at Avebury, the White Horse at Uffington and Waylands Smithy, a burial site that pre-dates Stonehenge by 1,000 years.
The Ridgeway may date back some 4,000 years, but High Point — on the Buckinghamshire/Oxfordshire border, near Bledlow — is significantly more modern than that.
The property, which is for sale at £3.65m, resembles an East Anglian barn with its black timber cladding, proves that a traditional design can be as modern as you wish, with transparent glass elements combining seamlessly with more traditional materials, such as black elm, slate and brick.
The result is a five-bedroom property that blends in with its landscape and offers outstanding views of the surrounding area.
An area above the garage is particularly noteworthy. It has its own kitchen and en suite bathroom, and a magnificent viewing deck. This layout means that this level can be used either as a separate apartment or home office.
Outside, there are two woodland areas on the two acre property, one of which the annex adjoins.
The garage area below has a separate workshop and washroom facilities for outside staff.
The modern technology used in the house has led to a superb environmental rating that's well into the green at the top of the EPC chart, a rare site indeed. It's equally well thought-through in terms of water: there is a natural water supply from a bore hole.
The village of Bledlow is the nearest settlement — there's a pub and cricket club, amongst other things — while access to the M40 is five miles down the road, and High Wycombe 10 miles away.
High Point is for sale at £3.65 million via Knight Frank - see more pictures.
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
-
Dawn Chorus: A Blue Plaque for Marc Bolan, holidaying in the Caribbean with Francis Ford Coppola and a history of the National Gallery in 25 picturesPlus the best of the property pages, and how the railways will save the countryside.
-
Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courtsFrom Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
-
Five frankly enormous mansions, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country LifeSometimes bigger really is better.
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villaIgnore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
-
Classical style meets fun and flair in a seven-bedroom manor in CornwallAt Polstrong Manor, the current owners have combined period charm and elegant modern interiors to create a flamboyant country home 10-minutes from the beach.
-
Two halves make a sublime four-bedroom home in Kent's North DownsA contemporary extension to a traditional clapboard house brings light and life to Lavington House.
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record highPlus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
-
A seven-bedroom oast house for sale in East Sussex, where your dreams can run riotUnlisted, yet full of character, this property in the High Weald National Landscape is an eccentrically furnished family home that screams fun.
-
Character, history and comfort combine in a four-bedroom farmhouse in NorfolkWillow Farm near Southburgh is that rarest of things — a perfect combination of period charm and modern elegance in some of England's best countryside.
-
A Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse that's part of the fabric of Bath's historyWith 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
