A charming country house in the Surrey Hills, with a swimming pool and well-stocked garden
A restored gardener’s cottage, Applegarth bears far more than simple garden tools today. Phoebe Bath reports.


It is a truth universally acknowledged that the Surrey countryside combines quintessential British greenery with effortless accessibility to the fast-pace capital. If this coveted lifestyle is what you are looking for, then search no further than this peaceful English treasure, surrounded by unspoiled National Trust woodland.
Originally the gardener’s cottage to a local estate, Applegarth (on the market with Seymours for £1.325 million) has been extended into a wonderful five-bedroom family house, situated just a short drive from Holmwood and Dorking railway stations. At a first glance, it may be tempting to disregard this property as outdated and old-fashioned, but this spacious abode offers ample room for development and modernisation.
The downstairs drawing room measures an impressive 25ft, whilst also offering a working fireplace and beautiful views across the garden. A bright dining room provides further views across the luscious gardens as well as a large wood-burning stove, which befits this homely room. The other end of the house boasts a large kitchen/breakfast room, fitted with an extensive range of units and granite worktops along wiht an island, range cooker, and plenty of room for a family-sized table and chairs.
Upstairs, a generous master bedroom can be found, complete with built-in storage space, an en-suite shower room and views that extend to the woodlands. This level also includes four further double-bedrooms, all with scenic views, and a family bathroom. As one might expect, the landscaped gardens are a real feature, and include a famed fig tree, which can bear up to 800 fruits per year.
The stunning sandstone terrace across the back of the gardens makes for the perfect sunbathing spot, allowing year-round entertainment (British weather permitting!). It also connects to a sizeable outdoor heated swimming pool, which is a wonderful source of leisure for both friends and family, whilst a hard tennis court offers the possibility of casual amusement or passionate competition.
The rest of the gardens are home to countless well-stocked flowerbeds and mature trees.
Located on Holmwood Common, Holmwood is an idyllic Surrey Hills hamlet, which boasts superb walking, riding and cycling, as well as a swift gateway to the thriving capital.
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.
Applegarth is on the market with Seymour Estate Agents at a guide price of £1.325 million.
Credit: Savills
A perfect small estate in Surrey up for sale with croquet lawn, pool and easy access to the City
Dunsfold is an ideal spot for those moving out of London: out in the countryside but within easy reach of
Credit: Strutt & Parker
Inside the Hollywood A-lister's mansion which has come up for sale in Surrey
The word 'legend' is bandied around all too frequently these days, but the man selling this home in the Surrey
A wisteria-clad Suffolk farmhouse up for sale for the first time in two centuries
This glorious 17th century home is full of charm and period details – no wonder the owners tend to stay for
50 best places to live near London
The indispensable guide for getting into the country without ending up out of touch with the town.
The best places to live near London: Surrey
There are seven villages and towns in Surrey which made the list of our best places to live near London
Country Life is unlike any other magazine: the only glossy weekly on the newsstand and the only magazine that has been guest-edited by HRH The King not once, but twice. It is a celebration of modern rural life and all its diverse joys and pleasures — that was first published in Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. Our eclectic mixture of witty and informative content — from the most up-to-date property news and commentary and a coveted glimpse inside some of the UK's best houses and gardens, to gardening, the arts and interior design, written by experts in their field — still cannot be found in print or online, anywhere else.
-
The loos of Buckingham Palace: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 23, 2025
Wednesday's Quiz of the Day looks at St George, royal toilets and German alcohol laws.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Moore Design
Moore Design is a boutique interior design practice with clients around the UK and overseas.
By Country Life Published
-
A 327-acre estate in the heart of 'England’s Côte d’Or', with a 26,000sq ft Georgian style home at its heart
Stokes Hall in the Crouch Valley is an inspiring property looking for a new owner.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Schreiber House, 'the most significant London townhouse of the second half of the 20th century', is up for sale
The five-bedroom Modernist masterpiece sits on the edge of Hampstead Heath.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Is the 'race for space' officially over?
During the lockdowns, many thought the countryside was the place to be. It seems many are now changing their minds.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
What's a 'wellness village' and will it tempt you back into the office?
The team behind London's first mixed-use ‘wellness village’ says it has the magic formula for tempting workers back into offices.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A mini estate in Kent that's so lovely it once featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain'
The Paper Mill estate is a picture-postcard in the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London home
Behind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtower
On Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published