The quaint village of Elstead lies south of the old English market town of Farnham in Surrey and boasts pretty houses and cottages spanning north and south of the River Wey. Properties are concentrated on two roads that meet at a central green. It includes Peat Common, its southern neighbourhood, named after a recreation area and cricket ground on Thursley Road. Other hamlets, such as Charleshill and Elstead Common, are marginally separated from the village centre and are both rich in woodland.
Commuting from Elstead
If you are looking to buy or rent in Elstead and you work in London during the week, then don’t despair as there are plenty of travel options to choose from. Elstead is approximately 2 miles west of the A3 Milford interchange, lying between both Guildford and Godalming, should you choose to drive.
You are also spoilt for chose when it comes to trains: Farnham is only a 50 minute train journey into London Waterloo and a season ticket costs £3,688, with parking costing £990 over the year. Both Godalming and Guildford also serve the London Waterloo line taking 45 minutes and 35 minutes, respectively. Season tickets from these stations cost £3,472, parking costing £960 and £3,320 with parking costing £1080, over the year.
There are many country walks and hikes near the village, most notably in Puttenham Common with its fantastic views, Thursley Nature Reserve with its beautiful woodland and Hankley Common and Frensham Common, all of which are a five minute drive from Elstead. The Bourne Woods is another stunning area and is famous for the filming of a few popular movies including Gladiator, Sherlock Holmes and War Horse.
If you are looking for somewhere to relax after a walk or a bite to eat at lunch or dinner The Mill at Elstead has seating inside next to the crackling fires or outside in the sun come summertime. Families enjoy playing on the grass by the water where you will find flocks of friendly ducks and swans nearby who are always hungry for some bread crusts.
Well known for its Thai food, The Golden Fleece in Elstead is just down the road from the Mill and the Woolpack on the Green is also a great local pub. A new and very popular pub is the Bel and The Dragon found in Churt which serves excellent food do book at least a week in advance. You can also stay the night should you wish to visit for a weekend. The Duke of Cambridge, nearby Tilford Green serves great traditional food and has a large outside grass area, great for the summer, and popular with young families. If you are looking for formal dining Farnham has Loch Fyne and Raymond Blanc’s famous Brasserie Blanc.
Good schools near Elstead
If you are interested in buying property around Elsead the schools are very good: there is a great range to choose from including the all-girls school, Priorsfield, just off the A3 in Godalming and King Edwards in nearby Whitley. Marks Way, a wooded private drive, is a popular road for parents keen to enjoy a quick school run.
Both Edgeborough and Amesbury prep schools are popular amongst local families and sought after secondary schools include the well-known and well-respected Charterhouse (mixed), St Catherine’s (all girls) and Cranleigh School (all boys). A popular local nursery called Rainbows is held at the Elstead village hall.
In the centre of Elstead you will find a central green where you are able to park (no charge) and surrounding it a lovely selection of architecture dating back to the Georgian times. The village claims a local convenience store on the green, a post office and a very good independent local car garage and village green on Thursley Road. A tucked away, quaint lane in the centre of the village can be found just off Thursley Road, Westbrook Hill where you will find more classic homes and architecture.
Tennis, golf and hunting near Elstead
There are a range of sporting activities including the local tennis club and Elstead cricket club where locals convene and play friendly and competitive games against the surrounding villages. This is a good opportunity to head down the road to Tilford when there you can relax outside the famous Barley Mow pub on the green. Do watch where you park your car though.
There is also a great local riding community and the local Hampshire Hunt. For golfers, excellent local courses include Hankley Golf Club, Hindhead Golf Club and West Surrey Golf Club.
At The Buying Solution the majority of our clients tend to be first-time-buyers out of London unwilling to pay the high prices in Guildford and looking for a more rural alternative, and occasionally second home buyers looking for a weekend bolthole.
If you’re thinking of building or extending a property, Waverley Council planning department can be quite strict but providing you are in keeping with the surrounding architecture they are reasonable and helpful.
Watch out for MOD land
One thing to be aware of when negotiating on property is how much noise the MOD land makes. Occasionally you will find you need to take a couple of visits to a certain property to be sure of the noise levels of the troops when practicing. This becomes an issue towards Thursley there is plenty of MOD land. It is important to ask the owner and agent of noise and find out if there have been any problems in the past through your solicitor. It should also be noted that when the Hindhead tunnel is closed the detour is through Thursley so don’t forget to consult your road map!
Housing stock levels in all price bands are low, so finding your perfect house means some buyers have to compromise. As with most areas, there are known ‘bad’ roads and ‘good’ roads in and out of the village so it’s best to ask the experts when you begin your search.
Examples of property pricing in Elstead (all approximate) –
* 3+ bed detached house in reasonable condition, in excess of £450,000
* 5+ bedroom house with 1+ acre, in excess of £1.25m
* 5+ bedroom farmhouse with outbuildings and a few acres, in excess of £2.5m
* 5+ bedroom substantial period country house with 10+ acres, in excess of £3m
* Search country houses for sale in Elstead
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