An utterly enchanting neo-Gothic masterpiece in 20 beautiful acres of Wiltshire — and it's even unlisted
Hawking Down House is a glorious country property that's full of potential. Penny Churchill explains more.
West Country property for sale
Cornwall is, without question, is one of the prettiest parts of Britain. The coastline is breathtaking and has so many different nooks and crannies of private beaches and coves which seem inexhaustable, while authors like Daphne du Maurier helped to cement places like Frenchman’s Creek as romantic, idyllic places to summer.
So many families visit Cornwall every year, whether they head for the foody havens of Padstow, the galleries and sweet shops of St Ives, or to the north coast for surfing and seafood, there is so much to see and do in this west coast favourite.
Some families spend so much time there they end up buying a holiday home in Cornwall: popular places to buy include the south coast around St Austell and Falmouth, or in the north near Newquay for a surfers paradise. Prices, too, are very reasonable for buyers coming west from the home counties. Unless you are buying right on the beach, of course, in which case you’ll still be paying in the millions for a lovely old country house.
Devon is just that little bit closer to London than Cornwall, but still offers outstanding beaches, wonderful seafood, bracing walks and some very attractive property for sale.
From small thatched cottages down little lanes to large estates and equestrian properties, Devon has a diverse portfolio for those looking to buy a holiday home or a country house as a primary residence.
South coast hotspots like Dartmouth and Salcombe can have million pound properties if they are located by the water; property in Devon is cheaper on the north coast, but still highly desirable: Ilfracombe and Bideford are much-frequented by surfers and those looking for a fantastic quality of life and a beautiful place to live.
The beautiful county of Dorset is a draw for people keen to move outside of London into real countryside. Its rolling hills and Thomas Hardy-esque villages could almost make you believe you’ve gone back in time, and the coastline includes some of the most iconic views in England: The Jurassic Coast is a huge draw and there are lots of little towns and villages within easy reach of this stunning landscape, from Lulworth to Bridport.
Inland is a large area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and towns like Cerne Abbas and Beaminster sit in this very pretty setting, characterised by rolling hills and flowing rivers. You’re also not too far from London; Dorset is still commutable a couple of times a week: Dorchester, Weymouth and Bournemouth all have direct trains to London.
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'The perfect English country retreat from the modern world', with medieval origins, Georgian flourishes, towering oaks and immaculate gardens
All this, plus a dovecot for 1,000 birds at Jaggards, in the heart of Wiltshire.
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A four-bedroom home in a Cornish valley that opens up like a Tardis
Mill Cottage in the Red River Valley looks achingly rural on the outside, but is gloriously refurbished for modern family living on the inside.
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A National Trust country home to call your own (at least for the next 95 years)
The utterly beautiful Pamphill Manor in Dorset is owned by the National Trust — but they've put it on the market with one small catch.
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A sweeping double staircase, stone floors and oak-panelled walls meet swimming pool and games room in this West Country mansion
Penny Churchill takes a look at Avishays House, a 17th century creation that's in the grandest tradition of the country house.
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An exquisite, completely refurbished Georgian country house with grandeur, beauty and a brilliant treehouse
Harptree Court is a stunning west country home up for sale. Penny Churchill takes a look.
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The £30 million Dorset estate that comes with a 200-year-old mansion, a cricket ground, a nature reserve and an entire village
The Bridehead Estate in Dorset has come up for sale — and it's quite an astonishing opportunity. Penny Churchill takes a look.
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An exquisite Georgian country house for sale for the first time in 40 years in a village with an irresistibly quirky name
You'd never get sick of writing 'Trudoxhill' as your address — nor of living in this beautiful country home in this pretty Somerset village.
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A wonderfully secluded old rectory in Dorset with spectacular gardens, dedicated wine room, and it's walking distance from the station
No house ticks every single box for buyers... but it must be said that Old Came Rectory, just outside Dorchester, comes awfully close.
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A gorgeous Victorian farmhouse that comes with almost 900 acres of Exmoor all to yourself
Emmetts Grange is the highest farmhouse on Exmoor — and one of the most enticing. Penny Churchill takes a look.
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Seven genuinely magnificent country houses for sale, as seen in Country Life
From mansions and a castle to a wisteria-clad dream home, here's our pick of the best homes to come up for sale via Country Life in recent days.
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Live and let live in the gorgeous former monastery that's been home to everyone from iconic Bond girls to legends of music
Jane Seymour bought this stunning house a few years after becoming one of the most celebrated Bond girls in the entire 007 series; now, it's seeking a new owner.
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An £8 million gem that is 'the sort of country house we all dream of', less than 90 minutes from London
Penny Churchill marvels at the genuinely delightful Chalcot House in Wiltshire.
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A surfer's ideal home? The Cornwall seaside haven just yards from the beach in the village of Polzeath
Arabella Youens takes a look at the aptly-named Beach Haven, in the heart of one of North Cornwall's most popular spots.
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A £6.5m super-prime home in Devon: The 'best of both worlds' seaside home right across the water from Devon's most expensive town
Thalassa is a home that enjoys glorious sunsets, delightful beaches, privacy and seclusion — yet is close enough to the action to keep anyone happy. Arabella Youens takes a look.
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A wildly dramatic clifftop home built by the man who escaped the Cornish tin mines to become an international diamond trader
The beautiful home of Porthledden is a classic tale of local boy made good — but Francis Oats didn't get to enjoy it for long.
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A gorgeous old rectory which featured in a Thomas Hardy Novel, for sale in one of Dorset's most deliciously-named villages
Melbury Bubb House is up for sale in a tiny village in Dorset. Penny Churchill takes a look.
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A picture-perfect Georgian manor with striking 1960s interiors which you have to see to believe
Looking beyond decoration to really see a house is probably the most important skill for a housebuyer — and Drayton Manor in Somerset shows just how much it can matter.
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Ten gorgeous thatched cottages for sale across Britain, from under £500,000
Our pick of the best thatched cottages and houses for sale today across England.
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Ten splendidly isolated houses for sale across Britain, from valleys in the Lake District to farmhouses in Kent
If you fancy getting away from it all — REALLY getting away from it all – our selection of houses in the middle of nowhere has gorgeous spots across the country.
