5 bedroom detached house for sale

A stunning family home in an idyllic setting, with delightful gardens and grounds all in approx. 29 acres, a huge barn, garden office, tennis court, stabling and a successful holiday cottage.

THE PROPERTY
Tucked away in a most idyllic location, first glimpses of Folly Farm are most impressive with its very attractive stone façade covered with wisteria and climbing roses under a newly thatched roof. Justifiably Grade II listed of architectural and historical importance, the original cottage dates back over 300 years, and has been very cleverly extended and updated over the years having recently undergone a fastidious programme of works where it was completely rewired and replumbed throughout. It is now a truly exceptional family home surrounded by its own delightful garden and grounds, amounting to approximately 29 acres.

On first entering the property there is a real sense of charm, space and light with a perfect juxtaposition of old and new. You are immediately greeted by a large hall which is currently also used as a study. There are many rooms in this wonderful house worth a special mention, including the magnificent sitting room with a large inglenook fireplace and wood burning stove. There are double doors leading out to the most delightful garden. Alongside the sitting room is a perfect sized dining room with exposed wooden beams. Just off the hall is another perfectly proportioned TV/snug room, which could also be used as a games/play room or 5th bedroom, such is the flexibility of this fantastic property.

The real surprise however is the magnificent open plan kitchen with sitting area at one end with an open fire, and a dining area at the other end. The kitchen, which sits perfectly in the centre of the room, incorporates a Rangemaster oven and induction hob, and large wooden island and a number of very attractive wall and base units. There is plenty of room for a large dining table with bi-folding doors opening out to the garden and double doors opening out to the terrace, ideal for al fresco dining. This room is quite simply 'as good as it gets!'

The principal bedrooms are situated on the first floor with four beautiful bedrooms including a master bedroom suite with an adjoining dressing room and shower room. Like many rooms in the house, it boasts spectacular unspoilt countryside views. The main guest room is also worth a special mention with fantastic exposed wooden beams and a beautiful en suite bathroom. There is also a separate shower room. A large door opens out to a flat roof, an ideal place to sit and enjoy a morning coffee whilst watching the abundance of wildlife.

HOLIDAY COTTAGE
Alongside the main house, but easily far enough away not to be intrusive, is a fantastic holiday cottage bringing in a very healthy private income with a huge amount of repeat business. On entering the property it is easy to see why, with a superb open plan kitchen and eating area with plenty of room for a kitchen/dining table. There is also an incredible sitting room with high vaulted ceiling and double doors opening out to the eating terrace and garden. There is a ground floor bedroom and en suite shower room, and a beautiful first floor bedroom and en suite bathroom. The views from most of the rooms, including the sitting room, are absolutely stunning.

OUTSIDE & OUTBUILDINGS
The garden and grounds are absolutely delightful with a most fantastic garden to the rear of the property that would not be out of place at the Chelsea Flower Show! It has recently been included in the National Garden Scheme, with most guests refusing to leave! There is a large main lawn area and rose beds with several eating and sitting terraces. There is also a log store close to the main double doors for the inglenook wood burner, and mower shed and boiler house containing biomass boiler and fuel chamber. Nearby there are 4 additional water butts for garden watering. There is also a series of 5 ponds with a water tap and pump. The main large pond is netted from mid August to April to deter the local heron. Dragonflies, frogs, newts, insects and bees are also very active. There is a small orchard with fruit trees in between the pond and barn area of the garden, which is planted with daffodils and camassia, snowdrops and oxeye daisies. Alongside the tennis court and recently completed is an absolutely superb garden room/office which has mains electric, indoor and outdoor lighting, and cloakroom and small kitchenette. The garden room also has a small and separately accessed storage room which houses the cloakroom boiler and tennis equipment. Below the tennis court is a firepit with benches and its own small log store at the end of the orchard, and has fabulous views of Eggardon Hill and great to sit around at sunset.

THE BARN
The barn is absolutely superb and has been put to a number of uses, including a fantastic wedding venue! The floor size is approximately 25m long x 15m wide x 4m high with mains electric, 3 x sets of entrance double doors, water taps and a cloakroom. A pump has been installed for separate bore hole water supply which was drilled 2-3 years ago. The barn also has a large mezzanine for storage.

All in all, this is a truly magical property in an idyllic yet very convenient location.

WILDLIFE & ECOSYSTEM
Folly Farm is a wildlife enthusiasts dream, and although some species are very elusive, they are often frequented by tawny owls, woodpeckers, hedgehogs and a huge variety of British birds. There are also roe, fallow and muntjac deer.
Alongside the holiday cottage is a large stable with 3 box stalls and a tack room, with electric supply and water. The River Asker meanders down the bottom of the land.

LOCATION
Folly Farm lies between the villages of Uploders and Askerswell. Uploders is a particularly sought-after village owing partly to the fact that it has remained unchanged and untainted by inappropriate modern development over the years and is principally made up of handsome stone cottages and houses forming a most appealing street scene. In the village there is the popular Crown Inn public house, with the nearby village of Loders having the Loders Arms public house, a primary school and the attractive church of St Mary Magdalen. Askerswell is a small pretty village at the foot of the iconic Eggardon Hill known for its iron age hillfort and with a fine parish church, the popular Spyway Inn public house and a well-used village hall. This location boasts some of West Dorset's finest countryside just over 3 miles north east of the handsome Georgian town of Bridport with its excellent variety of shops, schools and restaurants and supermarkets including Waitrose, Morrisons and Co-op and a particularly popular twice weekly street market. The county town of Dorchester is just under 13 miles to the east and has a further range of facilities including a main line railway station to London Waterloo. The Dorset coast a World Heritage site is also just a short distance, West Bay with its pretty harbour and Burton Bradstock home of the popular Hive Beach Café and Seaside Boarding House, the cliff top creation of the former Groucho Club owner, just a short drive from the property.