The Modern House
Goetre, Llanfynydd, Carmarthen
4 Bedrooms
£650K
Are we equal to the task of conveying just how much we love this house? We’ll give it a good shot. Set strikingly on a remote Carmarthanshire hillside, the soft red-rust of the exterior of this 19th-century farmhouse is bold and achingly beautiful against the lush green of its surrounds. Renovated to utter perfection by its current incumbents – who also happen to be the owners of boutique high street brand Toast (check its lifestyle blog here) – it is comprised of interconnecting one-time agricultural buildings, from a milking parlour to a hayloft. The landscape itself is exquisite, but we also have a very keen eye on the organic mature vegetable garden in the grounds. This house could scarcely be improved upon. Buy it before we cave and do so ourselves. Explore more here.
Fine & Country
Tutbury, Staffordshire
5 Bedrooms
£1.5m
You know that a property is something spectacular when the agents have made it the subject of a dreamy and slickly produced video such as this. Fauld Manor, a detached manor house, absolutely warrants it. Everything about it screams country house hotel, from the trickling fountains that await you on the sweeping driveway to the idyllic rural location to the extraordinary landscaped grounds. On the Staffordshire/ Derbyshire border, it has easy access to the A50 and the nearby train, which delivers you to Euston in slightly over an hour, making it a viable option for commuters too. Its five bedroom, four bathrooms and ancillary cottage (with planning permission to extend) is steeped in history. Some may wish to update the opulent interiors, but for others this could also be a property that you simply move straight into. We are already dreaming about garden parties on the extensive lawns. Explore more here.
Knight Frank
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
6 Bedrooms
£4.85
Behold this house of dreams! For most, alas, the six-bedroom beauty is destined to remain just that – fodder the realm of reveries – but for those fortunate to be in the market to buy in this beautiful area, do consider Haymes, which has knock-out wow-factor in spades. A beautifully proportioned Grade II-listed Georgian family home, there is no need to lift a finger, since it has all so recently been done for you, with modern additions including huge glass windows that give panoramic views across the stunning 42 acres the property sits within. And if the house is a thing of beauty, it is more than matched by the sensational gardens, which include a glorious landscaped courtyard, a lawned garden (perfect for parties), and a tennis court. There is too, a garden room from which to survey all this unending beauty. Sigh. Peruse the gallery here.
The Modern House
Clayton Mills, West Sussex
7 Bedrooms
£3m
The undulating South Downs, which stretch from Hampshire to Sussex, are surely one of the most unremittingly beautiful landscapes in the country. For views across it from the West Sussex side (seven miles north of Brighton), this extraordinary 19th-century windmill and townhouse is about as good as it gets. There is much to love about this place – the converted granary, the Mill House that was first designed by Brighton Marina architect Peter Farley and recently remodelled by award-winning architecture practice Featherstone Young and the fact that it comprises two windmills known as Jack and Jill. But one of the biggest draws for us is the resplendent walled garden full of raised beds and an area for eating outside in the summer months. A wonderful marriage of old and new. There is even a tunnel, used as a wine store, that leads underground to one of the windmills. Intriguing. And if, indeed, you are intrigued, you can check out more here.
Knight Frank
Richmond, North Yorkshire
11 Bedrooms
£2m
Have you ever fantasised about spending languid days rowing out on your own lake? Well, Park House comes with one all of its own, set within an absurdly picturesque 10-acre landscape, which also includes woodland, a formal walled garden and paddocks. For anyone who wishes either to make a multi-generational home or to run a guest house, this would make a fantastic option. The beautiful 17th-century Grade II-listed main house is awash with period features, while the barn has its own bedroom, dining room, snug and office, all arranged around a courtyard, and the Coach House contains the gorgeous ‘Lake Room’, with views across the water. This could be a really exciting house for the right buyer.
The Modern House
Rye, East Sussex
5 Bedrooms
£1.85m
When it comes to gardens, size isn’t the only consideration. Not that we are, for a moment, suggesting that this stunning black-clad home on the banks of the River Rother is small. It isn’t. But neither does it have acres and acres – and for some people, that’s a plus point. You get all the joys of ourdoor living minus the upkeep. What we love about this one is the opportunity for the most sublime of al fresco breakfasts, lunches and dinners all overlooking the Romney Marshes and the sea beyond. There is a main house, a 200-foot garden (hardly, as we say, small) as well as converted outbuildings and a garage. And then there are the delights of Rye, one of the most picturesque towns in the country. An exceptionally stylish coastal home with a wonderful garden and views. Heaven. Check out more here.
Galbraith
Glencruitten, Oban, Argyll and Bute
11 Bedrooms
£975,000
Do you fancy laying your hands upon a baronial country house? This one dates from 1897 and features many splendid things, including a stunning first-floor library designed by the famous Scottish architect Sir Robert Lorimer and an original grade A-listed Ingram organ with Welte Philharmonic roleplay mechanism. Impressive, no? Until recently occupied by a religious community, it comprises eleven bedrooms, five bathrooms and three dining kitchens, all awash with original features, from wooden flooring to cornicing and fireplaces. What we are most bowled over by, however, is the garden. In its sixteen acres, there is a fabulous seating area with far-reaching views to Mull; an extensive rockery dating from the 1920s; and – heaven – a croquet lawn. Explore more here.
By Nancy Alsop
July 2020
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