This impressive house successfully combines historic character with an array of modern comforts, and offers plenty of space for groups of friends celebrating a special occasion or for a multi-generational family gathering. Although feeling pleasantly secluded, it is set on the outskirts of the popular village of Marnhull, where you’ll find two local shops and two traditional pubs that also serve food. Head to Sturminster Newton (3.5 miles), a pretty market town with a picturesque water mill, and join either the White Hart Link walking route or the North Dorset Trailway (also suitable for bikes), enjoying views of the Blackmore Vale along the way. The larger town of Shaftesbury is only 6 miles away, home to the famously steep Gold Hill, as well as a thriving high street full of independent shops and cafes. Beautiful Sherborne (10.5 miles) boasts two historic castles and a variety of boutique shops.
Step into a world of elegance and grandeur with an unforgettable stay at this handsome property. Set over three stories, it is built of local sandstone and features generously sized, light and airy rooms and an array of original features, including fireplaces, beams, and deep window seats. From the reception hall, which has room for hats, coats, and umbrellas, stroll through to the fabulous kitchen/breakfast room, where the centrepiece is a four-oven range cooker, surrounded by hand-crafted, painted-timber cabinetry. An American-style fridge/freezer and a dishwasher add to the convenience. A sofa makes life comfortable for anyone chatting with the cook, and a breakfast table for four offers space for morning coffee or snacks throughout the day. The kitchen is complemented by a separate, walk-in larder, a laundry room, and a nearby WC. Linger for hours over delicious meals together in the large dining room, with views to the garden via a series of bi-fold doors, then step through to the drawing room, where a variety of soft seating is gathered in relaxed groups, ready for evenings spent chatting, reading, playing games, or enjoying a show on the Smart TV. On chilly evenings, you can light the open fire for a warming glow. A snug completes the ground floor, with sofas for anyone who wants a quiet, cosy moment. Four of six gorgeous bedrooms are on the first floor – all well-proportioned spaces with handsome furniture and ample storage. The master king-size bedroom, which has lovely views over the gardens to the countryside beyond, features an incredible en-suite bathroom which boasts a free-standing bath and a separate, walk-in shower with a beautiful mosaic-tiled wall. Two other bedrooms on this floor, a king-size and a double, also have en-suites, while the fourth, a super-king-size, uses a family bathroom just across the landing, which has a separate bath and shower. The second floor has two bedrooms built into the attic, with steeply sloping ceilings (low in places) and a delightful, tucked-away feel. Here, you’ll find the remaining two bedrooms, a double and a twin, both with dedicated bathrooms adjacent. Between them is a lovely children’s den, perfect for playtime.
The outdoor space is as impressive as the interior, comprising just under 3 acres of tiered gardens and grounds. Wrapping around three sides of the property, the grounds back onto unspoilt countryside, ensuring privacy and tranquillity. The broad rear terrace, accessed by glazed doors (one step down) from the kitchen, dining room, and drawing room, is furnished for al fresco entertaining as well as lounging in the sun, and includes a stone fountain with a lily pond. Six stone steps lead up to a level lawn, large enough for games or picnics, and then to a series of garden ‘rooms’ that include a woodland play area with a treehouse, and a swimming pool with a pool house, set within a crab-apple orchard. There are also an apple orchard, hornbeam avenue, kitchen garden, wildflower meadow, and arboretum of specimen trees, while the icing on the cake, for anyone who enjoys sports, is a private tennis/pickleball court. Another convenience of this superb destination is ample private parking, making arrivals and departures easy.