Minehead, Somerset

MIDDLE BURROW

A stunning 17th Century 4 bedroom Farmhouse and holiday cottage complex enjoying an idyllic and tranquil setting within The Exmoor National Park set in just over 13 acres to include wonderful landscaped gardens with large pond, paddocks, stabling and woodland.

KEY FEATURES

Middle Burrow is a beautiful example of a 17th Century detached farmhouse and is delightfully situated in a small peaceful hamlet between the Exmoor villages of Timberscombe and Wootton Courtenay and is within a few miles of the coast.

The property stands in 13.18 acres (5.33 hectare) to include around 2.5 acres of the most stunning mature and manicured gardens with a large pond which is an undoubted attraction. The farmhouse, which is of immense character and charm is centrally heated, is predominantly double glazed and has been sympathetically improved whilst retaining many inherent features to include exposed beams, inglenook fireplace, bread oven and window seats.

There is a useful income derived from two self contained holiday cottages and two guest suites which are all finished to a very high standard. The guest suites form part of a converted barn opposite the farmhouse and can be used as ancillary accommodation or to take advantage of the bed and breakfast trade. There is also potential to increase the number of letting units by implementing a planning permission which is still in place.

MAIN HOUSE ACCOMMODATION

An enclosed entrance porch with vaulted ceiling and cobbled floor leads through to a reception hall off which is a boot room with wash basin and door to a separate W.C. There are three reception rooms all overlooking the wonderful gardens to include a lovely sitting room with exposed beams, inglenook stone fireplace with peephole window and woodburner, a charming triple aspect drawing room with open fireplace and window seat and a slate floored garden/dining room with full height picture windows and wide double doors to a stone pillared terrace overlooking the gardens and off the room is a study with fitted desk and open shelving. The fitted kitchen/breakfast room also enjoys garden views, has a door into the gardens and is fitted with a modern range of kitchen units with granite working surfaces and inset sink with mixer tap, integrated dishwasher, former stone fireplace with beam over, feature bread oven and inset oil fired Aga with slate tiled surround. There is also a second kitchen/utility room with stainless steel double bowl single drainer sink unit with mixer tap, rolled edge working surfaces with cupboards and plumbing for washing machine under, Stoves electric cooker with extractor hood, Samsung tall fridge and freezer, pantry, crockery and broom cupboards. To complete the ground floor a stable door from the kitchen leads into an enclosed porch with part glazed roof, fitted cupboards and shelving, part glazed door to outside and door to a walk in store room with electric meters and twin pressurised hot water cylinders with immersion heaters.

SELLER INSIGHT

Our first impressions of Middle Burrow were of a lovely family home with plenty of character and potential,” say the current owners. “The previous owners had lived here for 27 years and clearly loved the property, and we have found it to be a wonderful family home, too, perfect for everyday life and entertaining alike. Our grandchildren adore coming here, especially playing hide and seek or watching the wildlife in the garden, and our daughter got ready for her wedding and had her pre-church photographs taken in the garden. Since then, several brides have stayed in the Bed and Breakfast, and used the garden for their photos as well. We have hosted many of the grandchildren’s christening parties, birthday parties and easter egg hunts, and had the whole family here at Christmas.”

“During our time here, we have put our own stamp on the place,” the owners say, “redecorating throughout and replacing windows, bathrooms and kitchens. Indeed, the sociable kitchen is now our favourite room in the house, where Jo loves cooking on the AGA and friends and family tend to gather, spilling out into the garden in warmer weather. The main project, however, has been the conversion of the barns into a one bedroom holiday cottage and two Bed and Breakfast rooms with en suite and private gardens. Every room in the house itself has a view of the garden, too, making this a wonderfully restful place to be.”

Indeed, the generous grounds are a huge benefit of the property: “The two-and-ahalf-acre garden with its third-of-an-acre pond means there is always a sunny spot to be found,” the owners say, “either on the large patio directly outside the house in the daytime; or the magical evening location at the summerhouse overlooking the pond, watching the ducks and moorhens amongst the waterlilies. We have a large number of very well established trees, several of which are rare, as well as a fruit cage, poly tunnel and vegetable garden for growing our own fresh produce. All of the holiday cottages have their own secure private gardens, and the rest of the land is divided into paddocks plus a wooded area, with stables, tack room and open barn with yard leading directly onto two of the six paddocks. We had wanted a property which had land for our horses, so the possibility to ride directly out along bridleways from Middle Burrow onto open moor has been phenomenal.”

The location of the property has much to offer, too. “We were looking for a place in the country but not too far away from local amenities and our place of work in Minehead, and the semi-rural setting of Middle Burrow has fulfilled all this and more,” say the owners. “Wootton Courtenay is half a mile away and has a shop/ post office, church and very active village hall. The nearest school is 1 mile away in Timberscombe. The medieval village of Dunster, with its Norman Castle and good selection of pubs and restaurants, is 3 miles away. Exmoor is on your doorstep, with Dunkery Beacon, the snowdrop valley, and Webbers Post amongst the many walks and rides direct from the property.”

* These comments are the personal views of the current owner and are included as an insight into life at the property. They have not been independently verified, should not be relied on without verification and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agent.

KEY FEATURES

A carpeted staircase from the sitting room leads to the first floor landing off which there are four double bedrooms all overlooking the gardens. Two of the rooms have fitted wardrobes and the master suite offers a separate dressing room with an excellent range of fitted wardrobes and a luxury bathroom with four piece suite to include a claw foot roll top slipper bath, pedestal wash basin, low level W.C and a separate glazed shower enclosure. To complete the first floor there is also a shower room fitted with a three piece white suite.

KEY FEATURES

THE COTTAGES & GUEST SUITES

Upper Barn is a self contained and fully equipped two storey holiday cottage offering beautifully presented accommodation to include a first floor sitting room with woodburner, fully fitted kitchen/dining room, two ground floor double bedrooms, bathroom and shower room. Outside there is use of its own private garden area.

Middle Burrow Cottage is a beautifully presented self contained and fully equipped single storey barn conversion providing a second holiday cottage/annexe with accommodation to include a large open plan living room with vaulted beamed ceiling and fully fitted kitchen, double bedroom, shower room and again with its own enclosed private use garden.

There are two first floor fully furnished, guest suites, Copper Beech and Magnolia which have been used in conjunction with the bed and breakfast. They form part of a converted barn and have been finished to a high standard both offering vaulted beamed ceilings, double glazed windows, central heating and en-suite shower rooms.

KEY FEATURES

OUTSIDE GARDENS AND GROUNDS

The property is approached through double opening timber gates onto a large gravelled forecourt providing excellent parking, turning facilities and giving access to the main house, cottages and guest suites. There is an enclosed lawn garden with fruit trees reserved for guests and a five bar gate off the forecourt gives access to a track which leads to the open fronted barn, stables and land. A stone pillared terrace to the rear of the farmhouse overlooks the main formal gardens which are an undoubted feature. The beautiful gardens are dominated by a large pond surrounded by sweeping lawns with an abundance of mature shrubs, flowers and trees. There are pathways and footbridges over small streams around the gardens and with a summerhouse and former hard tennis court. There is also a vegetable garden with poly tunnel, an area of woodland and five paddocks which will no doubt appeal to those with equestrian interests with direct access to miles of riding country in The Exmoor National Park. In all approximately 13.18 acres (5.33 hectare).

STABLE YARD

Two loose boxes, tack room/feed store, open barn and dog kennel with run/turnout paddock.

WORKSHOP

Light, power, radiators, stainless steel sink with cold water tap, plumbing for washing machine and storage racking.

ADJOINING STABLE AND HAY BARN.

FIRST FLOOR GAMES ROOM

External stone steps, three quarter size snooker table. (Can also be accessed via the Magnolia guest suite)

BOILER ROOM

Biomass wood pellet boiler

RECYCLING/STORE

SINGLE GARAGE

OPEN FRONTED STONE BARN

LOCATION

Middle Burrow is delightfully situated between the Exmoor villages of Timberscombe and Wootton Courtenay. Timberscombe is approximately 1 mile and has a Post office/shop, pub, village hall, primary school and church. It is a similar distance from Wootton Courtenay which is a popular and thriving Village with local shop, village hall and church and the highly regarded medieval village of Dunster with its magnificent castle and many attra ctions is 4 miles. West Somerset’s premier resort of Minehead is approximately 5.5 miles away and has an excellent range of shopping, banking and recreational and schooling facilities together with the Old Harbour and Sea Front. The County town of Taunton which is approximately 28 miles to the east and has mainline rail connections and access to the motorway network and for those who enjoy exploring the countryside there are footpaths and bridleways close by leading to superb walks and riding on the Exmoor Hills and the Quantock, Brendon Hills and many renowned beauty spots of the area are all close at hand.

• Charming 4 bedroom farmhouse with income

• Two self contained holiday cottages

• Two fully furnished & equipped guest suites

• Wonderful landscaped gardens with pond

• Outbuildings, garage, stabling & paddocks

• 13.18 acres (5.33 hectare)

• Within The Exmoor National Park

SERVICES

Mains electricity with P.V panels, private water (spring fed with chemical treatment plant) and private drainage. Biomass wood pellet boiler providing central heating & hot water. (Upper Barn Oil fired central heating).

DIRECTIONS

From Minehead proceed on the A39 towards Williton. After approximately two and a half miles turn right at the traffic lights into Dunster and proceed through the village. After approximately two miles you will enter Timberscombe, stay on the A396 bypassing the village and on leaving just after the double bends take the right turn signposted “Unsuitable for heavy goods vehicles”. Follow the lane for around a mile until you reach the hamlet of Burrow where the property will be found on the left hand side.

Council Tax Band: G

EPC Rating Main House: E

EPC Rating: Upper Barn: C

Tenure: Freehold

Price £1,745,000

Agents notes: All measurements are approximate and for general guidance only and whilst every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, they must not be relied on. The fixtures, fittings and appliances referred to have not been tested and therefore no guarantee can be given that they are in working order. Internal photographs are reproduced for general information and it must not be inferred that any item shown is included with the property. For a free valuation, contact the numbers listed on the brochure. Printed 11.10.2022

FINE & COUNTRY

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