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The new hotspots Once the holy g rai l wa s to live in a v i l lage w ithin an hour and a h a l f o f L o n d o n . N o w, b u y e r s a r e c a s t i n g t h e i r n e t s f a r w i d e r COMPETITION for the best houses is fierce,
warns Philip Harvey of Property Vision. Not only is there plenty of interest from Londoners but also from people currently based in the ‘shires’ moving further out in search of unspoiled countryside, quieter roads, fewer chimney pots and the all-important decent broadband. So where are 2021’s must-lives and what can you get for £1m? Read on…
Broad Chalke in Wiltshire, viewed from Knighton Hill
BRUTON-CASTLE CARY-WINCANTON TRIANGLE, SOMERSET Known for Bruton – which saw the biggest increase in buyers searching for places to move in 2020, according to Rightmove. They included George Osborne who bought a house last year. Nearby are Babington House and The Newt in Somerset, a hotel and spa, and plenty of well-known locals including Alice Temperley. ■
The prettiest villages Pilton, Batcombe and East Pennard. ■ Schools to know about Sexey’s – one of the only state-funded boarding schools in the country, which (despite poor recent Ofsted reviews) is still locally well-regarded, says buying agent Jess Simpson. Independent schools include Hazelgrove, All Hallows and King’s Bruton. ■ Connected to the city Fast trains from Castle Cary to Paddington take one hour, 35 minutes. ■ Don’t miss The garden at Hauser & Wirth designed by Piet Oudolf. ■ £1m would buy you A detached four-bedroom house within walking distance of Bruton high street.
FEATURE ARABELLA YOUENS PHOTOGRAPH CHRIS LOCK/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
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THE CHALKE VALLEY, WILTSHIRE Known for It’s one of the prettiest – and least accessible – of the five river valleys that descend into Salisbury; it forms part of the Cranborne Chase AONB. Until recently, the major challenge was lack of mobile signal and broadband but enterprising locals addressed this by establishing Ch4lke, which hopes to deliver 5G connectivity shortly. ■ The prettiest villages Broad Chalke, where Savills ■
sold Cecil Beaton’s former home Reddish House last year; it has an award-winning volunteer-run village shop and post office. Others include Bowerchalke, Ebbesborne Wake and Coombe Bissett. ■ Schools to know about Sandroyd, Port Regis, Clayesmore, Salisbury Cathedral School, Godolphin School and Bryanston. ■ Connected to the city Trains from Salisbury to London Waterloo take 90 minutes. ■ Don’t miss The annual Chalke Valley History Festival (21-27 June, 2021). ■ £1m would buy A thatched cottage with four bedrooms with change to spend on the move. →
“PEOPLE IN THE ‘SHIRES’ ARE MOVING FURTHER OUT IN SEARCH OF UNSPOILED COUNTRYSIDE AND DECENT BROADBAND” HOMESANDGARDENS.COM
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