Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13

Langhill is thought to have originally been built in the early to mid-17th Century for a prosperous local landowner and merchant. The front façade retains much of the original detailing with granite mullioned windows, with hood mouldings and the two-storey pillared porch. It has subsequently been through several iterations, most recently around 2008/9 when the current owners thoroughly refurbished and extended the house into what was then a range of attached barns. The effect is to have created a very striking and beautifully finished country house that offers both entertaining space as well as comfortable and stylish areas for everyday living. The three-storey layout, together with the inclusion of the south wing makes the accommodation very adaptable for multi generation occupation, with the possibility of dividing the 2-bedroom south wing as a separate annexe.

The latest refurbishment included upgrading all of the services, bathrooms and kitchen and the creation of the marvellous vaulted garden room that gives way from the kitchen and is overlooked by a mezzanine gallery. The detailing includes some fine oak carving with a oak leaf and acorn motif repeated throughout the house. The adaption of the use of space includes a media room with large screen and sound system, a home office and the useful pentice which doubles as boot room/back hall or protected area to sit and enjoy the view of the front garden.

Upstairs the bedrooms are well arranged over the first and second floors and in addition to the bedrooms there is a large sitting room on each of the upper floors.

Discretely but conveniently situated off the entrance drive an L shaped range of single storey timber buildings provide outdoor storage and service space. They include two stables and adjoining tack room (now all used for storage) and another building that was designed as a three bay car port but doubles up as a covered party dining area.

The gardens and grounds at Langhill are a particularly striking feature that are impressive as soon as the protective entrance gates open to reveal them. An in and out gravel drive provides access to the property and is flanked by well-tended lawns with hedges and specimen trees. At front and rear of the house traditional flower gardens provide the immediate setting for the house. Extending on at the rear a wicket gate gives way to a further area of close mown lawn surrounded by more herbaceous borders and surrounded by neat hedging with strategically placed “windows” opening up the views of the surrounding countryside and high moor beyond. There is also a gravelled seating area that catches the afternoon and evening sun.

Hidden next to the flower gardens behind hedging a kitchen garden includes a large greenhouse and raised beds. Beyond again a levelled party lawn is overlooked by a sumptuous Crown pavilion that offers opportunity for outdoor entertaining. It lies beside a small watercourse that also includes a pond and gently descends via a grass path to the parkland beyond.

The land forms a single parcel of mainly pasture that surrounds the house and protects its outlook. The enclosures have been well managed and are fenced, gated and watered. They have been occupied for sheep grazing for many years under annual grazing licences. In one of the enclosures there is an old windmill formerly used for pumping water to the house. The fields nearest to the house contain some fine specimen park trees including Scots Pine and Lime trees. There are also areas of recently planted native hardwood species strategically placed in field corners and margins to enhance the wildlife habitat.

Langhill is situated on the favoured eastern edge of Dartmoor amidst the beautiful countryside of upland pasture and woods that form the attractive backdrop to the hinterland of the high moor further to the west. It lies discreetly behind two pairs of tall timber electrically operated gates that lead onto the circular gravelled drive. The property lies only a short distance from the moorland town of Moretonhampstead, which is an ancient wool town including some fine buildings including the solid granite alms houses and the impressive St Andrews Church with its imposing tower.

Moretonhampstead offers most everyday facilities, health centre and a range of pubs, restaurants and cafes, including the well-regarded White Hart Hotel and the 5* Hotel and Spa at Bovey Castle offers a fine 18 hole golf course in addition to other sports facilities. In the other direction Chagford is renowned as another thriving moorland town and is often regarded as one of the most sought-after towns in the region with its appealing mix of heritage, culture and lively activities and clubs. Exeter is accessible by the very picturesque B3212 or for fast road access the A38 and A30 dual carriageways are both accessible to south and north respectively.