Crafton, Leighton Buzzard, LU7

With extensive and flexible living spaces, a self-contained cottage and a range of outbuildings, all set in outstanding fenced grounds, Woodlands offers the discerning house hunter over 9500 square feet of space, flexibility and potential. 

This handsome 1960’s property has been refurbished throughout and now boasts a super-cool, modern interior with large open-plan living spaces that give it a unique appeal.  Step inside and it’s fitted out to the highest of standards, with oodles of traditional oak beams blending beautifully with light-enhancing expanses of glass, exuding refinement and pared-back style.

The Cottage – a detached, three-bedroom property adjacent to the main house, offers endless potential whether as a holiday let, multi-generational living or guest accommodation.  The extensive outbuildings could be earmarked for a number of uses including extra living space, office, or gym (subject to planning).  The vast grounds extending to over four acres offer exquisite, far-reaching views, providing a peaceful oasis to this stunning home.

With its open-plan layout, ultra-luxe interior and huge outdoor terraces, Woodlands is the ultimate house for entertaining with the outdoor spaces accessed via bifolds from the living area, creating an amazing indoors-meets-outdoors space that will be the envy of your guests.

Woodlands is a real ‘wow’ of a house, from its handsome exterior to its modern and super spacious reception rooms and luxurious bedrooms, plus all the added extras.

We’re looking forward to showing you around Woodlands, so here are all the finer details:

Accessed from a country lane, Woodlands lies at the end of a private, gated driveway.  Located to the right are the outbuildings including a well-equipped gym, sauna and workshops, whilst the detached cottage lies immediately adjacent to the main house.  There’s copious parking for around fifteen cars on the gravel driveway.

The breath-taking entrance hall sets the tone for the rest of this fabulous home, dominated by a truly knockout glass and oak central staircase.  Tucked away to the right is a useful boot room complete with sink and ample storage, a wine storage room, plus a separate cloakroom and WC.

Double oak-framed glass doors open into a spacious ground floor office.  With space for two oversized desks and plenty of storage, this is a fantastic room for home working.  Natural light floods in through the picture window and through large frosted glass doors which open out onto a courtyard patio garden.

Accessed through another set of double doors from the entrance hallway, the open-plan living space at Woodlands is nothing short of spectacular.  The smaller rooms of the original house have been combined to create a simply stunning, multi-faceted living and entertaining space which measures an impressive 1229 square feet.

The individual spaces flow beautifully together and are cleverly arranged into zones for dining, entertaining and relaxation with an impressive hand carved wooden column and feature wood-burning stove as a focal centrepiece.  It’s the perfect spot to grab a drink and a good book and cosy up in front of the fire on chilly evenings.   On the south side, an entire wall of glass bifold doors open out onto the terrace with a further set of glass bifold doors opening onto an inner courtyard next to the dining area.

This light-filled room offers incredible views over the secluded fenced gardens and countryside beyond.  It’s the ultimate family space, perfect all year round and a truly impressive entertaining venue.  The living room floor lines up with the exterior decking to further enhance the harmonic merger of indoors with outdoors.

The dining space can accommodate a table for twenty, making dinner parties an impressive affair.   Open the bifolds on a warm evening to enjoy pre-dinner drinks before dinner around the spectacular table.   At the other end of this room is the TV and chill-out zone, with huge squishy l-shaped sofas providing the perfect spot to relax in front of a movie with the gardens and grounds providing an idyllic backdrop.

The spacious and well-designed kitchen with endless natural light leads off the living room, creating a seamless flow between the spaces.   The central island with sit-up breakfast bar creates a natural spot for guests to gather while you prepare dinner, or a place to grab a morning coffee before work.  For more leisurely kitchen suppers, there’s room for a large round table in front of the windows with more of those lovely views onto the terrace and garden.

Equipped with high-end appliances from Gaggenau and Miele, the kitchen at Woodlands has been designed to make cooking easy and enjoyable.  Soft-close cabinets provide plentiful storage and there is ample food preparation space.  Integrated appliances include a traditional and steamer oven, two warming drawers, wine cooler, induction hob and full-height fridge and freezer, together with a Bosch dishwasher. The kitchen has recently been updated with USB electrical sockets throughout.

Leading off the kitchen is a spacious utility room/second kitchen providing additional cooking facilities, an American-style fridge freezer as well as a washing machine and tumble dryer.  A door leads from here onto the outside terrace.

A superb ground-floor bedroom suite completes the layout downstairs.  Accessed from the open plan living space or through an inner hallway from the utility room, it’s beautifully equipped with a modern ensuite shower room and doors from the bedroom onto a private courtyard.  It’s a truly delightful and private space for guests or family with restricted mobility.

And so to bed:

Heading back to the hallway and up the oak and glass staircase onto the first floor where you’ll find three spacious and immaculately appointed bedrooms. 

The principal bedroom suite measures 1,150 square feet and is a real show-stopper.  It’s a luxurious, grown-up retreat with an entrance hall leading to a large dressing room and then onto an enormous, vaulted sleeping area.  The ultra-glamorous bathroom features a central roll-top bath, curvaceous twin basins, an enormous rainfall shower and a separate steam room.   A doorway from the dressing room into the hallway has been retained should you wish to convert the dressing room back into a fourth double bedroom on this floor.

The piece de resistance is the roof terrace measuring 562 square feet and offering panoramic countryside views of Mentmore Towers and the old Mentmore golf course. It’s the ultimate private retreat with space for sunloungers, an l-shaped sofa and a hot tub for watching the sunset with a glass of something chilled.

The remaining two bedrooms on the first floor can both comfortably accommodate king-sized beds.  The largest of the rooms has built-in storage and an ensuite shower room, whilst the third bedroom makes use of the luxurious family bathroom with oversized corner bathtub.

More to discover

This remarkable property is also home to a cosy three-bedroom cottage, extensive workshops and a barn gymnasium with dry sauna.  The cottage would suit a range of uses, from a granny annexe to a place for older teens to have their own space, or an income-generating holiday let.  Completely self-contained with its own kitchen, shower room, sitting area and courtyard garden, this is a flexible space that you can make your own.  There’s a luxurious double bedroom and adjoining wet room on the ground floor, and two bedrooms upstairs with a shared wet room. The double patio doors from the sitting room open to a private courtyard with a pretty water feature as a centrepiece.

Across the gravel driveway, the barn conversion is currently arranged as workshops, a well-equipped gym and sauna and extensive storage.  The gym has double-height ceilings providing copious space and light and the sauna, accessed via a spiral staircase, is the perfect spot to relax post-workout.

The additional workshops have enormous potential and extensive storage, both having attic space above.  Subject to planning, they could be perfect for a range of uses.

Gardens and grounds

The four glorious acres at Woodlands have been arranged into wonderful alfresco entertaining areas, extensive lawns dotted with mature trees and even a nine-hole golf course!  The south-facing grounds have been arranged to maximise sunlight throughout the day, with spots to enjoy morning coffee and an evening drink.  The large terrace is the perfect place to entertain friends and family, with an outdoor kitchen and sunken eating area, steel framed pergola and extensive seating and relaxing areas.  For the green-fingered there’s a large greenhouse in which to potter.

A sublime location

Woodlands is situated just outside the highly-desirable village of Crafton and only one mile from the historic village of Mentmore offering a village hall, communal playing field as well as the outstanding gastro pub ‘The Stag’.  In nearby Cheddington Village you can grab your groceries at Mason’s General Store, or try the village of Wing which has a selection of good pubs, resturants and general stores.  And if you’re up for more shopping or fun, just a short drive away is Leighton Buzzard (five miles), Aylesbury or Tring (both eight miles).

There are excellent education options nearby, both state and private. Cheddington Combined and Wingrave CE Combined Schools are nearby and there are good secondary schools in Leighton Buzzard.  Private options including Swanbourne House and Berkhamstead are within easy reach.

Out here, nature’s your playground.  Take a leisurely walk or bike ride around Mentmore Towers or head over to Bridgego Bridge (the one from the Great Train Robbery!)

When you’re hungry or thirsty, there are plenty of options.  The Stag pub in Mentmore is a 15-minute stroll away and offers good food and drinks. There are a couple of great pubs in Cheddington too – The Old Swan and The Three Horseshoes.

There’s plenty for the whole family to do here.  Check out Bletchley Park, home of the WWII code-breakers, or explore Ascott House.  Kids will love Whipsnade Zoo or the open spaces at Dunstable Downs.  Woburn Safari Park is 20 minutes away along with the outstanding Woburn Golf Club with three championship courses. And for some ultra grown-up relaxation, treat yourself to Champneys Spa at Tring.

Getting around is easy, too.  Hop on a train at Leighton Buzzard and you’ll be in London Euston in 30 minutes.  Need to hit the road?  The A41 and M1 are nearby, making travel a breeze, including getting to London Luton Airport.