Waterloo Lane, Stourton Caundle, Sturminster Newton, Dorset, DT10

Designed for the current owners and completed in 2007, Waterloo Farm is a striking and imaginatively conceived family house that takes full advantage of its amazing position within the landscape. The back of the house faces south-west, looking out through wide picture windows across the Dorset countryside towards Bulbarrow Hill. The house is set back off a quiet country lane in an elevated setting and is faced with honey-coloured local stone and timber under a tiled roof. Its position catches the sun throughout the day with natural light filling the interior. Most of the ground floor occupies a single space cleverly split into separate areas, all of which look out at the wonderful view. There are large windows on three sides, with glazed sliding doors to an external dining area. The interior has been designed as a highly flexible space, incorporating the latest lighting and window blind technology. Currently, adjacent seating and dining areas are grouped around an open fireplace with a separate seating area in a glazed orangery. The central space is lit by a large rooflight and accommodates the beech, glass and chrome staircase to the first floor. The spacious kitchen area has a sweeping breakfast bar with adjacent walk-in larder, laundry room and shower room. This is a true cook's kitchen, fitted with contemporary units under heatproof concrete work surfaces and incorporating built-in appliances including fan and steam ovens, two dishwashers, plate-warming drawer and a wine fridge.

On the first floor is a galleried landing with a seating section and separate study area, all lit by natural light. Glazed sliding doors lead to another seating area on the external balcony. The principal bedroom suite is off one side of the landing with access to a long wraparound balcony through glazed doors. The remaining three bedrooms and two ensuite/dual-access bath and shower rooms are on the other side of the landing with access to a separate westfacing balcony.

Twin electric gates open to an extensive resin parking area in front of the house. Facing the house across the parking area courtyard is another building, containing a two-room home office/library with log-burner, adjacent storeroom and a double garage with a first-floor games room above. The building has the necessary services pre-laid to enable it to be converted into self-contained ancillary accommodation if required.

The garden and grounds extend out on three sides of the house and are designed to minimise maintenance. They incorporate a level lawn studded with a variety of fruit trees and fringed with rose and lavender beds. A ha-ha along the edge of the lawn preserves the uninterrupted view of the adjoining countryside. To one side is the vegetable garden with eight raised vegetable beds and a fruit cage. On the opposite side of the house is a former milking parlour that is now used for storage. Beside it are a timber-framed greenhouse/shed, bee area and the 12kW photovoltaic panel array.

Beyond the garden are a fenced-off reed-bed and three paddocks enclosed by hedging and stock-proof fencing. An
old-style Dorset orchard, with a mixed selection of fruit trees, runs between two hedges parallel to the lane.

Waterloo Farm is situated in the Blackmore Vale in unspoilt, open countryside just south of the village of Stourton Caundle, which has a parish church, hall and pub. For further information visit neighbouring town of Stalbridge has a selection of local amenities including an independent, award winning supermarket and café, pharmacy, dentist and optician. The larger towns of Sturminster Newton, Sherborne and Wincanton are all within easy reach, offering a wide selection of shops and local businesses including a Waitrose in Sherborne. For local transport links, the A30, A303 and A357 are all within easy reach and there are direct rail services from Templecombe station to Waterloo and from Castle Cary station to Paddington. Bournemouth Airport is less than an hour's drive away. The local area also offers a wide choice of state and independent schools. The latter category includes the Sherborne Schools, Leweston, Hanford, Clayesmore, Milton Abbey, Port Regis and Bryanston: all within a 10-mile radius. The Newt in Somerset, membership of which allows access to a range of activities and shopping, is within a thirty minute drive.