Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13

A wonderful residential estate nestled within Dartmoor National Park

Description

Bagpark embodies a refined residential enclave, centred around a captivating nineteenth-century Manor House formerly known as Widecombe Manor and has been meticulously enhanced over the years to meet the demands and luxuries of modern living. A picturesque, private drive winds its way through a leafy landscape adorned with impressive, mature trees and lush shrubbery, setting the stage for a delightful arrival to the property.

Built from locally sourced granite and partially decorated with slate, Bagpark exudes the timeless charm and elegance you would expect from a home of this period. Leaded casement windows, many of which are double glazed, fill the rooms with natural light while preserving its historic character.

The interior of the property is a testament to design and meticulous attention to detail. A generously proportioned drawing room and dining room provide an elegant backdrop for entertaining, boasting period features and superb craftsmanship. These gracious spaces open southward, offering peaceful views over the delightful front garden and views towards the magical ponds beyond.

The spacious kitchen/breakfast room is clearly the heart of the home. Well-appointed and centred around the triple Aga and generous island, there is ample space for a breakfast table alongside direct access to the charming south facing terrace overlooking the surrounding grounds, pond and countryside.

The central reception hall serves as a welcoming focal point, leading to a tv/cinema room with high ceilings and a large raised wood burner, perfect for pleasant evenings spent indoors. A separate study provides a quiet place for work. The 24ft long dining room is fully panelled and can easily accommodate 16 (or more) guests.

At the rear of the house, there is a well-organized utility room, while a rear glazed hall serves as a versatile space, doubling as a separate entrance to a wing of the residence. This wing features its own kitchen, two bedrooms, and two well-appointed shower rooms, providing privacy and flexibility for residents and guests alike.

The charming staircase rises to the spacious landing which leads to the five double bedrooms (two of which are en suite) and the family bathroom. A particular room of interest is the stunning dual aspect principal suite which provides a wonderful outlook over the grounds. This suite also benefits from a dressing room and a stylish yet in-keeping modern en suite with free standing bath and separate shower. There is also access to a further bedroom if one wanted to create a further dressing room or cot room.

ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION
On the opposite side of the main drive lie two well equipped cottages, discreetly positioned to offer enhanced privacy for the main house. The cottages boast expansive interiors and are thoughtfully designed.

Each cottage features an entrance hall leading to a kitchen and a spacious sitting/dining room, with one cottage enjoying a wood burner.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms and a separate shower room.

Outside, covered areas provide sheltered spaces for outdoor relaxation and enjoyment, combining indoor and outdoor living. These cottages offer a perfect balance of privacy, comfort and charm, ideal for guests or extended family members seeking their own space within the estate.

OUTBUILDINGS
Situated at the rear of the house and accessible via the rear drive, stands an agricultural outbuilding along with additional storage facilities. This versatile building comprises a spacious, covered area for machinery and feed storage, alongside a cold room and ample garage/workshop space.

Adjacent to the cottages, an oak-framed outbuilding provides further amenities, including a double garage and a dedicated gymnasium.

GARDENS AND GROUNDS
Bagpark’s picturesque setting has been thoroughly enhanced over the centuries, resulting in a breathtaking landscape that perfectly complements the estate. The East Webburn River (which runs into the Dart just above Ashburton) gracefully winds its way through the valley below the house, bordered by gently wooded banks and dotted with cascading weirs. At the lowest levels, there are two large ponds which attract a variety of wildfowl and other wildlife, surrounded by lush banks adorned with seasonal bluebells.

The current owners have taken great care to preserve and enhance the grounds. The grounds feature an orchard with apple, plum and damson trees and a carefully tended kitchen garden with 16 raised beds, mostly used for annuals (e.g. onions and potatoes etc) but several are given over to perennials (asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb and currants). The kitchen garden is completed with a greenhouse purchased at the Hampton Court Flower Festival in 2019 as well as a chicken run. Both the greenhouse and chicken pen have water supplied from the property’s borehole and mains electricity.

The beautiful and diverse woodland to the south and east of the house is believed to date back to the 1860s or 1870s when the principal trees were planted, soon after the main house was developed and now extends to around 6 acres. Some of the tallest specimens originate from the west coast of America and include around 50 Western Red Cedars, some of which are well over 100 feet tall and several Western Hemlocks. Additionally, there are particularly fine examples of Copper Beech and Oak, Scots Pine and Douglas Fir and there are over 1000 mature trees on the property overall.

Within the woodland just beyond the drive there are two rows of granite blocks and large boulders where it is thought, during medieval times, the judge, the accused and the jury would sit as a court and is now known as “The Judge and Jury Plantation”.

A carpet of bluebells runs through the woodland areas turning the ground blue during their bloom. Alongside this, there are wild flowers, foxgloves and orchids which thrive due to the absence of any fertiliser on the paddocks

A expansive and securely fenced deer park spanning about 30 acres was created in around 1995 by the previous owner and comprises grassland, woodland and a large area of rhododendrons. Visible from the house, two beautiful herds made up of deer occupy the park, currently made up 46 fallow and 24 red deer. At the northern end of the deer park is the remains of a building which is believed to have been the stamping house for the (opencast) tin mine which used to exist on the property prior to when most of the tin mines were reputedly closed by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th Century.

On the east side of the lane are two paddocks and about a further 6 acres of mature woodland which are carpeted in bluebells and give spectacular views across the valley onto Hameldown.

This balanced blend of natural beauty and carefully maintained amenities increases the appeal of Bagpark, offering residents a truly exceptional environment and setting to live.

Location

Bagpark is nestled in the tranquil valley of the East Webburn River, approximately a mile from the charming village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor on Dartmoor’s eastern side. Surrounded by the beautiful rugged landscape of Dartmoor, Bagpark offers direct access to the vast expanse of open moorland. Notably, a number of the iconic tors of Dartmoor, including Chinkwell Tor, Honeybag Tor, and Hameldown, grace the landscape in close proximity.

Despite its idyllic and unspoiled surroundings, Bagpark enjoys amenities within easy reach at Widecombe-in-the-Moor such as a local primary school, general store, a popular café tearoom, two public houses: the Old Inn and the popular Rugglestone Inn; and within the village centre itself is St Pancras church, affectionately dubbed the “Cathedral in the Moor.”

Ashburton has a number of wonderful independent restaurants such as the Old Library as well as artisanal bakeries, coffee shops, and specialty food stores whereas the nearby medieval town of Totnes serves as a bustling market town with a diverse and eclectic range of amenities.

Bagpark has convenient access to the A38 dual carriageway accessible via Bovey Tracey, ensuring an easy commute to the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. The Cathedral city of Exeter, serving as the growing regional hub for the South West, boasts excellent educational facilities, thriving commercial opportunities, and good communication links connecting it to the rest of the country. Rail connections are also at Exeter, Newton Abbot and Totnes. For travel overseas, flights are from Exeter Airport or the ferry port at Plymouth.

Square Footage: 6,495 sq ft


Acreage: 63.03 Acres

Directions

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From Exeter, take the A38 dual carriageway in the direction of Plymouth. Take the exit at Drumbridges, marked as ‘Bovey Tracey’, then follow the road towards Mortonhampstead via the A382. Upon reaching the second mini roundabout, turn left onto the B3387 and continue following the signs leading to Haytor. Continue past Haytor for approximately 7 miles until reaching the village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Once in the heart of the village, make a right turn directly across from the church, adjacent to the village store, where a sign marked ‘Natsworthy’ will guide you. Proceed along this country lane for approximately 1 mile, and you will soon come upon the entrance to Bagpark on your left-hand side.

Additional Info

WILDLIFE AND FAUNA
Considerable effort has been dedicated over the past 17 years to transform the estate into a thriving sanctuary and haven for wildlife. This includes:

Birdlife - The estate hosts a diverse array of avian species, both resident and migratory. Notable sightings include buzzards, goshawks, sparrow hawks, and occasional peregrines, with buzzards often nesting on the property. Mandarin ducks, mallards and Canada geese also find refuge here, alongside goosanders and dippers and kingfishers frequenting the river. Pied and grey wagtails, pied and spotted flycatchers, and redstarts add to the vibrant avian population. Spring heralds the arrival of chiffchaffs, blackcaps, willow warblers, and the enchanting call of cuckoos. Tawny owls serenade the night, while song thrushes and blackbirds fill the dawn chorus. Swallows glide gracefully over the pond in summer, joined by house martins in the deer park. Although barn owls reside a mile away, stock doves find solace in the barn. Greater spotted and green woodpeckers, as well as nuthatches, also make their homes here. Winter sees the arrival of siskins and redwings, with ravens a constant presence.
Mammals - Three species of wild deer - roe, fallow, and red - roam the gardens, often captured on camera. Foxes and badgers are daily visitors, with a family of foxes delighting in the orchard’s bounty last summer. Stoats help keep rabbit populations in check, while grey squirrels, though diminishing in numbers due to humane measures, remain a presence. Various species of bats find refuge in and around the buildings, with dormice making their homes in the woods. From time to time otters visit the ponds.

Flora - The estate boasts a breathtaking floral display, with bluebells carpeting the landscape in millions. Spectacular foxgloves grace the deer park, while bee orchids make a triumphant return. Bugle, pink campion, gorse, hazel, blackthorn, and several species of fern thrive throughout the estate. The temperate rainforest climate of Dartmoor ensures the flourishing of diverse tree species, including western red cedar, western hemlock, Douglas fir, Scots pine, oak, and copper beech. While some sweet chestnuts have fallen, regeneration efforts are underway, and dieback-stricken ash trees provide ample wood for stoves.

Fish, Reptiles, and Amphibians - Brown trout populate the stream, making their way to the ponds during summertime. Predatory herons, goosanders, and cormorants pose challenges, while sea trout and, on one memorable occasion, large salmon grace the waters. Frogs and newts thrive on the property, with toads occasionally found in the garden. Slow worms and the occasional lizard add to the rich biodiversity of the estate.

Ashburton 7.2 miles, Bovey Tracey 7.3 miles, Newton Abbot 11.6 miles (London Paddington 155 mins), Exeter 25.4 miles (All distances and times are approximate).

Mains electricity. Private drainage. Private water supply from a borehole. Fibre optic broadband with speeds in excess of 500 mbps.