Highcliffe Cottage, Fishpond, Dorset

Nestled between treetops and elevated on raised steel columns, this striking black timber house has spectacular valley views that stretch towards the Jurassic Coastline. Connections to the outdoors are strong: each room has been orientated to face the sea, and there is a wonderful south-facing terrace that runs the length of the building. Around 10 minutes' drive from Lyme Regis and 15-20 minutes from Bridport, Highcliffe Cottage is well-placed to explore West Dorset and East Devon, along with their spectacular beaches and countryside.

The Building 

Japanese inspired, the house - which replaced an older worker's cottage on the same site - was designed by CDMS to bed down among its picturesque surroundings. It is defined by its refined use of materials, from the sealed bare plaster walls and micro-cement floors, to exposed rafters and a considered palette of colours. Energy efficient measures including an air source heat pump have also been fitted. Simple and warm yet decidedly elegant, Highcliffe Cottage has featured in many interior magazines and books, including Country Living Modern Rustic, and 'Living in Rustic Style' by Brent Darby and Vivienne Ayers. The house is angled towards the adjacent greenery and has views that extend towards Charmouth and the sea. The house is currently successfully rented as a holiday let via Unique Homestays.

The Tour 

Tucked behind an old stone wall, Highcliffe Cottage cuts a low profile from the approaching lane. From its parking space, steps lead down to the front door, which in turn opens into a generous hallway. On arrival, the attention to detail is immediately apparent: polished floors meet walls with light shadow gaps, and a mono-pitched roof provides an exaggerated sense of height and volume, along with plenty of storage space.

A corridor leads to the living space, a wonderfully tranquil and open-plan room. A smart shaker-style DeVol kitchen painted in 'Pantry Blue' has been fitted and paired with a complementary copper splash-back. The room is warmed by a wood-burning stove and punctuated by large windows that frame verdant views. More light pours in from carefully positioned skylights, set within the wooden rafters and exposed steel roof beam.

A useful utility space lies off the hallway, lined with tongue-and-groove panelling and with shaker pegs and cabinetry, all painted in Farrow and Ball's 'Railings'. There is a sink here, along with washing and drying machines.

The house's principal bedroom lies at the far end of the living space and shares the same spectacular views. It has a smart en suite with a walk-in shower surrounded by Bert and May emerald-coloured tiles.

Steps at the opposite end of the reception room lead to the second and third bedrooms. Here, the micro-cement floors found throughout the house are taken part-way up the wall. One of the bedrooms has cleverly built-in bunk beds, with their own set of shelves for keeping toys and books. Both bedrooms have sliding glazed doors to the terrace; they also a share a smart family bathroom.

Outdoor Space

Steps lead down to the patio below. Built into the hillside, the outdoor space is terraced and has exquisite views beyond the trees. It has plenty of room to sit, or to host barbecues during the summer in the dappled woodland light.

Filled with mature trees, the woodland next to the house is also included in this sale and unfolds across approximately 2/3 of an acre.

The Area

The house lies idyllically close to The Jurassic Coast, a hugely diverse and beautiful landscape underpinned by incredible geology of global importance. In 2001 it was designated as a Unesco World Heritage Site for the outstanding value of its rocks, fossils and landforms. It remains England’s only natural World Heritage Site. The Jurassic Coast begins at Orcombe Point in Exmouth, Devon, and continues for 95 miles to Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage, Dorset.

The area is renowned for local food producers and independently-run cafés and restaurants. The inimitable River Cottage is just over a 10-minute drive away, while The Seaside Boarding House is a 25-minute along the coast and is known for its incredible sea views. Trill Farm Garden is a community of local organic market gardeners delivering a weekly box of fresh vegetables and In My Back Yard provides food from various nearby producers.

Lyme Regis can be reached in around 10 minutes by car and has a great selection of independent shops, including Lyme Book Shop, a stellar fishmonger near the harbour, Papa Luca Vintage and Ryder and Hope. There is also a museum and a theatre for music, theatre, comedy and National Theatre Live screenings; it is also host to the Lyme Regis Film Society. Tom’s Lyme Regis is a restaurant on the seafront specialising in local produce and is great for a morning coffee with a sea view. Lilac’s wine bar and restaurant offers excellent food, and for pizza, there is Poco’s, which has an upstairs terrace overlooking the beach.

The handsome market town of Bridport is around 15-20 minutes’ drive away. The town has gained a reputation as the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, with West Bay beach within walking distance of Bridport’s bustling centre. Here, dramatic golden cliffs rise above the fine shingle strand and views along Chesil beach and Portland island are quite spectacular.

There is much to do in Bridport; in addition to plenty of locally stocked grocers, cafés (including Soulshine), pubs and a post office, the town is thriving with independent antique sellers and specialist bookshops, as well as an impressive family-run art deco cinema. Many of these amenities are located on South Street, which is transformed twice weekly for the historic Bridport market. The Bridport Art Centre is on the doorstep, presenting a year-round programme of visual arts, theatre, dance, comedy, music, spoken word and films and screenings. A local Waitrose is a convenient in-town amenity.

There are some excellent schools in the area, including Woodroffe School and Colyton Grammar School, one of the country’s top state schools.

Axminster station is just over six miles away with a direct service to London Waterloo which runs in just over two and a half hours.

Council Tax Band: E