Holne, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13

Middle Stoke House has a magical setting. It is set amidst completely unspoilt countryside above the Dart River valley, within the Dartmoor National Park with wonderful views of the wilds of the moor itself. It has only one near neighbour with the next closest about 400 yards away. The house is unlisted and dates from the latter part of the 19th century. It has a simple, unfussy exterior, which is protected with painted render along with a mix of six and nine-paned timber sash windows under a slate roof. All the rooms on both floors have amazing, far-reaching views out over the garden and grounds and the house is brimming with character. It is also worth noting that the late Victorian/early Edwardian period marked one of best periods of British domestic architecture and Middle Stoke House displays this perfectly. Its position and the internal layout of all its rooms make best use of the available light throughout the day. This combined with large windows and excellent ceiling height within well-proportioned rooms means that the house has a wonderful feeling of light and space throughout.

The layout of the ground floor means that the smallest of the reception room faces east, whilst the two principal reception rooms, the sitting and dining rooms, lie either side of a central hall, facing south. To complete the circle the large kitchen/breakfast room faces west, which allows the remaining light at the end of the afternoon to be enjoyed as it fades and the evening draws in. The three reception rooms are all fitted with original fireplaces, one with a wood burner, and the lovely kitchen/breakfast room has timber units, a tiled floor, Belfast sink and a two-oven Watson range cooker and a Neff electric oven and hob. It also has ample room for a good-sized kitchen table.

There are five bedrooms off the landing on the first floor plus a family bathroom and separate shower room. The dual aspect principal bedroom, the adjacent single bedroom and bedroom four face south, like all the bedrooms, have fantastic far-reaching views. All four double bedrooms are generously sized.

The house is approached down a 150 yard-long driveway that is shared with the neighbouring property. A private and gated spur branches off to a parking area beside the house, where there is space for several cars. There is a shed and an outside toilet currently being used for storage. The garden surrounds the house and is bound by stock-proof fencing. It is lawned and purposefully simple as this allows nothing to distract from beauty of the surrounding countryside, whilst requiring minimal maintenance to boot. Beyond the garden to the south and west are two, partitioned and gated, gently sloping paddocks, the upper paddock having direct access via a 5-bar gate to the lane above.

Middle Stoke House is set amidst gorgeous countryside within the Dartmoor National Park and with only one near neighbour. It is just over a mile or under five minutes in the car from the small village of Holne, which has about 250 residents and is served by a charming early 14th century church, a tearoom, shop and a traditional pub, the Church House Inn, which is very popular and serves delicious cider and food. The nearby, small market town of Buckfastleigh, about five and a half miles away, has a good selection of shops and local businesses including a GP medical centre, NHS dental practice, veterinary surgery and two farm shops on the outskirts of the town. The thriving town of Ashburton is also close by, with an excellent range of facilities including independent restaurants such as the Old Library, Rafikis as well as coffee shops, a delicatessen, artisan bakery, a fish deli and cookery school.

The larger towns of Newton Abbot and Totnes are also within reach for wider requirements including a large Morrison's supermarket. The property also has good access to the main arterial road network as the A38/Devon Expressway is only five and half miles away. Newton Abbot and Totnes railway stations on the Exeter to Plymouth line are about half an hour by car, with connecting services from the two stations in Exeter. Exeter Airport is about an hour away offering flights to UK and international destinations. The area has a choice of schools for all ages from both the state and independent sectors including four well-regarded independent schools in Exeter, Stover School in Teigngrace and Churston Ferrers Grammar School in Brixham.