North Cheriton, Templecombe, Somerset, BA8

This period cottage, parts of which date back 400 years, is built of stone under a clay tiled roof and sits in a well-tended garden in the pretty village of North Cheriton, near Sherborne. The first thing you notice upon entering Drake’s Cottage is the lovely feeling of light, space and flow between the rooms downstairs, beautifully presented in soft white and neutral décor with wooden and carpeted flooring and exposed beams. The generous, triple aspect sitting room offers a great space for relaxation, with a stone fireplace and Woodwarm woodburner, fitted cupboards and bookshelves and French doors onto the terrace. Large folding glass doors into the hall allow a seamless transition all the way through to the kitchen, passing a study and cosy dining room with beamed ceiling and room for a sizeable table and chairs. The welcoming kitchen, with its beamed ceiling and slate floor, comprises painted units under wooden worktops, a 1.5 ceramic butler sink and fitted dishwasher. A two-oven oil fired aga (cream) in a rustic inglenook with chunky oak lintel gives the kitchen a homely atmosphere, while further storage is provided in the adjacent pantry with units, shelving and room for a full height fridge freezer. Just off the kitchen, a lean-to conservatory with a door to the garden provides a lovely place for relaxation in the warmer months. The back door opens into the boot room, off which there is a utility room, with space and connection for a washing machine, and a shower room, which is an ideal set-up for returning home from muddy walks.

Upstairs, the delightful principal bedroom overlooks the garden and encompasses a well-presented ensuite bathroom comprising bath, separate shower, twin basins and WC. There are three further, good sized double bedrooms and two shower rooms, one being ensuite. The end bedroom has the benefit of its own staircase leading down to a further shower room, the utility room and back door, thus offering the potential to create separate living accommodation. Alternatively, opening up the connecting door between the third and fourth bedrooms allows for the possibility of a dressing room or a separate teenage sitting room.

AGENTS NOTE: Photos are as previously furnished.

GARDENS AND GROUNDS
Drakes Cottage is surrounded by delightful gardens on three sides; the principal garden is laid to lawn edged with drifts of spring bulbs and bordered by mature shrubs and trees. Wisteria, winter jasmine and firethorn adorn the walls of the house while both the terrace off the sitting room and a raised terrace sheltered by a beach hedge provide space for summer entertaining. At the front of the house, a gravelled rose garden is part enclosed by clipped box, yew and a pretty apple stepover, while cordon pears climb the wall of the workshop. There is a vegetable garden to the side with fruit cages, a greenhouse and apple espaliers. The property is accessed via a five-bar gate which opens onto the wide driveway with a large double garage, workshop, lean-to wood store and shed. This welcoming cottage, full of country character and spacious accommodation offers the promise of an idyllic rural life surrounded by relaxing and productive gardens and set in a quiet village location.

LOCATION
The northern fringe of the Blackmore Vale has changed little in centuries and comprises mainly open pasture criss-crossed with nature rich hedges and small woodland coverts, remaining much as it did when Thomas Hardy immortalised it in his Wessex novels. Pretty villages break up this lovely landscape, comprising mainly period houses and cottages at their heart and the charming village of North Cheriton is one such settlement. However, the communication links are superb, with the Wincanton junction of the A303 (predominantly dual carriageway all the way to the M3 and London, also leading to Exeter) only two miles away and Templecombe with its Waterloo line station only three miles away. Castle Cary has a connection to London Paddington taking only 1hour 40 minutes.

Nearby Charlton Horethorne has a village shop, a popular pub, The King’s Arms, primary school, church and village hall. The major towns of the area are all within easy reach such as Wincanton, with its supermarkets and shops and the town of Sherborne, renowned for its two castles and spectacular Abbey, which has a wide range of boutiques, shops and regular markets, along with Waitrose and Sainsburys.

EDUCATION
The area is noted for its independent schools with the Sherborne Schools Group, Leweston, Bryanston, Clayesmore, Millfield and the Bruton schools within reasonable driving distance. There are preparatory schools at Sherborne, Blandford and Sparkford, along with primary schools at nearby Charlton Horethorne and Horsington and state schools in Sherborne, Wincanton, Castle Cary and Bruton.

SPORTING AND RECREATION
The area is well provided for with bridleways, quiet lanes and footpaths suitable for cycling, riding and walking. Within close proximity lies the town of Bruton, which plays host to a plethora of attractions, cafes and restaurants, including recently opened Briar at No1 Bruton and the Michelin-starred Osip. The Hauser & Wirth gallery, garden, Da Costa restaurant and farm shop, are within a short drive. The Newt, now well renowned for its many first-class attractions, is also nearby. There are Sailing and water sports on the Bristol Channel, Dorset coast or Sutton Bingham and Chew reservoirs. Nearby racing is at Wincanton, Salisbury and Taunton. The are also numerous golf courses in the area and theatres are at Bath, Yeovil, Bristol and Salisbury.