Cowan Bridge, Carnforth, Lancashire, LA6

Low Gale Barn is a very attractive house with stone elevations beneath a slate roof.

Description

Although semi-detached with the original farmhouse, the outlook has been arranged away from it in a southerly direction and over the delightful grounds and woodland.

Approached through an enclosed stone bench porch, the property opens into an inviting reception hall that provides access to the main living spaces. The triple aspect sitting room is a standout feature, arranged over split levels and centred around a wood burning stove, creating an elegant yet comfortable space for everyday living.

The heart of the home is the superb open plan dining kitchen, snug and garden room. This expansive, flowing space is perfectly designed for both family life and entertaining. The dining area enjoys a bay window and direct access to the south east facing courtyard, while the split level snug offers a wood burning stove and steps up to a cosy reading nook with fitted bookshelves. The kitchen is equipped with painted cabinetry, granite worktops, an island and a cream Aga with electric module. Completing this space is the contemporary triple aspect garden room, which frames views across the gardens and tennis court.

Practicality is well catered for with a walk in cool store, utility/laundry room and a versatile anything room ideal as a gym, playroom or hobby space, with bi folding doors opening onto the rear terrace. From here, a door leads into the impressive leisure suite featuring a heated indoor swimming pool, changing facilities, WC and sauna, with further sliding/bi folding doors opening directly to the gardens.

Two staircases rise to the first floor. The principal bedroom is a generous triple aspect, split level suite with dressing area, fitted wardrobes and a four piece en suite. Two further double bedrooms each benefit from walk in wardrobes and en suite facilities. Bedrooms four and five feature mezzanine sleep platforms, built in storage and share a four piece house bathroom.

A separate staircase leads to a further study/bedroom with balcony access, also reachable via bedroom two or external stone steps an ideal retreat or independent bedroom suite.
The grounds are a major highlight. Landscaped gardens surround the house on three sides, creating a series of beautifully composed outdoor spaces. To the south east lies a private courtyard with rose garden, pond and flagged terrace. To the west, sweeping lawns lead to a ha ha, complemented by well stocked borders, multiple seating areas and a charming thatched breeze house beside the wildlife pond. Woodland to the south west, bordered by Leck Beck, is rich with bluebells in spring and includes fishing rights, offering a peaceful natural haven. To the north is a hard tennis court screened by beech hedge, with pavilion, greenhouses, raised vegetable beds and an outdoor entertaining area complete with fire pit, stone trough sink and built in BBQ.

A detached oak framed outbuilding (added in 2010) provides a single garage, double car port, studio, workshop, gardener’s WC and mower store. Extensive parking is available both beside the outbuilding and within the turning circle at the front of the property.
Beyond the formal gardens lie two paddocks to the south and south west, served by a timber stable block with two loose boxes.

In all, the property extends to approximately 10.5 acres (4.27 hectares).

Location

Nestled within one of the English countryside’s most unspoilt landscapes, the Lune Valley unfolds just minutes from Lancaster, bordered by both the Forest of Bowland National Landscape and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Low Gale Barn enjoys a good degree of privacy, tucked away in an idyllic and tranquil setting, while remaining remarkably well connected for the A65, Kirkby Lonsdale and Lancaster.
The nearby village of Cowan Bridge (0.8 miles), long associated with the Brontë sisters and the site of the Clergy Daughters’ School they attended in 1824, offers a charming general store and welcoming tea rooms.

Kirkby Lonsdale (2.5 miles), an award winning market town, provides an excellent selection of independent shops, cafés and restaurants. Everyday amenities include a bank, Post Office, Booths supermarket, chemist, opticians, and both doctors’ and dentists’ surgeries.

The historic town of Kendal (15 miles), known as the Gateway to the Lakes, and the Georgian city of Lancaster (16 miles) offer a comprehensive range of commercial, cultural and recreational facilities. Lancaster is also home to Lancaster University, Lancaster & Morecambe College and the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.
Families are well served by highly regarded schooling: primary schools in Leck (St Peter’s) and Kirkby Lonsdale (St Mary’s), secondary education in Kirkby Lonsdale (Queen Elizabeth School) and Milnthorpe (Dallam), and an excellent choice in Lancaster, including the Boys’ and Girls’ Grammar Schools. The area also benefits from notable independent schools such as Sedbergh (with its Preparatory School at Casterton), Giggleswick and Windermere.

Surrounded by magnificent countryside, with both the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks close at hand, the area offers a spectacular natural playground for walking, cycling and a wide variety of outdoor pursuits. For those drawn to the coast, Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape and the Morecambe Bay Estuary lie nearby, providing further opportunity to explore this outstanding region.
Enjoy excellent road communications, with easy access to the wider motorway network via junctions 34, 35 or 36 of the M6, depending on your direction of travel. The A65 is also close at hand, providing a convenient route east.
Rail travel is equally well served. Lancaster and Oxenholme stations, both on the West Coast Main Line and approximately 13 miles away, offer direct services to London Euston, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The historic station at Carnforth (12.8 miles) sits on the Leeds to Morecambe line, providing connections to Lancaster, Barrow-in-Furness, Leeds and Manchester Airport.

For international travel, there is a choice of nearby airports including Leeds Bradford (50.5 miles), Manchester (82.2 miles) and Liverpool (87.9 miles), each offering a broad range of domestic and international flights.

Square Footage: 6,899 sq ft


Acreage: 10.5 Acres

Directions

From Kirkby Lonsdale, head east along the A65 towards Ingleton. After passing Whoop Hall, continue beyond the entrance to New House Caravan Park on the right, then take the next turning on the right. Follow the lane for approximately half a mile to its end, where the property will be found.