Monkleigh, Bideford, Devon, EX39

An exceptionally versatile country estate, thoughtfully curated and successfully operated in recent years as an exclusive holiday retreat and prestigious wedding venue.

Location – The property occupies a highly sought-after setting, enjoying a highly convenient location with easy access to everyday amenities and the spectacular North Devon coastline.

The village of Monkleigh lies approximately 1.5 miles away and offers a good range of local facilities including a church, garage, primary school and well-regarded public house. The historic market town of Great Torrington is just 5 miles distant, while the port and market town of Bideford is approximately 3 miles away. Both provide an excellent selection of amenities including secondary schooling, supermarkets, healthcare services and a variety of independent and national retailers.

In 2022, the North Devon Coastline was designated a World Surfing Reserve — the first in the UK and the only cold-water reserve of its kind globally — further enhancing the area’s international appeal. The renowned 3-mile sandy beach at Westward Ho! lies around 6 miles away, adjoining Northam Burrows Country Park and the historic Royal North Devon Golf Club, reputed to be the oldest links course in England. The nearby South West Coast Path offers exceptional coastal walking with far-reaching views.

To the east, Exmoor National Park lies approximately 24 miles away, celebrated for its rolling moorland, wooded valleys and dramatic coastline, and providing superb opportunities for walking, riding and fishing.

The regional centre of Barnstaple is approximately 12.5 miles distant, offering an extensive range of commercial, leisure and retail facilities, together with access to the A361 North Devon Link Road connecting to the national motorway network.

Communications – The area is readily accessible via Junction 27 of the M5 motorway, connecting to the A361 North Devon Link Road and onward to the A39 Atlantic Highway, providing convenient road links to the wider region and beyond.
Rail services are available from Barnstaple, offering connections to Exeter. From there, mainline services provide onward travel nationwide. Alternatively, Tiverton Parkway, approximately 43 miles away (just over an hour’s drive), offers direct services to London in just over two hours.

Mileages

Monkleigh – 1.5 miles
Great Torrington – 5 miles
Bideford – 3 miles
Westward Ho! Beach – 6 miles
Barnstaple – 12.5 miles

The Property – Opportunities of such versatility and scale rarely come to the open market. The estate enjoys a highly accessible yet private setting, within easy reach of excellent amenities, rolling countryside and the spectacular North Devon coastline.

The property comprises a number of distinct elements, offering exceptional flexibility – whether as a substantial private residence with income potential, a lifestyle-led hospitality venture, or a reinstated wedding and events destination.

At its heart lies an elegant Victorian manor house enjoying far-reaching countryside views, complemented by four independent cottages and nine beautifully positioned woodland cabins. Leisure facilities include both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The impressive oak-framed barn with adjoining contemporary glasshouse provides a striking focal point for events and celebrations, while equally offering scope for further diversification, subject to the necessary consents.

The estate is set within beautifully maintained formal gardens and grounds, extending in total to approximately 24 acres, incorporating areas of mature and ancient woodland and enjoying expansive rural views.

The business is not currently trading; however, historic accounts and projections from previous years are available upon request. The property is offered to the market with no onward chain.

The accommodation, with approximate dimensions more clearly identified on the accompanying floorplans, comprises:
The Manor – The elegant Victorian manor house extends to over 5,000 sq. ft. and offers beautifully proportioned accommodation arranged over two floors. The layout comprises three principal reception rooms, kitchen and a games room with nine bedrooms, served by eight bath/shower rooms.

Period features are well preserved and include high ceilings, large sash windows flooding the interiors with natural light, original fireplaces and exposed floorboards. A particularly attractive feature is the sweeping veranda, wrapping around two elevations and perfectly positioned to enjoy the far-reaching countryside views.

The manor lends itself equally well to use as a substantial private residence or as principal accommodation supporting a wider hospitality or events venture.

The Cottages – Positioned to the side and rear of the manor house, four individual cottages provide well-appointed, self-contained accommodation. Each benefits from its private patio areas of garden or seating areas, together with access to the indoor swimming pool facilities.

The Lodge – A single-storey cottage offering a generous sitting/dining room, separate kitchen, three double bedrooms (the principal bedroom with en-suite wet room) and a family bathroom.

Goodison – A two-storey cottage comprising an entrance hall, cloakroom and an open-plan sitting room and kitchen opening into a full-width conservatory. To the first floor are two double bedrooms (one en-suite), a twin bedroom and a family bathroom. The second bedroom enjoys access to a balcony with countryside views.

Stackstead – Adjoining Goodison, this two-storey cottage provides comfortable accommodation with an outdoor seating area. The ground floor features an open-plan kitchen and sitting room with wood-burning stove leading into a full-width conservatory, together with a cloakroom. On the first floor are two double bedrooms, both with en-suite facilities.

Bay Tree Cottage – A single-storey cottage situated to the rear of the manor, benefiting from its own private garden and seating area. The accommodation includes an open-plan sitting/dining room with kitchen area, wood-burning stove and feature well, together with a double bedroom and en-suite shower room.

Goodison/Stackstead/Bay Tree Cottage all have patio/seating areas onto the Victorian Walled garden.

Woodland Lodges – Set within approximately 20 acres of ancient woodland, a collection of nine luxury woodland lodges offer a secluded and immersive countryside experience. Designed to provide privacy and tranquillity, each lodge includes a kitchenette, bathroom, double bedroom and outdoor fire pit.

These lodges are well suited to the thriving short-stay holiday market and represent an established, ready-made income stream, whilst also complementing the estate’s wider hospitality offering.

The Beacon & Glasshouse – The striking oak-framed barn – known as The Beacon – forms the centrepiece of the events and leisure facilities and sets the estate apart as a destination venue. The main space is open plan, with soaring vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and bi-fold doors opening onto surrounding terraces and lawns. The barn can accommodate approximately 120 seated guests, with capacity increased when incorporating the external areas (220 total capacity).
Adjoining The Beacon, the contemporary Glasshouse enhances the versatility of the space, providing additional capacity suitable for celebrations, wellness retreats, workshops or private functions.

The building is currently configured to support external caterers and includes a bar area, chiller room, commercial kitchen, WC facilities and storage.

The Sundial Ceremony Area – A stunning area enjoying panoramic countryside views with a hand built oak pergola. It is the ideal place for a wedding ceremony.
Office – Located at the entrance to the estate is a detached timber lodge currently utilised as an administrative office and reception point for guests, with an adjoining store.

Income & Lifestyle Potential – Opportunities of this scale and flexibility are seldom available. The estate offers genuine multi-faceted potential – whether as a substantial private home with income, a multi-generational family holding, a reinstated wedding and events venue, or a lifestyle-led hospitality enterprise or a very impressive and diverse holiday complex.

It is also understood that initial plans were discussed about creating a café/bistro using The Beacon & Glasshouse which would offer further potential (STP).

Multiple revenue streams are possible, including destination weddings with on-site accommodation, self-catering holiday cottages, woodland lodge retreats, wellness programmes, creative workshops and private hire events – all within a highly desirable North Devon setting.

The property has generated a gross income in the region of £200,000 in recent years although the business is not currently operational.

Outside – The estate extends to just over 24 acres, combining beautifully maintained formal gardens surrounding the manor and cottages with expansive areas of ancient woodland, rich in wildlife and natural beauty. The grounds are designed to complement entertaining and events, while offering a sense of privacy and seclusion. The land stretches to the River Torridge, with the property understood to include fishing rights (prospective purchasers should verify this with their solicitor).
A number of practical outbuildings support the estate, including a woodland store serving the lodges and a separate structure housing the biomass boiler.
Property Information

Services – Mains electricity and water. Private drainage. Heating via biomass boiler which also generates an income via an RHI grant.

Local Authority – Torridge District Council – .

Contents, Fixtures and Fittings – Only those mentioned within this brochure are included in the sale. All others, such as light fittings, mirrors, garden ornaments etc. are specifically excluded, but are available by separate negotiation.

Agent’s Note – It is understood that there is a public lane that runs through a section of the woodland, which is only accessible for a few local properties and seldom used.

Viewing – By appointment with Jackson-Stops, North Devon .

For sale by private treaty with vacant possession upon completion.

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EPC Rating: E

Directions – From Barnstaple, take the A39 towards Bideford and continue to the traffic lights just before Bideford Bridge. Turn right, following signs for East-the-Water, Instow and Yelland, and proceed to the roundabout. Turn left towards Bideford, and at the next roundabout, turn right over the Old Bideford Bridge.

At the following roundabout, turn left along the river, then at the next mini-roundabout take the first exit onto the A386 towards Great Torrington. Continue along this road to the village of Landcross then take the right-hand turn signposted for Monkleigh and Holsworthy. Continue for approximately 0.6 miles until you reach the entrance to Beaconside on the left.