Downwood Farm, Leominster, HR6

Situation and Description

Downwood Farmhouse enjoys a wonderful elevated setting in the beautiful north Herefordshire countryside, positioned well back above the road with far reaching views towards the Black Mountains and Skirrid.

Although enjoying a peaceful rural setting, the property is conveniently located just minutes from the popular village of Shobdon, which offers a village shop, public house, primary school and a strong local community. Shobdon Airfield is also nearby, providing a fantastic facility for aviation enthusiasts.

The location provides an excellent balance between countryside and convenience. The market town of Leominster offers a wide range of shops, cafés, supermarkets and a railway station with links towards Hereford, Shrewsbury, Birmingham and beyond. Historic Ludlow, well known for its independent shops, restaurants, food culture and famous Ludlow Food Festival, is also within easy reach. The market town of Presteigne, voted one of the best places to live in the UK is just over the Welsh border and hosts music festivals and an annual Tour de Presteigne electric bike event.

The surrounding area includes the attractive border town of Kington, with access to wonderful walking countryside, and the internationally renowned book town of Hay-on-Wye, home to the Hay Festival.

There is a good choice of schooling locally, with both state and independent schools available within the wider area.

For anyone who enjoys the outdoors, the setting is a real feature. From the property there is access towards the Mortimer Trail and Shobdon Hill Woods, offering miles of countryside walks and opportunities for walking, running, exploring and enjoying the wildlife and landscape of this beautiful part of Herefordshire.

The Property

Downwood Farmhouse is an attractive stone farmhouse offering spacious and flexible accommodation, together with the character and atmosphere expected from a traditional country home.

The property has been a much loved family home for over 28 years and offers the space and adaptability required for changing family needs.

The sitting room and adjoining snug are positioned to take full advantage of the elevated setting, enjoying fabulous views across the countryside towards the Black Mountains and Skirrid. The sitting room features a brick fireplace with Clearview wood burning stove, creating an attractive focal point.

The accommodation continues through to the spacious dining kitchen, a lovely light room overlooking the private courtyard and adding to the relaxed farmhouse feel of the property.

The additional studio is a particularly useful feature and offers excellent flexibility. It could be used as a home office, studio, hobby space or additional accommodation, with potential to create an annexe if required, subject to any necessary consents.

On the first floor there are four bedrooms, with the front bedrooms also enjoying the impressive countryside views, together with a separate WC.

Outside, Downwood Farmhouse continues to offer far more than first impressions suggest. The gardens include lawned areas, established planting, a large shed/workshop and former vegetable gardens with raised beds.

Beyond this is the property's own woodland spinney, previously used for keeping chickens and offering a wonderful space for wildlife, gardening or simply enjoying the countryside setting.

With privacy, views and direct access to miles of footpaths, the spinney also offers interesting possibilities for the future, perhaps even a safari tent or quiet glamping retreat, subject to any necessary permissions!

Downwood Farmhouse offers a rare combination of character, views, space and flexibility in a beautiful yet accessible Herefordshire location.

Vendor Comments

Built around 1850 and originally owned by the Lord Bateman estate, at that time the surrounding land was common land. Reverend William Waring rented Downwood Farmhouse and by coincidence the current vendors father is also called William Waring! In 1828 an Act of Parliament in the House of Commons ruled that Downwood Commons along with many others should be Enclosed and it was turned into fields.

Downwood Farmhouse was the last part of the farm to be sold by the farming family in 1998 when we bought it. People move here and stay here because of its tranquility and accessibility. The barns to the east were being converted into 2 houses. To the west are a neighbour's stables and paddock. He is now retired. Renting stables with other neighbouring properties may be possible. If interested, please ask and we will inquire.

We chose to live here to accommodate our growing family, to be in the catchment area for a good secondary school and to have the ability to work from home instead of having to commute every day. We have lived here for 28 years and still love living here.

Over the years we have enjoyed the flexibility of the house as our children have grown and now with adult children leaving, coming back or visiting. We can accommodate them and their partners and our 2 grandchildren when needed. Family gatherings often happen in the summer months where people can flow in and outside.

Our gardens are full of wildlife. Occasionally we see a stoat which is living in the bank at the back of the garden. A young hedgehog regularly visits the courtyard in the evenings to hoover up bird seeds. we are greeted each day by a multitude of birds singing (cheeky sparrows, tits, nuthatches, swallows, sparrow hawks, finches, wood peckers, doves and pigeons).

The sun rises on the annexe then directly on the front of the house most of the day. It disappears beyond the side garden to the west in the evening.

We're really going to miss the spectacular views where we regularly find red kites and buzzards soaring The wide open skies change minute by minute and day by day. My favourite time to gaze out is in the autumn when the sky melts into tangerine and aubergine colours over the mountains as the sun goes down.

Our favourite thing about living here is the freedom we have to escape out into the fields and up to the woods directly from our garden. My husband used it as his training ground for running and durathlons and competed internationally. And if we want a change there's Wapley Hill (an old fort), Nash Woods at Presteigne, Bircher Common and Croft Ambrey and Sned Wood along the river Lugg.

The Spinney was like an adventure playground for our children as they grew up with rope swings and dens. Following that it became a chicken run where one of our sons raised chickens and bantams. We had thought, at times, about building a holiday lodge there but time races on!

The gardens have two distinct ecosystems. The back garden we have used for growing veg, soft fruits and apples. The side garden was originally the football pitch but also a private space we can sit out and eat al fresco or sit quietly and read a book.

When we came here we moved the bathroom from the end of the kitchen to a more central position in the house. We put in oil fired central heating which was changed to Air Source Heat Pumps a few years ago. We still receive a quarterly grant of around £490 which will go to the new owners. It has over 2 years left to run, so is currently worth around £4900. There could be a payback for electricity with a smart meter installed. We also widened our drive.

My husband has run his business here for 27 years after we converted the attached stable and built an office/waiting area at the side of the house. The office space also doubles up as dining space for Christmas, birthday celebrations and dinner parties when extra space is needed.

The children were delighted that Fastershire, a government funded initiative, put in Fibre Broadband direct to the house with excellent speeds.

People often comment how calm and peaceful it is here as well as the fantastic views. A grounded sanctuary where you can relax. They also notice the generous sizes of the rooms and the sunlight that streams through.

We are south facing and get a lot of sun. The sun rises on the annexe to the east then directly on the front of the house most of the day. It disappears beyond the side garden to the west in the evening.

Although it is peaceful here, we have neighbours and we look out for each other. If our car won't start or we run out of tea we always know we can ask somebody for help. If a parcel goes astray it will be brought around or we will be alerted to its whereabouts. It's a perfect spot to raise a family and/or run a business. Quiet and peaceful, yet convenient for getting out on foot, bicycle or by car.

Downwood Farmhouse is a comfortable sanctuary and yet accessible to roads and civilisation! We love that there are vibrant communities in the many surrounding market towns with festivals and events to satisfy most tastes.

We have 'A History of Shobdon' book and will leave it with the house.

Agents Note

Although neighbouring two other properties, Downwood Farmhouse enjoys a surprising degree of privacy, particularly within the principal gardens, courtyard and living accommodation, whilst benefiting from the reassurance of nearby neighbours in this peaceful rural setting.

What3Words

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