The Bourne, Millthrop, Sedbergh, LA10

From the moment you turn onto the sweeping driveway and see the house sitting centrally within its gardens, there is an immediate sense of privacy, space and escape. Mature trees, carefully planted borders, open countryside and those spectacular fell views create a setting that feels wonderfully peaceful, yet the centre of Sedbergh is still within easy reach.

This is a home made for a slower, richer way of life. Mornings can begin with a walk beside the river, an afternoon might be spent on the fairways at Sedbergh Golf Club, which is close by, while warmer days bring the simple pleasure of wandering down to a fantastic local wild swimming spot just a short walk from the house. Step outside the front door and the landscape becomes part of everyday life.

Sedbergh itself is one of the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s most characterful communities. Known as England’s Book Town, it has an individuality and warmth that is increasingly difficult to find, with independent shops, cafés, places to eat and a strong sense of community. For walkers, runners and cyclists, the possibilities are almost endless, with routes stretching directly into the surrounding Howgills and the wider Yorkshire Dales, including the Dales Way.

Families are particularly well catered for, with primary and secondary education within the area alongside the internationally renowned Sedbergh School. And while the surroundings feel reassuringly rural, they are far from isolated. Junction 37 of the M6 can be reached in around ten minutes, placing Kendal, the Lake District and wider transport links comfortably within reach. It is that rare combination of countryside, community and connectivity that makes Sedbergh such an exceptional place to call home.

Inside, The Bourne has all the warmth and character you would hope to find in a period property. The entrance hallway is light and generous, immediately introducing the proportions and period detailing found throughout the house. From here, the accommodation flows naturally into a series of beautifully presented living spaces.

The principal lounge is a particularly special room. Triple-aspect windows draw the landscape into the house, filling the room with natural light and framing views across the gardens and surrounding countryside. A handsome coved ceiling adds elegance overhead, while the marble fireplace and open fire provide a wonderful focal point. On winter evenings, with the fire lit and the fells disappearing into the dusk beyond the windows, it is difficult to imagine a more inviting place to be. Across the hall, the separate dining room offers another wonderfully versatile space, with views to both the front and rear. It is a room designed for long Sunday lunches, family celebrations and evenings spent around the table, with useful built-in understairs storage tucked discreetly away.

Beyond is the kitchen, which strikes an appealing balance between contemporary convenience and the traditional character of the house. A range of fitted wall and base units provides plentiful storage, complemented by integrated appliances including a dishwasher and fridge freezer, together with a Range cooker. Windows on opposing sides ensure the kitchen enjoys excellent natural light throughout the day.

A rear porch, with exposed stonework and tiled flooring, provides a more informal everyday entrance and connects conveniently with the external utility room. Here there is plumbing for a washing machine and tumble dryer, together with a WC and wash hand basin — practical additions particularly well suited to countryside living.

Upstairs, the sense of space continues with three generously proportioned double bedrooms. Each enjoys its own outlook across the surrounding landscape, meaning that waking up to views of gardens, fields and distant fells simply becomes part of daily life. All three bedrooms also benefit from useful built-in storage.

The family shower room has been finished to an excellent standard, with a contemporary three-piece suite comprising a shower enclosure, WC and wash hand basin.

Yet it is outside where The Bourne truly comes into its own. The gravelled driveway, approached across a traditional cattle grid, provides ample parking for numerous vehicles and leads to a single garage with power and lighting. A separate stone-built potting shed, also with its own electricity supply, will undoubtedly appeal to keen gardeners and provides valuable additional storage or workspace. The gardens envelop the house on every side and have been thoughtfully landscaped to create a series of beautiful areas to enjoy throughout the seasons. Mature trees and established shrubs provide colour, shelter and privacy, while planted borders soften the house and create an attractive backdrop wherever you look. To the rear, a gravel courtyard provides a wonderfully secluded setting for outdoor dining — somewhere to light the barbecue, pour a glass of wine and watch the evening light move across the fields and hills beyond. To the east sits a private orchard, complete with established fruit trees. It feels like a little world of its own: peaceful, sheltered and wonderfully informal, whether used for gardening, children playing, summer picnics or simply finding a quiet bench and enjoying the surroundings.

The Bourne is not simply a period house in the countryside. It is a home that offers a particular way of living — space, privacy, fresh air, river walks, wild swimming, golf, open fires and spectacular views, all within easy reach of one of the Yorkshire Dales’ most sought-after and welcoming towns. For those dreaming of a life surrounded by nature without sacrificing community or convenience, The Bourne offers something increasingly rare: a beautiful home, in a remarkable setting, where the countryside really does begin at the garden gate.

Local Information

Sedbergh offers the perfect balance of countryside, community and connectivity. Set beneath the Howgill Fells within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it offers exceptional walking, cycling and outdoor pursuits, alongside independent shops, cafés and excellent schooling. With Sedbergh Golf Club nearby and Junction 37 of the M6 only a short drive away, it is an ideal place to enjoy a quieter pace of life without feeling remote.

General Information

EPC - F
Council Tax Band - F
Oil central heating system
Mains drainage
Roof was re-done 10 years ago