Oatfield House, Blakeney, Gloucestershire
This 17th century Grade II listed farmhouse is both a comfortable family home and a splendid holiday cottage business. Situated amidst unspoilt countryside above the Severn estuary, Oatfield is convenient for many tourist centres including the Wye Valley, Cotswolds and Black Mountains. The farmhouse dates from mid-late 17th century and retains numerous beautifully preserved features. Although it is currently divided to provide a letting annexe, it can easily revert to a seven bedroom house.
A business was first established at the 6.5 acre property in 1990 and the five well equipped letting cottages have since received numerous awards and commendations. By 2000 the average annual occupancy was over 65%, much of it repeat business, and its success has continued over the last five years. The property is sold with planning permission for a further two cottages.
Attractive gardens, orchards and paddocks, an all-weather tennis court, games room and further farm buildings add to the charm of this rural retreat. Anthony Coaker of Savills? Cirencester office says: ?While it is now common to find superb holiday accommodation in Devon and Cornwall, it is rare to find such a high quality holiday property on the Welsh borders within easy reach of so many popular historic centres.?
 Oatfield House, Blakeney, Gloucestershire
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Oatfield House is on the market for £1.75m with Savills Cirencester. For further information please contact Anthony Coaker on +44 (0) 1285 627550.
Dutch Barn, Micheldever, Hampshire
These unusual barn conversions are light, spacious and extremely contemporary with views over open countryside from all the principal rooms. Situated just 12 miles from Winchester and 58 minutes from London Waterloo, they are a perfect distance for commuting. The character of the original barns has been retained in both. Dutch Barn includes a first floor drawing room with south-facing balcony and a stylish kitchen with granite worktop. Upstairs there are four decent sized bedrooms and outside there are mature trees and paddocks. Courtyard Barn lies on three sides of a private, south-facing courtyard. The property is particularly versatile as the living accommodation can be divided to provide a separate annexe or office. Features include a solid fuel fire with granite hearth in the drawing room and a well-equipped kitchen/breakfast room with east-facing views over the grounds.
The barns have the potential to be more than just family houses ? they could accommodate a decent sized business. Office accommodation in Courtyard Barn comprises two reception rooms a mini-kitchen, cloakroom and there is a large office. ?The Dutch Barn and Courtyard Barn both offer fabulous opportunities to work from home,? explains Matthew Hallett of Strutt & Parker, ?The offices are great spaces with high ceilings and big windows, with some inspiring views over the surrounding countryside – ideal studio space for creative thinking. The proximity of good local pheasant and partridge shoots and chalk stream fishing offers the scope for bed and breakfast or rental income and the paddocks are already producing income from a crop of Christmas trees. The unique nature of the barns, combined with the rural setting and quick road access to the M3 has already lead to a high number of enquiries?.
 Dutch Barn, Micheldever, Hampshire
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The Dutch Barn is on the market for £1,050,000 and Courtyard Barn for £925,000 but they can be purchased together, along with additional land for £2 million. For more information or to arrange a viewing please telephone +44 (0)1962 890077.
Dunsley Hall, Worcestershire
This fine Grade II listed country house is set in stunning mature gardens and grounds and has the added benefit of a top level riding school. The property includes about 7.7 acres and is positioned within the Stour valley. First documented in 1316, the house as it stands is considered to be primarily late 16th century with later additions. Careful, tasteful renovation over the past years has kept the house in good order with many original features. Light, well proportioned rooms with impressive high ceilings, moulded beams and wood panelling create a traditional grandeur. There are four reception rooms, and six bedrooms, plus an additional three bedrooms over the stables. Outside there is a range of outbuildings and garaging. The gardens and grounds range from formal terraces and rose gardens to a productive walled kitchen garden with glass houses, all surrounded by paddocks and woodland. In the future it may also be possible to purchase up to a further 70 acres of pasture.
Dunsley was part of the Prestwood Estate until 1913 when it was purchased by the Marsh family – well known Midlands-based eventers whose successes included the breeding of Wild Venture, the Olympic Gold medallist. The large 45m x 15m indoor riding school is beautifully maintained and enjoys excellent mist irrigation facilities. Tony Morris-Eyton in the Savills West Midlands office comments: ?This is a terrific opportunity to acquire a first class riding school with easy access to Birmingham and the West Midlands, along with a house of great character and charm in a lovely valley.?
 Dunsley Hall, Worcestershire
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Dunsley is on the market for £1.75m through Savills West Midlands. For more information please telephone +44 (0) 1952 239500.
The Old Rectory, Ashprington, South Devon
The Rectory is a superb Georgian property, recently been refurbished to a very high standard. Positioned near the beautiful and popular town of Totnes in South Devon, a successful business could easily be run from the property. The house has been designed for entertaining and includes a superb games room with access to the terrace and garden. There are eight bedrooms, six with bathrooms and plenty of parking. The drawing room and dining room are of impressive dimensions and the kitchen has the capacity to cater for large numbers of guests.
Two cottages, in need of renovation could bring in a healthy rental income or provide ample space to run a business from home. The cottages date in parts from the sixteenth century and are in good structural order. Gordon Maunder, director of Marchand Petit’s Totnes office says ?The Old Rectory in Ashprington would make an excellent country house style hotel or upmarket Bed & Breakfast establishment. It would also suit a large family that wished to create additional income from the two potential cottages.?
 The Old Rectory, Ashprington, South Devon
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Marchand Petit, Kingsbridge are inviting offers over £975,000. For more information please contact telephone +44 (0) 1548 855 590.
Brocklehirst, Dumfriesshire
Brocklehirst or ?Badger?s Wood? is a magnificent, listed Victorian mansion house standing amidst its own grounds in the heart of the Dumfriesshire countryside. Three cottages plus the option of building two more provide the opportunity for a lucrative holiday letting business. Dumfries boasts some of Scotland’s most beautiful countryside and an impressive 32 golf courses. Built around 1850 with an Italianate balustraded outlook tower, the house is classically proportioned and the principal reception rooms, principal bedrooms and secondary accommodation combine to provide flexible, spacious accommodation. There are 7 principal bedrooms, four main bathrooms and 5 secondary bedrooms, with plenty of space downstairs for entertaining.
The main driveway is flanked by mature trees and colourful rhododendrons and the surrounding land extends to 18 acres. A stable and garage complex offers 6 loose boxes and stores and planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of the stables to create 2 cottage dwelling as well as providing useful garaging and storage for the principal house. Three other cottages have each been recently renovated and refurbished. Harriet Simpson of Rettie & Co says: ?Brocklehirst is the quintessential Victorian country gentleman?s package. To be able to offer discerning purchasers the opportunity to acquire a magnificent small estate such as Brocklehirst is really rather exciting. Property in Scotland remains highly sought after and a sound long term investment.?
 Brocklehirst, Dumfriesshire
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For more information please contact Rettie & Co, 1 India Street, Edinburgh on + 44 (0) 131 220 4160.
Scargill Lodge,Country Durham
This fine Victorian shooting lodge includes four letting cottages and equestrian facilities. Located just four miles from the market town of Barnard Castle, the house enjoys rural surroundings whilst being accessible. The property has recently undergone tasteful renovation and offers elegant, spacious accommodation, complimented by a generous income from the cottages. A menage and about five acres of land ensure the stables are also a lucrative facility. The drawing room, sitting room and dining room all include traditional features and pretty fireplaces. The conservatory has double doors onto the terrace. Upstairs there are five well-proportioned bedrooms, most with ensuite facilities and dressing rooms. A wrought iron electric gate leads to an extensive gravel parking to the east of the house. Formal gardens comprise a series of terraced lawns surrounded by woodland.
 Scargill Lodge,Country Durham
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For more information please contact Jackson-Stops Darlington office on +44 (0) 1325 489948. Guide £950,000.
Oxenways, East Devon
Oxenways, a former hunting lodge, is situated in a secluded elevated south facing position with stunning views over its own land. Axminster is just over four miles away and the market town of Honiton is 10 miles south. The main house is constructed of stone and rendered elevations with a substantial parapet under a slate roof and has been substantially modernised and refurbished recently. Superb interior features including oak panelling in the principal reception rooms and stair case and open fireplaces have all been meticulously renovated and high quality fixtures installed throughout. The adjacent courtyard buildings have been converted to provide two cottages and a large reception hall, whilst the Lower Coach House comprises two more cottages and a staff apartment.
The property includes 26 acres of land and the surrounding countryside is perfect for woodland rides. A superb Equestrian Centre specialising in Western riding provided a lucrative income for the present owners. Seven paddocks with mains water supply, a number of loose boxes and other outbuildings are all in excellent condition. Formal gardens, woodland and a lake add to the charm of this comfortable country house. ?This property provides a fantastic opportunity to move to a wonderful country house in the Blackdown Hills with the possibility of running one?s own business,? says Bruce Tolmie-Thomson of Knight Frank, Exeter.
 Oxenways, East Devon
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Oxenways is on the market for £2 million. For more information please contact Knight Frank, Exeter on +44 (0) 1392 423111.
