A house being listed often means it is beautiful. It also means it can be difficult to mend, or extend, or modernise. Such is the price (literal and metaphorical) of beauty. It's always a treat, then, to find an unlisted home that, to our eyes at least really should be. The best of both worlds.

Step forward Ashton House, an unlisted eight-bedroomed Edwardian house of 7,600sq ft, near the south Somerset market town of Chard. It has come to the market with Strutt & Parker at an asking price of £2.95m.

It is set centrally in grounds of just under nine acres, in what selling agent Oliver Custance Baker describes as ‘an accessible rural location’. Crewkerne, Yeovil and Taunton are all within easy reach, as is Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast. Thanks to its elevated position, the house has spectacular views over rolling hills and the property has been designed to maximise these vistas with large bay windows across the ground floor.

The beautifully maintained grounds feature family-friendly amenities, such as a heated swimming pool with two changing rooms, a picturesque walled garden and an all-weather tennis court. There is a vegetable garden, croquet lawn, chicken run and many specimen trees dotted throughout the garden.

The house itself was built in 1914 with the Tudor-style rendering and timber work that was fashionable in Edwardian suburbs. Given that it was commissioned to his own design by a Col Noblett who was returning from India, it is possible that he was inspired by the half-timber façades often seen on houses built for homesick expatriates in hill stations such as Shimla.

An impressive entrance hall leads to a spacious drawing room and a separate sitting room. There is a newly created light-filled, open-plan kitchen with an Aga, family room and garden room where bi-fold doors open onto an extensive, south-facing terrace. Further ground-floor space includes a utility room, pantry, dog or boot room and two cloakrooms.

Upstairs are five double bedrooms and a bunkroom, plus a generous main-bedroom suite. A further two bedrooms and bathroom are located on the top floor and there is a home office above the garage, which is set up with an EV charger.

Ashton House is for sale with Strutt & Parker for £2.95 million. For more information and pictures, click here

Kent — £4,000,000

When it comes to houses with great names, few can do better than Fishponds Place, a six-bedroom home near Seal Chart.

Originally from 1910, the house has been enhanced and extended in recent years, and features a plethora of amenities including a gym, tennis court, basketball court and swimming pool within its 10.85 acres

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

Surrey — £5,500,000

A welcoming five-bedroom home in the charming St George's Hill Estate, Amberwood Court was built in 1999 and designed by David De Lay.

The amenities of St George's Hill are world famous, but in case you need a refresher: one of the finest tennis clubs in England, a championship-standard golf course and 900 private acres of communal countryside. A golfer's paradise.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.

Stirlingshire — £2,250,000

The ace of space. Invertrossachs Country House is a considerable Edwardian residence of some 17,000sq ft in the heart of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.

Just look at that setting. Comes with 13 bedrooms in all. Not much else to say really.

For sale with Strutt & Parker. See more pictures and details for this property.

Suffolk — £9,000,000

The original site of Martley Hall in Easton was recorded in the Domesday Book, but thankfully the current house is a bit newer than that. A grand family home of six bedrooms set in 220 acres, this is a chance to own one of Suffolk's finest equestrian estates.

Futher amenities include, but are not limited to, a sauna and steam room, tennis court, petanque courts, and an indoor swimming pool. Did we mention there's a moat? There's a moat.

For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.

Northamptonshire — £1,250,000

They say good things come in small packages. This five-bedroom home in Wicken might be the perfect example. Underneath that elegant stone interior is something rather special.

These interiors. Crisp, clean and astoundingly contemporary with just enough period touches throughout. Highlight has to be the garden room, or the kitchen with the bi-fold doors

For sale with Michael Graham. See more pictures and details for this property.

Shropshire — £4,000,000

The rather imposing Bettisfield Park is a Grade II*-listed Georgian country house set in lovely gardens and grounds of some 3.75 acres with surrounding parkland views.

The real highlight, though, is the astoundingly grand interiors. You will struggle to find finer plasterwork in a private country home. One for the architectural purists.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.

Buckinghamshire — £5,500,000

Riverside living is the dream for many, and I can struggle to think of a better dream house than Doannee in Bray, with its sensational position on the Thames.

With six bedrooms, this Edwardian masterpiece has been extensively restored and enhanced by its current owners. Bray, of course, is bursting with amenities, not least the Michelin-starred restaurants within walking distance.

For sale with Hamptons. See more pictures and details for this property.

London — £29,500,000

It's difficult to get bang for your buck in London, but this seven-bedroom home in Mayfair is a very good effort indeed.

Set over three floors, the property benefits from a drive-in gated courtyard, underground parking, a swimming pool and cinema room. 12,800sq ft in prime central London.

For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale

A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.

What you'll find inside Country Life's 2024 Christmas Double issue, the biggest in 128 years of the magazine's history

Country Life 11/18 December 2024 is our iconic Christmas Double Issue, with 318 pages of Christmas cheer.

The glorious Wye Valley, which straddles the border between England and Wales, provides a spectacular backdrop to one of Herefordshire’s most remarkable country houses, Whitney Court at Whitney-on-Wye, six miles north of Hay-on-Wye and 17 miles east of Hereford. For sale for the first time since it was built — at a guide price of £3 million through Peter Daborn of Savills in Telford — the grand Edwardian country house stands in 22 acres of gardens and wooded parkland at the heart of the ancient Whitney estate, which was acquired by the Hope family in 1897.

According to a history compiled by the owners, the house was born of a collaboration between various members of the Hope family, the prime mover being Lady Mary Nugent, the widow of the Hon James Hope-Wallace of Featherstone Castle, Northumberland; her daughter-in-law Eliza Coats, youngest daughter of textile magnate Sir Peter Coats, joint founder of the Scottish thread-making firm of J. & P. Coats; Eliza’s favourite brother, another Peter Coats, ‘who found the necessary cash’; and Lady Mary’s second son, James Louis Alexander Hope, who ‘handled the aesthetic side of things, siting the new house brilliantly and choosing both architect and building style’.

The site chosen lay ‘high and dry above the river valley and, not, like its two predecessors (both of which were eventually demolished), down and damp beside the River Wye, where cellars could flood several times a year’.

The third Whitney Court was to be a state-of-the-art structure for its day, with an electric-bell system for the whole house, ducted-air central heating on the ground floor, six bathrooms — at a time when most Herefordshire houses were lucky to have more than one — and one of the first private power plants in Britain. The neo-Jacobean house was built, for the most part regardless of cost, by the prize-winning architect Thomas H. Watson, his designs based on John Thorpe’s Jacobean Somerhill House near Tonbridge, Kent.

Lady Mary laid the foundation stone in 1898 and, at first, all went well. However, two years later, James Louis fell ill (both he and Lady Mary were to die in 1904), whereupon Eliza and her brother, Peter, took immediate charge of the project. Alarmed by the new building’s escalating costs, brother and sister made big changes to Watson’s scheme, drastically reducing the court’s intended size and, among other major alterations, forcing him to make his main south windows a good deal bigger and include generous staff accommodation — even with their own bathroom — on the top floor. Eliza died in 1906 and was survived by her brother Peter, who lived at the court in his spacious first-floor flat, devoting his energies to his herd of pedigree Hereford cattle and the overall running of the estate, until his death seven years later on the eve of the First World War.

The estate was inherited by Coats’s ward, the young Nugent Hope. Whitney Court itself was greatly damaged by army occupation during the Second World War and remained empty until 1950. Nugent’s first wife, Hilda, had died from the after-effects of a hunting accident in 1938, and the remodelling of the house was undertaken by his second wife, Constance, who further reduced both house and garden to a more manageable size.

Nugent died in 1973, but Constance lived on at Whitney Court until her death, aged 95, in 1996. Since then, Nugent’s grandson, Augustine Hope, and his American wife, Maureen, have redecorated its two lower floors and established them as the setting for civil weddings and business and family entertaining.

However, being based in the US, the couple have less and less time to spend at the house, hence the decision to sell. Also for sale, by separate negotiation, are the splendid original stable block and yard, both located opposite the main gates to the court; the stable flat has been recently renovated and has potential for further redevelopment.

Whitney Court, which is unlisted, offers 19,924sq ft of accommodation on three floors, including the grand entrance hall with its spectacular hall ceiling based on a heraldic drawing made to mark Lady Mary’s 80th birthday in 1891. There are four formal reception rooms — drawing room, dining room, library and morning room — most of which enjoy far-reaching views over the surrounding parkland and the Wye valley.

A new kitchen was created by Constance Hope in 1950 out of a former office and a nursery wing, originally designed for the young Nugent and his sister, Violet, was adapted in the 1920s for Nugent’s own children. The first floor houses nine bedrooms, two with en-suite bathrooms, plus three family bathrooms. The second floor offers a vast amount of attic space, including seven large rooms and two bathrooms, with access to the roof and magnificent views towards Hay Bluff.

Outside, a pathway leads to immaculate formal gardens dominated by specimen trees, yew hedging and towering cedars. A raised terrace with rose border lines the front of the house, which boasts planted borders and a stone balustrade. The front of the house is draped in wisteria in spring and summer with magnolia trees in the foreground. Stone steps lead down to a lower terrace and onto the parkland, which is planted with an abundance of the splendid oak trees that are a special feature of Whitney Court.

Whitney Court is for sale with Savills for £3 million. For more information and pictures, click here

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Credit: John D Wood

A glorious East Sussex farmhouse in six acres with outstanding period interiors and a big pond

Five bedrooms and plenty of space is the name of the game at this property near Herstmonceux.

A Scottish island with beaches, castle and farmhouse that's for sale at the price of a two-bedroom London flat

There comes a time in a house buyer's life when they need to ask themselves a question: 839 sq ft

I wouldn’t dream of judging anyone to whom it has never occurred that a ‘book butler’ is the person they are most missing in life. However, once you’ve met one, you can never go back to choosing your own books without wistfully remembering the butler that got away… 

As befits the best hotel in a city that’s home to the highest-rated university in the UK (and only second in the world rankings), books and bookishness are a major theme at the University Arms.

The book butler is on hand to make recommendations, deliver reading material to your room from the downstairs library (stocked by Mayfair’s Heywood Hill) and ensure that your preferred audio book is playing on the loudspeaker during your spa treatment.

Each of the University Arms’ 10 suites and two superior rooms are named for famous Cambridge alumni — and filled with their written works. All 192 rooms contain a copy of The Wind in the Willows — no one seems to know why, but we’re not complaining. And Alan Bennet’s comforting tones can be heard narrating the Kenneth Grahame classic on repeat in the downstairs loos.

Aside from being a place filled to the brim with stories, the University Arms has witnessed history from its prime city-centre location for the past 190 years.

Behind a grand, classical facade, the best rooms have far-reaching views over Parker’s Piece. This is Cambridge’s 25-acre common where the rules of football were famously established, ‘probably the finest cricket ground in the world’, according to 19th-century cricketer Jack Hobbs, and which is named for the 16th-century Trinity College cook, Edward Parker, who grazed his cattle there.

The rooms

In 1834, the University Arms started life a coaching inn and was gradually expanded with the changing needs of the times — by 1900, it was one of the largest hotels in Cambridge.

A savvy developer, Marcus Bradford, converted the stable yard into a state-of-the-art garage with a steel-and-glass roof in 1904, because of the motorcar’s increasing popularity; he also added the ballroom and Winter Garden. In 1925, Chevely Park was demolished and much of the interior found its way to the University Arms, including ‘acres of oak panelling’ and ‘magnificent fireplaces’.

The hotel reopened in 2017 after a two-year, £80 million overhaul by architect John Simpson, who has worked on Buckingham and Kensington Palaces and interior designer Martin Brudnizki (responsible for the Annabel’s and Ivy revamps). A sophisticated combination of all that history has resulted in 192 stylish quasi-Edwardian-style rooms in soft palettes of blues and greens, creating a comfortingly luxurious yet erudite atmosphere — think leather-topped writing desks, low ottomans and sofas, 300-thread-count bed linens, gleaming black, white and brass bathrooms stocked by Dr Harris & Co and gloriously wide sash or arched windows.

Suites subtly feature the Cambridge colours of blue, yellow and red and are named and themed around the likes of playwright Christopher Marlow and Virginia Woolf, with sitting areas, curated bookshelves and multi-roomed bathrooms with walk-in rain showers and claw-foot bathtubs. Thoughtful touches include plates of fruit, decanters of port and brandy, fresh flowers and even handprinted wastepaper baskets depicting each author.

Eating and drinking

I actually laughed with glee while cracking my spoon against the most enormous crème brûlée I’d ever seen (in fact, it was Cambridge burnt cream) while dining at Parker’s Tavern. It was fully 8in across and served in what appeared to be an oversized pasta bowl — impressive.

My wood fired rib-eye with local oyster mushrooms and chimichurri sauce was also both sizeable and delicious.

This dimly lit brasserie has a buzzy, Parisian feel, serving chef Tristan Welch’s classic British food with modern twists, ‘sourced from field, fen and English seas’. Everything is sumptuous here, from the red banquettes to the kaleidoscopic hues of pictures on the grey-painted panelled walls.

Next door, the cocktail bar serves fun bespoke concoctions such as The Sixth Man (Buffalo Trace, Monkey Shoulder, salted caramel, super lemon, egg white and whiskey-barrel-aged bitters) or the 1848 (a mix of Plantation 3 Rum, Italicus, yellow Chartreuse, basil, super lime and cucumber bitters).

This is also a lovely room, with its broad windows and doors overlooking Parker’s Tavern, for a quick lunch or afternoon tea.

How they’ll keep you busy

Food, drink and books aside, anyone seeking a relaxing experience can find it in the hotel’s Aromatherapy Associates treatment rooms (prices start from £60 for a 30-minute massage). The city is at your doorstep, but in a haven of a hotel such as this, hours can be whiled away.

What else to do while you’re there

The rambling, characterful city of Cambridge has endless attractions, including punting on the Cam, Choral Evensong in King’s College Chapel (sung most days during term time) and the Fitzwilliam Museum.

We visited Kettle’s Yard, the modern and Contemporary art gallery founded by Jim and Helen Eade, which started off in their cottage’s tiny sitting room and expanded and expanded as they bought adjoining buildings (above). This fascinating space was a home as well as a gallery and highlights of the diverse collection of objects, textiles, furniture and art include works by Barbara Hepworth, Ben and Winifred Nicholson, and Alfred Wallis, plus some very famous pebbles in a spiral and a lemon that has been in situ since 1957 (the curators assure me they replace it regularly).

Perhaps best explored on foot, Cambridge’s further artistic (sometimes playfully hidden) delights include an upside-down Anthony Gormley sculpture, Earthbound: Plant (you can only see the bottoms of his iron feet but he’s all there, buried beneath the paving stones beside the Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences) and the extraordinary Chronophage (‘time-eater’) known as the Corpus or Grasshopper Clock (affectionately termed Rosalind or Hopsy by students).

On the corner of Corpus Christi’s Taylor Library, it’s made from 24-carat gold and stainless steel, measures about 5ft in diameter and the sinister-looking grasshopper atop appears to eat up the seconds as they pass. Unveiled in 2008 by Stephen Hawking and named one of the greatest inventions that same year by Time, ‘terrifying’, ‘hypnotically beautiful’ and ‘deeply disturbing’ have all been used to describe it.

What gives the University Arms the ‘wow’ factor?

It’s all good. But the aforementioned library and book butler is the best.

The one thing we’d change

I stayed in the Virginia Woolf suite and, comfortable and elegant though it was (I enjoyed the double-sided telly and giant bathtub), I could have done without the multiple gloomy portraits of said writer gazing out at me from the walls. She’s not exactly cheerful looking. That said, I enjoyed the quote from Orlando handpainted on the bin, along with ‘Books are the mirrors of the soul’.

Rooms at the University Arms, Cambridge, cost from £204. Visit www.universityarms.com for more information and to book.

Mayleigh House may have Edwardian origins, but, inside, the house is a luxurious and modern family home in the sought-after area of Petersham, close to Richmond Park and the Thames.

The red-bricked property is currently on the market via Savills with a guide price of £5 million, and offers any lucky future buyers a calming sanctuary just nine miles from central London.

The property offers seven bedrooms and some 4,000sq ft of living space, and boasts a bespoke Mark Wilkinson kitchen (with Aga), electronic blinds, double-glazed and soundproofed windows, a Savant audio system, Lutron lighting system, EV charging point and a temperature-controlled wine store.

The wine cellar is — without risking sounding too over the top — spectacular. Measuring almost half the footprint of the open plan kitchen/dining room, this is more of a wine haven.

On the ground floor, the aforementioned open plan kitchen/dining room benefits from floor to ceiling bi-fold doors that completely open up onto the raised patio terrace in the garden.

With an outdoor pizza oven and plenty of space to entertain, this really feels like an extension of the internal space and makes summer entertaining a no-brainer.

Such modern luxury is elegantly housed in the Edwardian exterior and is merely a mile away from Richmond town centre.

The house is located in the heart of Petersham village, on a scenic stretch of the River Thames at the foot of the hill which leads up to Richmond Park. The village is perhaps most well-known for its bucolic setting and the renowned Petersham Nurseries.

A one-mile riverside walk leads you to the charming shops and restaurants in Richmond, as well as a train station that runs a direct service to London Waterloo as well as District Line tube services to Stratford.

Mayleigh House is currently on the market via Savills with a guide price of £5 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details. 

In these uncertain times, it's not been unusual for country houses — or houses of any type, for that matter — to appear, then relatively quickly disappear, from the market. And it's usually only a matter of time before they re-emerge, as is the case with Poundon House in Oxfordshire, for sale at £6m via Knight Frank.

This charming Edwardian country house first came to the market for a while in the autumn of 2021 (at the same asking price) before going under the radar, only to receive a fresh push in the market in the last couple of weeks of 2022.

It's just as beautiful today as ever, a fine house set in more than 10 acres of gardens and grounds in unspoilt open countryside, was built in 1908 by Eton-educated gentleman cricketer John Heywood-Lonsdale.

If this looks a rather grand house for a cricketer to have built, John had his father to thank. Arthur Heywood-Lonsdale inherited £1.25 million in 1877 upon the death of an uncle — a sum which he had to change his name to inherit. That amount of money equates to £144 million in 2023 terms.

The large and impressive formal gardens, which include a lime-tree avenue, parterre, ornamental pond and walled garden, were designed by Thomas H. Mawson, widely regarded as the leading landscape architect of his day.

Poundon House remained the Heywood-Lonsdale family home until the outbreak of the Second World War, when it was requisitioned by the government to house evacuees from London and as a base for Sir Winston Churchill’s crack espionage unit, the Special Operations Executive.

Poundon House was Station 53b, used as a top-secret radio and training base when, in 1942, SOE's radio communications were were moved away from nearby Bletchley Park.

It continued to be used by the intelligence services until the late 1970s. The property changed hands a couple of times before the Roscoe family acquired it a decade later and lovingly restored it to its original splendour.

Built by local firm Lewis Penn of golden Eydon stone in the Classical Queen Anne style, Poundon House offers 13,263sq ft of grand living space on three floors, including three fine reception rooms.

There is a library, study, family room and kitchen on the ground floor; a master-bedroom suite, seven further bedrooms and three bathrooms on the first floor; plus four more bedrooms, a family bathroom and kitchen on the second floor.

Further accommodation is available in the three-bedroom garden wing and the two-bedroom garden cottage; sporting amenities include a large, Roman-style swimming pool within a hedged garden, a hard tennis court, former croquet lawn, paddock, and traditional red-brick stable yard with 12 stables, four flats and extensive garages.

Poundon House is currently on the market via Knight Frank at a guide price of £6 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details. 

Bicester: What you need to know

Location: North East Oxfordshire, approximately 15 miles North of Oxford. Bicester Village and Bicester North are two local train stations which run on the Chiltern Main Line Services and link to London Marylebone and Birmingham. There is also easy access to the M40 which links London, Birmingham and Banbury.

Atmosphere: The town is most well known for Bicester Village — a large shopping district which is home to a huge number of outlet designer shops.

Things to do: There are over 160 boutique shops at Bicester Village which draw in crowds from all over the UK and are well worth a visit. There are also numerous cafes and restaurants within the shopping district. The surrounding countryside is the perfect playground for those who love to get outdoors, with numerous walking and bridle routes to explore.

Schools: Bardwell School (ages 2-19) and Brookside Primary School are both rated 'good' by Ofsted. Further schooling options can be found closer to Oxford with Headington School, Magdalen College School and The Cherwell School.

See more property for sale in the area.

Additional writing by Penny Churchill

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Keeping up appearances was never an issue for Nathaniel, 1st Lord Rothschild, who, in 1905, built Swinton Grange, near Malton, North Yorkshire on the family’s 20,000-acre estate as a wedding present for his daughter, Evelina, who married Clive Behrens in 1899 before moving to the Grange, where the couple’s three children were raised.

According to the Rothschild family archive, Evelina ‘was not a flamboyant woman; she dressed in a plain style and was keen to instil in her children a sense of reserve and restraint’.

There’s nothing flamboyant about the handsome Edwardian house built by Lord Rothschild for her, with gardens that were said to contain every known English native species of tree. Swinton Grange remained in the family’s ownership until 1978 when the house, which is unlisted, was bought as a corporate headquarters.

It continued in institutional ownership until the present owner bought it eight years ago, since when no expense has been spared in restoring and updating the secluded 15,000sq ft house set in almost 11 acres of impeccably maintained gardens and grounds.

Currently for sale through York-based agents Blenkin & Co at a guide price of £6m, Swinton Grange stands in a glorious rural setting on the eastern edge of the Howardian Hills, yet only two miles from the racing town of Malton and 19 miles from York.

Truly a safe haven in these troubled times, it offers light and airy accommodation on three floors, including four reception rooms, seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms, with many more rooms on the second floor.

Swinton Grange is currently on the market via Blenkin & Co with a guide price of £6 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details. 

Malton: What you need to know

Location: In North Yorkshire, 17.5 miles north east of York and just under 30 miles from Whitby and the coast.

Atmosphere: Known as Yorkshire's food capital, the market town of Malton has plenty of restaurants plus a popular monthly food market. There's a strong local community centred around annual events.

Things to do: The town hosts several festivals throughout the year, including the 'Food Lovers Festivals', a boutique music festival and a marathon. There's also the Malton and Norton Golf Club nearby, plus plenty of walks to discover through the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Schools: Malton School and Malton Montessori School are both popular schools in the area.

See more property for sale in the area.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Set in private landscaped gardens spanning three acres, The Grange is a beautiful home, breathtaking in both size and style.

This lovely old place in the village of Milton Ernest — not a distant cousin of Milton Keynes, but a settlement mentioned in the Domesday Book — is currently on the market with Michael Graham for offers in excess of £2,750,000.

Built in 1906 and used as a private school during the war and also by the Armed Forces, this Edwardian former residential home has been sympathetically renovated so as to best highlight the property's period features, whilst firmly placing it within the 21st century in terms of style and specification.

Spanning 12,500 sq.ft, this 12 bedroom house retains plenty of period features which highlight the grandeur of the property without feeling overpowering, as it is tastefully decorated with plenty of natural light and modern amenities.

Spanning four floors, a magnificent reception hall complete with original oak floorboards surrounded by ornate plaster ceilings welcomes you into the property and leads off to five reception rooms.

Both the dining rooms and drawing rooms each have original marble fireplaces and mullioned bay windows. The adjourning morning room has dual aspect views over the garden, a sumptuous oak floor and limestone fireplace.

A solid oak staircase leads from the reception hall to the galleried first floor landing from which 9 of the 12 bedrooms are located.

The master suite is a spacious room with a traditional open grate Adam fireplace. The room flows into an adjoining dressing room, also boasting a marble fireplace and leads to a contemporary styled en-suite bathroom/shower.

The remaining bedrooms on the first floor are all fitted with en suites. The further bedrooms can be found on the second floor above, each with its own en suite and dressing room.

The kitchen/breakfast room takes on a more contemporary feel with granite work surfaces and specially fitted units. Leading down to the lower floor by either lift or stairs is the utility/laundry area as well as the home gym/cinema room, games room, study and another sitting room for good measure.

The surrounding garden and grounds are well established and fully enclosed, with mature Cedar trees, paved terrace areas and a jacuzzi. Towards the rear courtyard are three outbuildings, including a home office, paddocks with stables and ample storage space.

The Grange is currently for sale for offers in excess of £2,750,000 via Michael Graham- see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.

Milton Ernest: What you need to know

Location: Milton Ernest is a small village, five miles north of Bedford.

Atmosphere: The pretty area is home to a village school, garden centre, post office and local pub.

Things to do: Situated close to the historic market town of Bedford which is home to numerous parks, restaurants and cafes, Milton Ernest also has easy access to the M1 and rail links to London.

Schools: Milton Ernest C of E primary, Oakley Primary Academy and Lincroft Academy are all rated 'good' by Ofsted. Further secondary options can be found near Bedford.

Find more properties in the area.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

The Jurassic Coast resort of Sidmouth lies at the mouth of the River Sid in a picturesque valley between Peak Hill to the west and Salcombe Hill to the east, surrounded by the East Devon AONB.

Although its origins predate recorded history, Sidmouth remained a village until the expansion of coastal resorts in the 18th and 19th centuries saw it established as a fashionable seaside retreat of international renown.

Nestled amongst this seaside town is Edwardian Trow Hall, which is currently on the market via Knight Frank at a guide price of £3.3 million.

Wealthy patrons built grand Georgian and Victorian houses in and around the town. However, in the early 20th century, a triumvirate led by Colonel J. E. H. Balfour of Balfour Manor, with his solicitor W. H. Hastings and the architect R. W. Sampson, changed the face of Sidmouth.

Thanks to a number of early commissions initiated by Colonel Balfour, who as lord of the manor was extremely influential in local affairs, Sampson quickly established his architectural practice in the town.

For a period of more than 40 years following his arrival in 1891, Sampson was responsible for almost the entire architectural layout of early-20th-century Sidmouth.

A prodigious design portfolio included residential and commercial projects, great and small, among them the town’s flagship Victoria Hotel. Over the years, he designed hundreds of houses in and around Sidmouth, at least six of which were built for his own occupation.

Many of Sampson’s grandest country houses were built in his favourite Arts-and-Crafts style, among them the classic Edwardian Trow Hall, 2½ miles inland from Sidmouth, and 16 miles south-east of Exeter. Built in 1902, it is now on the market through Knight Frank at a guide price of £3.3 million.

Although unlisted, the imposing 10,243sq ft house, which stands on high ground overlooking the Sid Valley, has retained its Edwardian splendour, thanks to a sympathetic programme of modernisation executed by its current owners and the privacy and protection provided by its 33 acres of established formal gardens, parkland and woodland.

Approached up a long drive through banks of mature woods, the hall enjoys far-reaching westerly views and an abundance of natural light. It comes with garaging for five vehicles, outbuildings, a stable and some disused farm buildings.

The impressive reception hall sets the tone for the rest of the house, its centrepiece the grand Edwardian staircase with its double-height ceiling and dramatic, leaded-light window rising to the galleried first-floor landing.

The ground-floor accommodation includes three large reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room and snooker room that leads through to a palatial indoor swimming pool and seating area.

There are six bedrooms, five bathrooms and a large home office on the first floor, which also boasts a conservatory and roof terrace, plus two self-contained apartments, one on each floor, each having its own separate entrance.

Trow Hall is currently on the market via Knight Frank at a guide price of £3.3 million — see more pictures, or enquire with the agent for further details.

Sidmouth: What you need to know

Location: On the south west Jurassic coast, approximately 14 miles from Exeter. Exmouth is located to the south along the coast, and Seaton to the north. Honiton is the nearest train station, which has fast links into London Paddington.

Atmosphere: Think quaint seaside charm mixed with a flourishing rural atmosphere. It forms part of the UNESCO world heritage site on the Jurassic Coast, and has a sprawling range of shops, cafes and restaurants along the busy high street.

Things to do: Head down to the beaches, which are flanked by the iconic red cliffs to really take in the historical landmark. The south west coast path leads all the way along the coast, where you can explore further afield and soak up the sea air. There are a number of water sports on offer during the summer months for those eager to stay salty, or visit one of the many Regency buildings within the town.

Schools: Sidmouth Church of England (VA) Primary School, Sidbury Church of England Primary School and Sidmouth College are all rated 'good' by Ofsted.

See more property for sale in the area.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Deemed to be ‘one of the finest modern country houses in Hertfordshire and certainly one of the most impressive homes in Cuffley, yet only 20 miles from central London’, imposing Carbone House on the edge of Northaw Wood, near Cuffley, is now for sale at a guide price of £8.95 million through Savills and local agents Statons.

Originally built in 1901, the impressive Edwardian country house — set in three acres of manicured grounds that include a children’s playground, floodlit tennis court and newly planted orchard — has been transformed by the latest in touch-screen technology into the perfect ‘intelligent’ family home.

The main house offers 9,260sq ft of living space, with a further 2,038sq ft in the adjoining three-bedroom annexe. A crystal glass porch sets the tone of the interiors, which include a striking glass hall with vaulted ceiling and bespoke crystal chandelier.

There is also an open-plan kitchen and breakfast room with Gaggenau appliances and panoramic views across the garden, a formal dining room with lantern roof and a cinema room.

Upstairs are nine bedrooms, one of which is an enormous master suite with 'his and her' dressing rooms and a sleek bathroom with rainforest shower and gold tiles.

Linked to the main house is a residential leisure complex, encompassing a gym, steam room and beauty-treatment room.

But what really sets the house apart — at least for anyone who is or has a child — is the indoor pool, which comes complete with a water wall, central 'volcano' (we've no idea how that must work, except to hope that it doesn't pump out real molten lava) and water guns. As far as home entertainment goes, it's hard to top.

Carbone House is for sale at £8.95 million via Savills — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.

Cuffley: What you need to know

• Location: Cuffley is 50 minutes by train from London
• Atmosphere: This large village has three churches a village hall and a wide array of facilities, including a surgery, dentist's, bank, library, Post Office and a selection of shops, cafes and restaurants
• Things to do: Cuffley is surrounded by Green Belt, so expect woods to explore, playing fields and even a community orchard
• Schools: There's a good choice of schools in the area, and the very academic Haberdasher's Aske Schools (one for girls and one for boys) are about 25 minutes' drive away

See more properties for sale in the area

Credit: Chris Curl, Savills

A glorious manor with beautiful gardens in Shropshire

Plas Wiggin sits in the Shropshire village of St Martin’s, the birthplace of Ian Woosnam, and boasts 3,089sq ft of

British women's history is intricately bound to Bel Alp House, in the quiet Dartmoor hamlet of Haytor Vale, three miles from Bovey Tracey and nine miles from Newton Abbot.

This eight-bedroom property, is for sale through Knight Frank at an asking price of £3.5 million, once belonged to Dame Violet Wills, one of a group of prominent women who made Haytor Vale their home.

Even before its history, however, the most obvious appeal of the house, which dates from the Edwardian era but is unlisted, rests on its setting: perched high, it enjoys spectacular, uninterrupted views of Dartmoor towards the sea — views that Dame Violet saved for future generations by using her influence to ensure that no electric pylons could be built above ground.

The drawing room, with its enormous bay window and striking fireplace, is perhaps the best place to sit and admire the long southerly views across the countryside. In all, the main house, excluding the basement, offers more than 10,500sq ft of accommodation including three reception rooms, two kitchens plus master- and guest-bedroom suites, four further en-suite bedrooms, two second-floor bedrooms and a self-contained flat.

The interiors are very much the labour of love the present owners, who, returning from Hong Kong with a house on Dartmoor very much in mind, bought Bel Alp House about 15 years ago, when it was in a state of some disarray. During their tenure, they have restored it to how it would have been in its heyday, creating the light-filled family kitchen which now forms its heart, and rediscovering the garden.

The house as it stands today is also a far cry from the bungalow Bel Alp was when Dame Violet bought it in the 1920s. Originally known as Hellens House, it was one of the earliest buildings on what was to become known as Millionaires’ Row, built in 1904 as a holiday home for John Lancaster Shaw, managing director of Bentley & Shaw, brewers of Huddersfield, and commodore of the Royal Torquay Yacht Club.

Hellens House had been designed with provision for rooms to be added upstairs, which Dame Violet did upon purchase. She was one of 'a small group of eminent women' that used the Haytor Vale houses as their holiday homes during the earlier years of the 20th century, according to local historians Frances and Malcolm Billinge. Others included Dame Violet's sister, Ella, Emily Pankhurst’s daughter, Christabel, and Mrs Catherine Booth-Clibborn, daughter of Salvation Army founder, William Booth.

From the early 1920s until 1959, their Haytor Vale enclave was an exclusive meeting place of like-minded women of independent means, driven by their shared Christian ideals and belief in philanthropy.

Dame Violet continued to hold court at Bel Alp until shortly before her death, when an advertisement in COUNTRY LIFE (June 11, 1959) marketed the house for sale with 50 acres.

Today, Bel Alp comes with 25 acres of formal gardens, paddocks, woodland, tennis court and a terrace for outdoor dining — plus an illustrious past and those dramatic views.

Bel Alp is for sale at £3.5 million via Knight Frank — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.

Bovey Tracey: What you need to know

• Location: Bovey Tracey is just under half an hour's drive from Exeter
• Atmosphere: A picturesque market town with a long history — it was a Saxon settlement, became a Norman stronghold and was the backdrop to a surprise attack by Cromwell's Roundhead army over the Royalists — Bovey Tracey has more than 100 listed buildings, plus a regular farmer's market and a wide choice of shops.
• Things to do: Dartmoor is walking, cycling and riding paradise. Bovey Tracey also has plenty of sporting clubs from cricket to tennis and petanque. The National TRust-managed Parke estate is also well worth visiting.
• Schools: St Catherine's Church of England Primary School in Heathfield is rated good by Ofsted. The wider area also has many well-regarded schools, including Exeter School, The Maynard, Stover in Newton Abbot and Mount Kelly in Tavistock.
  Find more properties in the area.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Steven Moore of Savills in Winchester quotes a guide price of £2.5m for handsome, Edwardian Rosecroft, set in 2½ acres of delightful grounds on the slopes above historic Hambledon village, which straddles two valleys in the rolling chalk downland of the South Downs National Park, nine miles from Petersfield and 16 miles from the cathedral city of Winchester.

Following a major restoration just over 15 years ago, Rosecroft offers some 4,260sq ft of well-organised, light-filled living space.

There is an impressive entrance hall, three main reception rooms, a large kitchen/breakfast room, five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a wine cellar/games room.

One of Hampshire’s oldest rural settlements, Hambledon dates from the Bronze Age, as evidenced by the barrows scattered around its fields by the Celts. The sites of at least two villas in the area hark back to the arrival of the Romans in the 1st century.

The present village evolved around the Grade I-listed, 11th-century village church of St Peter and St Paul and the manor farm, owned in medieval times by Winchester abbey.

Further expansion of the village took place in the early 1600s, when James I granted Hambledon the right to hold two fairs every year. According to local records, the letters patent were stamped with the word ‘Broadhalfpenny’ — the toll paid to the lord of the manor for the setting up of booths, which gave its name to Broadhalfpenny Down, famous for hosting cricket matches on behalf of the Hambledon Cricket Club, still known to this day as ‘the cradle of cricket’.

The club is thought to have been founded in about 1750, and cricket was certainly played in the area for at least a couple of centuries. Interestingly, however, the earliest surviving record of cricket at Hambledon dates 'only' from 1756, when the Oxford Gazette and Reading Mercury advertised the loss of a dog at a cricket match on Broadhalfpenny Down.

At the turn of the 19th century, the expansion of Portsmouth drew people away from the village, although it retained its links to the Royal Navy.

Many naval officers retired to the area where they built large houses on the outskirts of the village, one of which was Rosecroft.

The house was feeling its age when, in 2004, its present owners bought and embarked on an intensive, year-long refurbishment of the house and its gardens and grounds.

Rosecroft near Hambledon is listed for £2.5m with Knight Frank — see more pictures or request further details from the agent.

Hambledon, Hampshire: What you need to know

• Location: Tucked away in the South Downs National Park, not far off the A3 in the south-eastern corner of Hampshire, rougly 10 miles south of Petersfield and the same amount north of Portsmouth.
• Atmosphere: A classic English country village, with a population just under 1,000 at the time of the last census. The village has been dubbed the 'Cradle of Cricket', thanks to the formation in 1750 of Hambledon Club, one of the first cricket clubs in the world, some 37 years before those Johnny-come-lately bandwagon jumpers at the MCC got their act together.
• Things to do: Cricket is still played, both at Broadhalfpenny Down — the Hambledon Club's original ground — and a newer ground closer to the village centre. There are walks in South Downs, a church, village shop, tea-room, vineyard and a pub called — for obvious reasons — the Bat & Ball.
• Schools: Hambledon Primary School was rated 'Outstanding' in every area in its Ofsted inspection in 2014 — impressive stuff.

Find more houses in the area or see the best country houses for sale this week.

A magnificent former bath house with a classical-style portico and three acres of walled gardens

Rachael Turner explores a Georgian gem in Country Durham.

Credit: Knight Frank

A house and estate with a waterfall, gym and 40 acres of the Yorkshire Dales

Penny Churchill takes a look at Roundhill, in the Nidderdale AONB.

East Sussex – £2,700,000

A beautiful Edwardian house with southerly views over its own pasture land.

For sale via Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.

Hampshire – £1,385,000

Vine Cottage is a stunning Grade II listed cottage, presented in exceptional condition with a stunning country kitchen leading into a conservatory; making the most of its elevated position and far-reaching views.

For sale via Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.

Hertfordshire – £6,950,000

An outstanding modern country house with well proportioned reception rooms, beautiful gardens and grounds, secondary accommodation, paddock and stables in around 24.5 acres

For sale via Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.

Norfolk - £1,975,000

A meticulously renovated Listed Grade II manor house with flexible accommodation, adjoining 2 bedroom annexe, original outbuildings, mature gardens and spectacular views over ancient parkland.

For sale via Jackson-Stops & Staff. See more pictures and details about this property.

Somerset – £6,750,000

One of the most famous high bird shoots in England.

For sale via Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.

West Sussex – £1,000,000

Pittsgate is a charming period property occupying a wonderful rural location. With a renowned primary school, village pub, store and Haslemere mainline station close by, Pittsgate offers the incoming family a wonderful home.

For sale via Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.

West Sussex – £1,100,000

A beautiful Grade II listed 4 bed house in the heart of prime West Sussex.

For sale via Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.

West Sussex – £1,750,000

Terwick Old Rectory is a landmark house in the heart of the South Downs National Park. The property is principally Georgian with later Victorian additions, and sits in over six acres of private grounds, incorporating outbuildings and a tennis court.

For sale via Knight Frank. See more pictures and details about this property.

Cheshire – POA

Exquisitely beautiful house in the Palladian style with 12 acres of mature gardens, additional Grade II listed buildings, swimming pool, tennis court and stable block

For sale via Savills. See more pictures and details about this property.

Credit: Strutt and Parker

Best country houses for sale this week

An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for

Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale

A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.

Marchmont: Scotland’s most ambitious Palladian house

An outstanding restoration project has transformed Marchmont. In the first of two articles, Roger White identifies the architect of this

Creating a bathroom that matches your country house’s period can be a daunting prospect—no other room has evolved so much in the past 300 years. Having made a timid appearance in the Georgian era as a corner of the bedroom, the bathroom changed beyond recognition in the 19th and 20th centuries and returning to basin-and-pitcher sets and commodes would be a tall order.

The good news, however, is that, with the right choice of bath, basins, brassware, paints and accessories, you can reproduce the feel of an antique bathroom without sacrificing any of the comforts we take for granted today.

Georgian style

‘The best way to create a Georgian-style bathroom is to use a piece of antique furniture, such as a chest of drawers or a sideboard, and replace the top with marble to create a vanity unit,’ says interior designer Joanna Wood, who also recommends adding antique-style mirrors to set the right tone.

Walls can be covered in wallpaper—Joanna has, on occasion, chosen a Georgian-print Toile de Jouy or painted in shades that are true to period. Later-Georgian schemes used dusky pinks, soft greys, greens and blues and these colours, all in a matte finish, ‘are perfect for the bathroom, because they promote relaxation,’ explains Josephine Rance, marketing director at Farrow & Ball.

Lighting is the final touch and Joanna likes to combine low-voltage downlights with antique wall brackets: ‘Vaughan Designs does very pretty period-style light fittings, which conform to regulations, and Phillips and Wood will refit period lights if needed.’

Victorian style

The bathroom as a dedicated space gained currency in the Victorian era and taking pride of place was a freestanding, cast-iron bathtub, which remains the centrepiece of today’s Victorian-style bathrooms. ‘To re-create the 19th-century look, start with three key elements: an enamelled cast-iron bath, an equally imposing loo preferably with a high-level cistern and white-china basins set within a marble washstand,’ says Drummond Shaw, director at period-bathroom specialist Drummonds. If space allows, you could also install a freestanding shower, such as Drummonds’s The Spittal.

For an authentic-looking scheme, adds Rob Whitaker, creative director at Fired Earth, consider choosing ornate mirrors and patterned encaustic floor tiles.

Brass is the material of choice for taps, which should be large, solid and gleaming. In a truly Victorian bathroom, adds Drummond, ‘these would be just one element of a more highly decorative scheme featuring richly coloured wall and floor tiles, often with geometric designs. If you don’t want to commit to feature tiling, use colour on the walls and bath sides to get a similar feel.’

Farrow & Ball suggests a deep red such as the company’s Eating Room Red or a chic aubergine such as Brinjal to create period glamour in a smaller bathroom. For larger spaces, opt for wallpaper in damask or large floral, bird or animal motifs.

Even the grandest Victorian bathroom would have been short on effective lighting, but, says Drummond, adjustable light sources will allow you to switch from a mellow Victorian atmosphere to a brightly lit space.

Edwardian style

The late-Victorian era saw the rise of the simpler aesthetic promoted by the Arts-and-Crafts movement, which then came into its own in the Edwardian period. Its hallmarks, says Rob, are timeless natural materials and superb craftsmanship. ‘Look for handmade wooden washstands, tactile stone bowls and hand-decorated tiles featuring floral motifs. Simplicity and attention to detail are key to Arts-and-Crafts style: eye-catching finishes such as polished nickel or a copper bowl with a mellow patina finish are ideal for this look.’

The Edwardian approach to interiors also called for fresh colours, such as pastel blues and cooling greens. ‘Interiors were less formal and the style was seen as a breath of fresh air,’ says Josephine. ‘There was a return to a more pared-down approach to colour. Keeping the walls light and airy gives a refreshing look, which is perfect for relaxing when soaking in the bath.’

Decorative tiles would be a suitable wall covering for a bathroom of this period. Fired Earth has a range inspired by Leslie Green, who was commissioned to design more than 50 Tube stations between 1903 and 1908.

Art Deco

The 1920s and early 1930s were the heyday of the bathroom, when it became the space of choice for Society hostesses to display their taste and opulence (see Country Life, March 23, 2011). Often vaulted and invariably decorated with a profusion of mirrors, marble and even gold mosaic, it was a master-piece of subtle ostentation.

Today, says Rob, ‘a monochrome palette, combined with strong geometric shapes and chrome and glass accents, is instantly evocative of the Art Deco era. A glamorous glass-legged washstand and dramatic metro-style tiling are perfectly in keeping with the look and a large freestanding bath, such as Fired Earth’s Atlantic panelled model, is brimming with Jazz Age style.’

Louise Ashdown, designer at West One Bathrooms, chose a similar approach when she set out to create an Art Deco-inspired bathroom at a country house near Tunbridge Wells in Kent. She picked the boldly geometric Lutetia basin unit by Oasis as the focal point for the room and surrounded it with large polished-porcelain tiles in soft-grey tones to capture the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.

Like tiles, geometrical wallpaper also provides a good alternative to the marble and murals that were common at the time. Josephine suggests Lotus and Block Print Stripe from the Farrow & Ball range, particularly in rooms where there is little natural light.

Glass is a key element of the look—opt for a feature shower door (see Matki for ideas, details as before) or the Empire Wall Light by C. P. Hart (020–3617 0820; www.cphart.co.uk).

Situated within walking distance of St Boswells, a charming village on the south side of the River Tweed, Stable House is a converted Edwardian stables that sits within pretty private grounds.

The conversion was undertaken by the present owners 35 years ago using architect Dennis Rodwell and completed in 1981. Rodwell is a well-known local architect who specialises in the field of cultural heritage and the rescue of historic buildings. His work has varied from the conservation of monuments in the ‘Ancient Reserve’ in Plovdiv, Bulgaria to new builds in historic settings, such as Aytounhill House in Fife. His expertise in cultural heritage and policy of best practice in the management of historical sites is clear throughout the detailed design of Stable House.

The house has tremendous character and provides spacious, well proportioned and flexible family accommodation. On the ground floor, the accommodation comprises a drawing room, dining room, kitchen and breakfast room, back kitchen with larder, office, conservatory and garden store. The east wing (which currently holds the office, conservatory and garden store) has the potential to be transformed into auxiliary accommodation for guests and/or a dependent relative.

Upstairs, the master bedroom with dressing room and en suite shower room can be found, alongside three further bedrooms and family bathroom.

The property sits within attractive, private garden grounds that include lawns, borders, a vegetable garden, a south facing courtyard and ample gravelled car parking. A small summer house also sits in the garden, perfect for entertaining on warm summer evenings.

Stable House occupies a tremendous location at Benrig, between St Boswells and Maxton. St Boswells boasts the largest village green in Scotland, and offers a good range of local amenities: shops, a primary school, a popular hotel and a church. St Boswells also boasts excellent sporting and recreational facilities including a golf course, rugby club, tennis courts and cricket ground. The Waverley Rail Link between Tweedbank/Galashiels and Edinburgh will terminate approximately 7 miles/12 minutes drive from Stable House when it re-opens - due in September 2015.

Alex Inglis, handling the sale for CKD Galbraith, said: “Stable House is ideally located close to St Boswells which is an extremely picturesque and sought after village which reputedly has the largest village green in Scotland and sits above the River Tweed. There are a good range of local shops and amenities along with a primary school, popular hotel and filling station. Nearby Earlston High School is highly regarded.

“The property itself sits within attractive private gardens which include a summer house and delightful private courtyard where you can sit out on a summer day.”

The guide price is £600,000. For further information please contact CKD Galbraith on 01573 224 244.

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Built in 1901, The Red House is a classic Edwardian country house near Canterbury in Kent, sitting in eight acres of gardens and grounds. The property has classic proportions and inside the principal rooms all have fascinating period features including oak-stripped floors, period fireplaces, deep skirtings and ornate cornices, and enjoy views across the formal gardens. The kitchen/breakfast room adjoins the old nursery (now a secondary kitchen) and also includes the butler's pantry, boot room and larder in its complex.

The ornate oak staircase rises in three flights to the principal bedroom suite, which has a double aspect, and the upper floors have five further double bedrooms all with fireplaces, together with a family bathroom.

Accommodation in total comprises: entrance porch, drawing room and sitting room, dining room and study kitchen/breakfast room with Aga, nursery, Butler's pantry, boot room, two cloakrooms and cellars, principal bedroom suite and five further bedrooms and family bathroom.

Outside, the property has eight acres which comprise formal sweeping lawns, magnificent mature trees and colourful herbaceous borders. A paddock and orchard lie to the south, while a generous area of woodland is to be found to the north. Four stables and a tack room are in good condition.

The Red House sits on the outskirts of the village of Petham which has a primary school, a village hall and a church. Canterbury is just over three miles and direct trains to London are within easy reach.

The guide price is £1.575m. For further information please contact Chesterton Humberts on 01227 452 780 or visit www.chestertonhumberts.com.

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Millfield, on the market with Chesterton Humberts, is situated in the quiet village of Colsterworth in Lincolnshire. Built in the early 1900s, the house was home to a local farming family for many years, but during World War II the house was used to billet soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, who famously went on to fight in the Battle of Arnhem in 1944. The heroic story of the parachute regiment at the Battle of Arnhem was later re-told in the popular film, A Bridge Too Far, featuring Sean Connery, Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.

Millfield was built in around 1905 and named after its association with a nearby water-mill that still provided water to the house until the 1920s. The house was built for local farmer, Robert Doubleday, who was later recorded in the 1911 census as 47 years old, and a ‘farmer and grazier'. Robert Doubleday was living in his new house with his wife Elizabeth, along with their 20 year old daughter, Martha, and 19 year old son, Robert Doubleday, the younger.

By 1937, Millfield had become the home of Wing Commander Gerard Stephen Oddie. World War I records reveal that Gerard Oddie fought with the Royal Air Force in some of the first campaigns on the Western Front and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Oddie continued in the Air Force after the war and in 1927 was awarded the Air Force Cross by King George V. Both awards honour those who have shown ‘valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying'.

During World War II, this large family home in a quiet village near Grantham became connected to one of the most significant battles of the war. Records show that Millfield was used to billet officers from the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 1943-44, while soldiers slept in nissen huts in the gardens. The 2nd Battalion was only formed in September 1941, with first active service in 1942, but it was their crucial involvement in Operation Market Garden - the Battle of Arnhem - in 1942 that has gone down in history. Their heroic effort to hold on to key positions at Arnhem Bridge in the Netherlands was the inspiration for the famous film, A Bridge Too Far.

The day before the soldiers of B Company left Millfield to fly over to Arnhem, Private Vincent Goodwin completed an illustration of the house, much as it is today, but with a few additions thanks to the presence of the Battalion. But, Private Goodwin not only recorded the house at this time, he returned many years later with an extraordinary story of his survival during the battle. After he was advised by his commanding officer, Goodwin sewed pennies into the breast pocket of his uniform as additional protection, and on his return to Millfield he presented the remains of one of those pennies that actually saved his life after he was hit by a bullet.

After the war, Millfield was transformed back into a comfortable family home. Today, the house offers eight bedrooms, four reception rooms, along with an adjoining coach house, a large glazed courtyard and stables. It sits within 1.5 acres and also features a lovely restored Victorian Greenhouse.

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Boghall is an Edwardian country house set in formal gardens of two acres, and agricultural land of 67 acres in the west of Scotland within easy reach of Glasgow. The main house dates back to 1907, but is built in a much earlier baronial style - the house is listed Category B.

Built over three floors, the property offers flexible accommodation and retains its original character throughout. The circular entrance hall has lots of character, as does the reception hall. All the reception rooms are impressive, but the most outstanding is the triple aspect drawing room which is over 25ft in length and has a corner bay window and French doors leading to the side garden, as well as a brick fireplace with an open fire and a copper hood. The formal dining room also has an open fire and a carved stone fireplace. The kitchen, from where the flower room is located, is in need of some updating but is a substantial size.

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Upstairs the first floor can be reached by two staircases including the main staircase. Off the first floor landing are four bedrooms including the master bedroom suite. A spiral staircase ascends to the second floor, where two further bedrooms, a further bathroom and a billiard room are to be found. The views from this floor are particularly impressive, facing southward over pretty countryside towards the woodland beyond.

Outside the formal gardens are remarkable, and to the rear a belt of trees provides privacy from the road, and a large, level lawn was at one time used as a tennis court. Throughout the gardens are many mature trees; at the foot of the formal gardens is a pretty stream. There is also a kitchen garden with a potting shed.

Boghall is set in the Scottish hamlet of Baldernock, a pretty rural district within easy reach of Glasgow in the west of Scotland. The nearest town is Milngavie, which has a fine range of local amenities and a mainline railway station. Glasgow Airport is 16 miles and Glasgow itself is just seven miles. The guide price is £1.25m. For further information please contact Savills on 0141 222 5875 or visit www.savills.co.uk.

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Little Redlap is an Edwardian house in Devon, around 100 years old, constructed of stone with colourwashed elevations and sash windows under a slate roof.

The property has very spacious accommodation and many of the rooms enjoy superb sea views out to Start Point. The dining area has an open fireplace and doors to the garden, while the kitchen/breakfast room has a four-oven Aga; the garden room is a charming space with very fine sea views.

Downstairs the extensive cellars run the length of the house. From the ground floor a staircase rises up to the galleried landing and the first floor has six bedrooms, two shower rooms and a family bathroom; a number of the bedrooms enjoy wonderful views out to sea. The second floor has a double bedroom with an en suite bathroom.

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Outside the garden is mainly south-facing and enjoys superb views out to sea. There is a large paved terrace outside, walled at either end with a number of flowering shrubs and plants, including camellias and roses. Wide steps lead down to the lawn; a former kitchen garden lies to the eastern end of the grounds.

Little Redlap sits within the hamlet of Redlap, which is about two miles from Dartmouth. The house sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the South West Coastal Footpath runs along this stretch of coastline.

The guide price is £1.5m. For further information please contact Strutt & Parker on 01392 215 631 or visit www.struttandparker.com.

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Little Redlap is an Edwardian country house in the hamlet of Redlap in Devon, built of stone under a slate roof, with sash windows. This property would suit a family as a primary residence, or could also make an excellent holiday home.

Accommodation is spacious, offering a large reception room with dining area and an open fireplace, doors to the garden and superb sea views; the kitchen/breakfast room has a four-oven Aga and adjoining this is a light garden room, which has steps leading out to the terrace. The cellar on the lower ground floor runs the full length of the house.

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Upstairs the first floor benefits from a galleried landing, and here there are six bedrooms with fantastic views, two shower rooms and a family bathroom; the second floor has a double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom.

Outside the garden is mainly south-facing and also enjoys far-reaching views out to sea. The large paved terrace is walled at either end. Wide steps lead down to the lawn and a path to the east leads down to a fully walled former kitchen garden which could become a swimming pool or a tennis court.

Little Redlap is situated in the hamlet of Redlap, about two miles from Dartmouth, which is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the South West Coastal Footpath runs along this stretch of coastline. Much of the surrounding area is in the care of the National Trust.

The guide price is £1.5m. For further information please contact Strutt & Parker on 01392 215 631 or visit www.struttandparker.com.

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A fine country house dating back to the Edwardian period, Verno is a handsome family home just south of the East Sussex market town of Heathfield.

The current owners have carried out an extensive renovation and refurbishment programme resulting in a beautifully presented and well-laid out house perfect for family life. Tall sash windows and working and feature fireplaces feature in many of the rooms as examples of period interest.

Accommodation is arranged over two floors and includes a double aspect drawing room with a bay window, fireplace and French doors out to the loggia; sitting room also with fireplace and French doors and classic dining room opening to the kitchen/breakfast room. Upstairs are the master bedroom suite and four further bedrooms, one of which has its own en-suite dressing room, and the family bathroom.

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Outside is a timber-clad stable block with three loose boxes and the gardens are mainly laid to lawn, which slopes down to the woodland. Immediately adjacent to the rear of the house is a gravelled terrace, beyond which is a level area of grass, formerly a croquet lawn. The woodland lies along the western boundary and is made up of beech, oak and pine trees - it is a haven of wildlife including pheasant and deer.

Verno is situated on the outskirts of Horam near Heathfield in East Sussex. The village has a church and a number of village shops and Heathfield and also Uckfield nearby offer a wider range of services.

The guide price is £995,000. For further information please contact Savills on 01444 446 000 or visit www.savills.co.uk.

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White Lodge is a charming, beautifully presented Edwardian house with contemporary styling and breathtaking panoramic views. The property has been completely been remodelled and renovated throughout to include a new slate roof rewiring and new plumbing, and been reorganised to provide an easy flow of rooms for modern-day living.

The kitchen has a large breakfast area extending into a living area with a fireplace which has stunning views. French doors open to a sheltered paved terrace for outdoor dining. The drawing room has a wide bay of windows and the elegant dining room is bright and has an adjoining study which could be adapted into a fifth bedrooms.

Upstairs the property has four bedrooms and a family bathroom - planning permission has been granted for an extension to create a further en-suite bathroom.

White Lodge has a guide price of £620,000

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Outside to the front of the house there is a lawned garden which makes the most of the stunning views in all directions.

White Lodge is situated in an elevated position high on Lyth Hill - and in the hamlet of the same name - which affords the house and gardens some of the best views in Shropshire, although Shrewsbury with its many local amenities is just over five miles distant.

The guide price is £620,000. For further information please contact Savills on 01952 239 500 or visit www.savills.co.uk.

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‘Furzefield’, once housed suffragettes when Peaslake in Surrey was a popular base for the movement. The six bedroom home has been carefully renovated to provide a family home set within seven acres of private grounds with a paddock and orchard.

The house has recently been renovated by local developers Tillingbourne Homes. The external façade features original hand made clay tiles, chimneys, brick detail and some wooden windows which have been retained and restored alongside traditional bay windows and original clapboard detailing.

A double height galleried entrance hall leads to a large drawing room and separate dining room, both with bay windows and rear garden views. The Poggenpohl kitchen and breakfast area features a range of highly specified integrated appliances include steam oven, two conventional ovens, combi microwave, two large fridge freezers, dishwasher, wine cooler unit and zip tap providing filtered boiling and cold water.

Furzefield has enjoyed a rich history, and is believed to have been used as a home for Suffragettes when Peaslake was a popular base for the movement in the early 20th Century. Here the then owner Miss Paine invited St Mark’s Sunday School to use the use a room as a base.

Today Peaslake retains a unique picturesque charm and sense of seclusion which has long attracted artists to live and work in the village and made it a popular location for television filming. Situated in the centre of the Surrey Hills the village is surrounded by attractive forests and downland and is a fantastic location for country walks and cycling.

Price: £4.25m through estate agents David Carter at Hamptons Country Houses on 01483 572864 or Michael Parry-Jones at Grantley on 01483 893939.

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Of all the Home Counties, Surrey has the best access to London. As a result, it is densely populated, but often appears surprisingly rural: the rolling, wooded landscape is ideal for tucking houses away. It has often been said that Surrey is not 'real country', but there are some sweeping landscapes and spectacular views, and wildernesses such as Box Hill. The intervention of the National Trust, together with the designation of green-belt tracts and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has saved much of the countryside from over-development. The county was important in medieval times and had a thriving wool trade. Today, the principal industry is agriculture; the low rainfall and relatively flat land is ideally suited to arable farming. Surrey was poor in the 18th century, largely because of the agricultural poverty of its sandy soil. As a result, there are few Georgian houses, and those that do exist command substantial premiums; there is also a scattering of earlier houses. It was only in the second half of the 19th and early 20th century that the county's popularity took off: there are many substantial and well-built late-Victorian and Edwardian houses. The most famous were designed by Lutyens, who combined local materials and vernacular forms with a feeling for drama and geometry. There are many beautiful and well-tended gardens, most notably at Wisley, where the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens are open to the public. All of Surrey is popular; the most sought-after areas include the Surrey Hills, between Guildford and Dorking, and the villages round Guildford. Major towns Guildford, Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorking, Epsom, Esher, Farnham, Godalming, Oxted, Redhill, Reigate. Transport links Train: Waterloo to Guildford 35min; Waterloo to Reigate 50min; Waterloo to Godalming 45min. Car: Guildford is 31 miles from central London via the A3; Reigate, 23 miles, via the A217; Godalming, 35 miles, via the A3. Public schools Aldro School, Shacklefield (01483 810266). Boys only, age range 7-13, day and boarding. www.aldro.org/ ACS Cobham, Cobham (01932 867251). Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.acs-england.co.uk/schools/cobham/ City of London Freemen's School, Ashtead (01372 277933). Co-educational, age range 7-18, day and boarding. www.clfs.surrey.sch.uk/ Claremont Fan Court School, Esher (01372 467841). Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.claremont-school.co.uk/ Cranleigh School (01483 273666). Co-educational, age range 13-18 (boys only, 7-13), day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.cranleigh.org/pages/cranleighschool/ Guildford High School (01483 561440). Girls only, age range 4-18, day. Royal Grammar School, Guildford (01483 880600). Boys only, age range 11-18, day. St Catherine's School, Bramley (01483 893363). Girls only, age range 4-18, day and boarding. www.st-catherines.surrey.sch.uk/ Leisure Golf courses: Wentworth, Virginia Water (01344 842201); Sunningdale (01344 21681); St George's Hill, Weybridge (01932 847758). Hunts: the Old Surrey and Burstow; the Surrey Union. Yachting clubs: London River Yacht Club; Frensham Pond Sailing Club. Fishing: rivers Mole and Wey, Enton Lakes and Tri Lakes.