A country house created from the ruins of a crumbling farmhouse, set in 19 acres of Surrey Hills
A new-found love for space, quiet and Nature is driving growth in the prime countryside market, says Penny Churchill, as she takes a look at a superb house on the slopes of Leith Hill in Surrey.


It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good. As we try to look ahead to a time when the misery of the past nine months will be wiped from our collective memory, who would have thought that the big winner to emerge from the pandemic would be the British countryside? Whatever economic and social problems lie ahead, there is no doubt that many more homeowners will want to go where others led in 2020 and seek a cleaner, greener future without the grinding pressure of the dreaded daily commute.
A multi-generational family with lofty ambitions can find the best of town and country at Trout Grange, near the picturesque wooded hamlet of Coldharbour, five miles from Dorking, on the southern slopes of Leith Hill — at 965ft above sea level, it’s the second-highest point in south-east England.
Set in more than 19 acres of private gardens and grounds within the Surrey Hills AONB, the 4,368sq ft main house and its 3,200sq ft converted barn and pool house are for sale through Knight Frank in Guildford at a guide price of £3.75 million for the whole, or £2.35m for the main house alone.
Approached down a long, winding drive off a small country lane, Trout Grange was built in the 1980s on the site of a historic former farmhouse that had fallen into disrepair.
The house is laid out over four floors with an impressive cinema/games-room complex on the lower ground floor.
The ground floor offers a large formal sitting room, a triple-aspect dining room, a study and a kitchen/breakfast room.
There are six first-floor bedrooms, with two further bedrooms on the floor above, and four bathrooms in all.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Trout Grange Barn comprises two wings, with a large kitchen/breakfast/family room, a sitting room and bathroom on one side; the other wing includes a large room, currently used as a games room, with three bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.
The swimming pool is located behind the main house to take full advantage of the spectacular southerly views.
Trout Grange is for sale via Knight Frank — see more details and pictures.
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.
-
19 charming homes for sale, from picture-perfect cottages to beachside retreats, as seen in Country Life
This week's selection of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
You can’t always rely on the Great British summer — but you can rely on its watches
British watchmakers have excelled themselves in recent months — releasing bright and beautiful timepieces that you'll want on your wrist through summer, and beyond.
By Chris Hall Published
-
19 charming homes for sale, from picture-perfect cottages to beachside retreats, as seen in Country Life
This week's selection of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islands
Mill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family home
Hadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every window
Penny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
The former stables — and recording studio for the Pet Shop Boys — transformed with a magical blend of city and country aesthetic, now seeking a new owner
In the heart of Clerkenwell, what was once a Victorian industrial unit is now a beautiful home.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countryside
Hartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its history
In the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
By Penny Churchill Published