Country houses for sale

A fabulous 78-acre Edwardian estate in North Devon that’s on the market for £3.65 million

Perfectly situated between the Exmoor National Park and North Devon Area of Natural Beauty, Kings Warren offers the ultimate country retreat. James Fisher takes a look.

Kings Warren near Shirwell is ‘an exceptional small country estate’ situated in some 78 acres of gardens and grounds with south-facing views of unspoilt Devon countryside.

Built in 1901, the distinguished property, built of stone under a Welsh slate roof, arrives onto the market via Knight Frank with a guide price of £3.65 million.

The Edwardian main house features some six bedrooms over its two floors and has been sensitively modernised in recent years, the highlight of which is the impressive open-plan kitchen/dining room, which offers an abundance of light from its two skylights.

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Elsewhere on the ground floor there are five reception rooms where touches of period charm shine through, as well as a useful boot room with outdoor access; utility and pantry.

Within the grounds, a detached converted coach house now accommodates a large games room and a self-contained flat with two further bedrooms.

Outside, the mature gardens encompass rolling lawns, well-stocked borders and plenty for the sportsperson, such as a swimming pool, tennis court, croquet lawn and a lake stocked with a mixture of fish and overlooked by an oak-built summer house.

Shirwell village is home to Shirwell Primary School, a church and a general store, whilst the ancient market town of Barnstaple is about six miles away and lies on the River Taw.

Here you’ll find a number of attractions, from the 180-mile long Tarka Trail — a series of footpaths and cycle trails inspired by “Tarka The Otter” by Henry Williamson; to the Museum of North Devon and many narrow streets and alleyways with historic buildings. There’s also a traditional Pannier market and beaches at Saunton and Woolacombe.

Kings Warren is currently on the market via Knight Frank with a guide price of £3.65 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.


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