It’s January and with all the rain I haven’t seen the sun in 4 days. Years ago, when I was less wise and deemed myself far more invincible, I would suffer in silence during these long dark months. But I am wiser now. I look after my brain to keep the SAD at bay. I take vitamin D supplements. I exercise regularly. The boring things that stop you from succumbing.
I also daydream. Daydream of a spring and summer to come and of sun to be soaked. One of the perks of this job, and there are many, is that I get to look at nice houses, overlooking bodies of water, often photographed in the summertime. This allows me to picture the light at the end of the tunnel. To contextualise dreams of a summer that inches ever closer.
Today’s daydream is this astounding semi-coastal property called Rectory Barn, which is in East Portlemouth in Devon. The owners, through their intermediaries Strutt & Parker, are seeking offers in excess of £4.5 million.
Designed by the Harrison Sutton Partnership, the property offers almost 6,400sq ft of living space in what is helpfully described as an ‘upside down’ configuration. What this means is that the property is set over two floors, but the bedrooms, of which there are four, are on the bottom floor.
An odd thing to do in the middle of Suffolk, perhaps, but in Devon, when you have views of the Salcombe estuary to take advantage of, very very sensible indeed. And take advantage the owners have. Within this unassuming stone shell, you will find that most precious of things: light. Windows abound, floor to ceiling French doors everywhere you look, and so on.
The interiors are a modern delight, and scream ‘please host lots of fun parties in me’. The open-plan kitchen is vast and welcoming, as is the library/living room that occupies the first floor. The hydro pool & gym, just separate from the house, is also a light-filled space of elegance.
The ground floor is mostly given over to the bedrooms, and a media room. All the bedrooms are en-suite, with the principal bedroom boasting a vast bathroom and his-and-hers dressing rooms.
Outside, the property boasts just over 1.5 acres of landscaped gardens and ground that are run through with places to sit and enjoy the sun and the glorious view.
The days are getting longer, slowly but surely. Soon someone, sadly not me, can enjoy the long summer days here. I am already jealous.
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
Credit: Michael Graham
5 country homes for sale, from £1.575 million to £12 million, as seen in Country Life
Here are five of the best homes to come up for sale via Country Life over the holiday period.
'People love land': The top estate sales of 2024, from the Duke of Northumberland to first-time farmers
Some estate sales were trickier in 2024, yet overall most eventually found buyers. We look at some of the top
Credit: Fine & Country
A bohemian paradise is up for sale with pool, stables and endless country charm
Swapping town for country has rarely looked so easily tempting.
-
The wisteria clad cottage where Noël Coward and Ivor Novello held court at the height of their fameThe 17th-century Follejon Cottage just outside Windsor was a perfect escape from the city for Noël Coward and his circle of friends. As it goes on the market, Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
What were the code names of the three tunnels dug during the Second World War’s Great Escape? It's the Country Life Quiz of the Day, October 23, 2025Test your general knowledge this fine Thursday.
-
The wisteria clad cottage where Noël Coward and Ivor Novello held court at the height of their fame
The 17th-century Follejon Cottage just outside Windsor was a perfect escape from the city for Noël Coward and his circle of friends. As it goes on the market, Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
A Cotswolds property that's the strangest mix of old and new we've ever seen... and yet somehow, it all worksThe Gasworks is a house quite unlike anything you've seen before — or at least anything you've seen all in one place. Toby Keel takes a closer look.
-
A country house near Windsor that could be straight from the pages of a Jilly Cooper novelPenny Churchill looks at the beautiful polo-lover's sanctuary that is Barkham Square Park.
-
The factory that once fuelled the Victorians' insatiable appetite for pianos has become a set of gorgeous, characterful apartmentsChappell & Co were a huge name in 19th century music, even working with Beethoven. Today, one of their old factories in Camden has become a series of beautiful apartments.
-
What £1 million buys you across Britain, from a Cornish cottage to a miniature castle in the HighlandsSprawling country houses, a mini-estate in Scotland and homes where the sea almost laps up at your feet are among the property options open to those with a seven-figure budget. Here's our pick of the best £1 million houses for sale across the land.
-
The Hampshire home of a Victoria Cross-winning British WWI ace fighter pilot is for sale, with lake, chapel and some of the best fishing rights in EnglandPenny Churchill looks at Longparish House, a north Hampshire haven on the River Test.
-
Five superb country homes, from under £1 million to £20 million, as seen in Country LifeOur look at some the best homes to come up for sale via Country Life in the past week includes a Wiltshire dream home and a vast Kent mansion that's an easy commute to the City.
-
Rock stars and the country house: Liam Gallagher's life in the Cotswolds is in the finest tradition of music A-listers, from The Beatles to BeyoncéWhat is it about the British countryside that draws A-listers from every walk of life? With Liam Gallagher's Cotswold former home on the market, Toby Keel takes a look.
