A 'truly magical place' that's 'one of the jewels in the South Hams crown' has come to the market near Dartmouth
Penny Churchill shares this 'truly magical place', which was originally a cider press and orchard.


Buyers looking for a quiet rustic retreat close to the sea might consider Worden House, near Dartmouth, which dates from the 16th-century. Originally a cider press and orchard, it was a proper working farm until the year 2000, when it was sold as a family home.
Now on the market at a guide price of £5m through the South Hams office of Savills, the Grade II-listed former farmhouse, set in 6½ acres of gardens, paddocks and an olive grove of 160 trees shipped in from Andalusia, has been transformed by its owners into ‘a truly magical place — one of the jewels in the South Hams crown’, enthuses selling agent Sarah-Jane Bingham-Chick.
Currently run as a successful high-end holiday let, but equally suited to family living and entertaining, Worden House is located on a quiet lane between Dartmouth and the Blackpool Valley; a nearby bridleway makes a pleasant walk to the beach at Blackpool Sands, a mile or so away.
There is more than a touch of the Mediterranean in the generous, well-proportioned accommodation on three floors, which includes a galleried entrance hall with a high vaulted ceiling, a large kitchen/living room, with access to the heated dining terrace and croquet lawn, and a separate commercial kitchen next to the dining room at the heart of the house.
The first floor houses six luxurious bedroom suites, with two further suites in the guest cottage. The lower ground floor comprises a large living area with a bar, cinema/games room, a Moroccan-style steam room and sauna and an indoor swimming pool.
A range of traditional outbuildings includes a party barn that could double as a home office or children’s den and outdoor amenities include an AstroTurf tennis court and an outdoor pool.
Worden House is on the market at a guide price of £5m through Savills
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Dartmouth, Devon: What you need to know
- Location: Worden House is located on a quiet lane between Dartmouth and Blackpool Valley, which leads to the pretty coastal village of Stoke Fleming. The nearby town of Totnes, 12 miles away, offers a mainline rail link to London Paddington in under three hours.
- Atmosphere: Stoke Fleming has a popular pub, village store/post office, bistro/wine bar and primary school. The larger town of Dartmouth offers a wide variety of shops, pubs and restaurants as well as a cinema, leisure centre, primary and senior schools and the beautiful River Dart Estuary.
- Things to do: Outdoor enthusiasts are well-suited to the area, which lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A bridleway is easily accessed from the house which leads to the beach at Blackpool Sands, just over a mile away. View more houses in the area
Credit: Batchellor Monkhouse
Eight beautiful country houses for sale in West Sussex, from £725,000 to £3.95 million
Whether you're after a charming cottage or an estate to call your own, our list of the best country houses
Credit: Jackson-Stops
Eight beautiful homes for sale around Britain, as seen in Country Life
From a breathtaking Surrey mansion to a small Ayrshire estate, we look at some of the homes to appear in
-
Ford Focus ST: So long, and thanks for all the fun
From November, the Ford Focus will be no more. We say goodbye to the ultimate boy racer.
By Matthew MacConnell Published
-
‘If Portmeirion began life as an oddity, it has evolved into something of a phenomenon’: Celebrating a century of Britain’s most eccentric village
A romantic experiment surrounded by the natural majesty of North Wales, Portmeirion began life as an oddity, but has evolved into an architectural phenomenon kept alive by dedication.
By Ben Lerwill Published
-
A mini estate in Kent that's so lovely it once featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain'
The Paper Mill estate is a picture-postcard in the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London home
Behind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtower
On Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attached
Upper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
By James Fisher Published
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?
It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
What should 1.5 million new homes look like?
The King's recent visit to Nansledan with the Prime Minister gives us a clue as to Labour's plans, but what are the benefits of traditional architecture? And can they solve a housing crisis?
By Lucy Denton Published
-
Welcome to the modern party barn, where disco balls are 'non-negotiable'
A party barn is the ultimate good-time utopia, devoid of the toil of a home gym or the practicalities of a home office. Modern efforts are a world away from the draughty, hay-bales-and-a-hi-fi set-up of yesteryear.
By Madeleine Silver Published