Life's a beach — especially if you live in one of these epic homes by the sea
Britain is hot — so it's time to move to a beach house. Julie Harding picks out her favourites on the market right now.
Argyll and Bute — £1.25 million
Only a short boat ride is required to access the 9¾-acre Harbour Island from Crinan Harbour near Lochgilphead, and, once there, the architect-designed, recently renovated principal house offers four bedrooms.
Additionally, there are two sitting rooms — one on the ground floor and one on the first floor, the latter forming part of an impressive light-filled open-plan space with a vaulted ceiling that also features the kitchen and the impressive 30½ft by 14¾ft living room.
Glazed doors lead outside to a raised timber deck, which offers direct access to a wood-fired hot tub.
‘Harbour Island represents a onceinalifetime opportunity,’ says property agent Iona Conn. ‘It is rare to find a private island offering this level of privacy, seclusion and panoramic views, all within a remarkably short 300m [985ft] trip from the mainland.’ Additionally, there is a self-contained cabin known as The Witch’s Folly.
For sale via Savills — see more details.
Isle of Wight — £1.775 million
St Winifreds sits above Totland Bay and overlooks one of the Isle of Wight’s finest sandy beaches and the western approaches to the Solent and Christchurch Bay.
The former convent with ornate ceilings, decorative fireplaces and an elegant staircase has, over the past three years, been significantly upgraded and turned into a chic and comfortable six- to eight-bedroom home, where there is even a spacious cinema room on the first floor.
The principal rooms, such as the dining room and the 32½ft by 21ft drawing room, are of impressive proportions, making them perfect for entertaining or large family gatherings. The kitchen overlooks the swimming pool and the near-one-acre garden that is mainly laid to lawn.
For sale via Knight Frank — see more details.
In 1373, Geoffrey Chaucer visited Dartmouth; in 1620, Mayflower briefly put into the town’s Bayard’s Cove with the Pilgrim Fathers before they set sail for America; and, more recently, Flora Thompson, author of Lark Rise to Candleford, lived in this place with an extraordinary heritage. She chose to make her home in Above Town, one of the oldest and most sought-after residential areas in this town that is on the River Dart and only a stone’s throw from the sea.
A recent addition to the market is the four-bedroomed 60, Above Town, which has a ground floor sitting room, a snug/television area and an open-plan kitchen/dining room.
There's also an alfresco dining terrace, a hot-tub terrace at the rear of the house and glorious river views.
The agent says of 60, Above Town that it ‘offers beautifully appointed accommodation, thoughtfully designed to maximise space and light.
The views of the estuary are superb, and the interior coastal design, which runs throughout the house, is both elegant and relaxed’.
For sale via Jackson-Stops — see more details.
Imagine uninterrupted views stretching from Bamburgh Castle to Holy Island. Seahouse, a former colliery owner’s home that is sited a mile from Scremerston and three miles south of Berwick-upon-Tweed, offers just such views from its exceptional location, on a cliff top and only yards from the shore of the North Sea.
A substantial five-bedroom, stone Georgian property that boasts many period features (including high ceilings, decorative tiling, sash windows, feature fireplaces and panelling), Seahouse has three reception rooms — a drawing room, dining room and a smaller snug.
The imposing kitchen/breakfast room contains an electric Aga and is sited close to the boot room and tack room.
The nearby sandy beaches are perfect for dog walkers and horse riders alike and, indeed, Seahouse may interest keen equestrians, as there are almost four acres of land, some made up of paddocks, plus, for those four-legged friends, there is a timber stable block with two loose boxes.
The self-contained attached cottage has two bedrooms, making it perfect for either multi-generational living or as a commercial prospect.
For sale via GSC Grays— see more details.
