A stunningly beautiful house in Yorkshire, a townhouse-slash-mill in one of Somerset's coolest towns and a truly gorgeous Gloucestershire cottage are among the keenly-priced treasures in our latest round-up of genuinely affordable country houses with character.
Richmond, North Yorkshire — £375,000
A quite astonishing property right in the heart of this historic and beautiful town, this is a two-bedroom home that dates back to 1750.
Once an offshoot of Swale House, it’s been beautifully and tastefully converted and updated and is now a glorious, Grade II-listed character home.
Despite the town centre location (Market Square is just a few steps away) there is a large garden with views down to the river.
For sale with Irvings. See more pictures of this property.
Hitcham, Suffolk — £365,000
Simply called ‘The Cottage’, this three-bedroom thatched home is set in a third of an acre with off-road parking and a detached double garage.
Believed to be early 18th century in origin, the house has kitchen, utility room, sitting room and a garden room, two bedrooms upstairs and one more downstairs which could easily be a study.
There’s plenty of scope to improve and restore more character features (the inglenook fireplace’s original stonework is apparently hidden behind modern brick), subject to permission from the relevant authorities.
For sale with Chapman Stickels. See more pictures of this property.
Chiddingfold, Surrey — £375,000
Few villages are more picturesque than Chiddingfold, the delightful Surrey spot a few miles south of Godalming centred around a pretty pond, with church, several lovely pubs and a real community feel.
Houses often fetch hefty prices in the area — commuting is straightforward from several nearby stations — so finding this Victorian two-bedroom home under £400k is a pleasant surprise.
It’s small but nicely done inside with a new kitchen, there are plenty of character features — not least the original fireplace — and gardens both front and back.
For sale with Emery & Orchard. See more pictures of this property.
Wass, Yorkshire — £400,000
Just down the road from Ampleforth College is this idyllic, detached cottage with charming gardens and a village location.
Inside it’s full of quirks and charm, and there’s an Aga in the kitchen for a true country feel.
The gardens are a real highlight, with beautiful countryside just beyond the walls and fine views across to the Howardian Hills.
For sale with Boulton Cooper. See more pictures of this property.
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire — £400,000
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that £400k really can buy you something idyllic in a nice location. Yet that seems to be absolutely the case with this picture-perfect thatched cottage in the heart of Cheltenham which has been expertly — and sympathetically — renovated inside to produce a bright family home that makes the most of its period features.
The sunny kitchen/dining room benefits from a glazed extension and views out over the garden, whilst the sitting room is elegantly presented with a feature fireplace.
Upstairs are three good sized bedrooms, including the principal suite with fitted wardrobes and an ensuite bathroom. Outside are delightful country gardens formed of lawns, flowerbeds and paved seating areas.
For sale with Sheldon Bosley Knight. See more pictures of this property.
West-Horrington, Somerset — £385,000
In the village of West Horrington, you’ll find this beautiful period stone cottage with an abundance of charming features such as a woodburning stove in an open fireplace in the sitting room, exposed beams and stone walls galore.
With three bedrooms and two reception rooms, the cottage is compact yet comfortable, with a separate spiral staircase leading from the dining room upstairs to the principal bedroom.
To the rear of the property is an enclosed courtyard garden with enough space for a small table and plenty of flowers.
For sale with Killens. See more pictures of this property.
Sampford-Courtenay, Devon — £400,000
Dating back to the mid 19th century, this former Methodist chapel has been completely re-imagined and is now a lovely three-bedroom property with wonderful open-plan accommodation.
The vaulted ceiling and feature windows create lots of natural light, with plenty of cosy corners to relax. However, the real show-stopped is the kitchen with its quartz counter tops, central island and deep blue cabinets.
There is the option to purchase the garden separately, however if that doesn’t take your fancy, then there are plenty of country walks on your doorstep, plus a great village pub to enjoy.
For sale with Helmores. See more pictures of this property.
Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset — £395,000
Exquisite interiors are the name of the game at this charming three-bed terraced cottage in Somerset.
The interiors have been sympathetically renovated by the current owners, with plenty of warm wood panelling, an incredible inglenook fireplace in the sitting room and bespoke, handmade units in the kitchen.
The property is accessed through a wooden gate, which leads to a shingle driveway, at the end of which is a garage. To the rear of the house is a compact terraced garden, packed with plants and flowers, and to the side is a sheltered courtyard area, perfect for potting or sheltered G&Ts.
For sale with Greenslade Taylor Hunt. See more pictures of this property.
Snowdonia — £365,000
A fine stone-built house in Corris, a village near Machynlleth, that has some of the most beautiful mountain views we’ve seen in a long time.
If you can pull yourself away from the beauty on display from the terraced patio areas, the four-bedroom house within is beautifully, tastefully decorated.
For sale with Walter Lloyd Jones & Co . See more pictures and details for this property.
Isle of Skye — £350,000
Located at Kilmuir on the northern end of Skye — not far from the grave of Flora MacDonald — this is one of those houses that offers an amazing amount of home for the money.
Immaculately presented, spectacular views, and four bedrooms — although it’s currently set up as three plus office. And you really can work from Skye here: the agents report that there is ultra-fast 1000mbps broadband available to this address.
For sale with Isle of Skye Estate Agency. See more pictures and details for this property.
Taunton, Somerset — £375,000
This over-grown, slightly grotto-like, thatched cottage near Taunton would make for a brilliant ‘before’ and ‘after’ transformation shot.
Charming period features are evident throughout, but it’s the two standout inglenook fireplaces in the sitting room and dining room which really steal the show. In one, you’ll find an original bread over and in both, exposed dark timbers frame the room.
The three bed cottage needs some TLC, as do the gardens, which are currently overgrown. But for those willing to put in the work, this could be the ultimate country cottage.
For sale with Greenslade Taylor Hunt. See more pictures of this property.
