A proper working farm for sale with 'one of the best shoots on Exmoor’
Chargot provides multiple income streams through its beef and arable farming as well as rolling countryside ideal for shooting.


If the phrase ‘size matters’ is anything to go by, the 2,340 acres of land that incorporate the Chargot shoot, in the wilds of west Somerset, are no mere trifle. Launched to the market with Knight Frank, at a guide price of £6.75 million, it boasts 37 drives plus shooting rights over three adjoining farms and Forestry Commission-owned land and woodland, which are leased.
Lamenting the lack of stock in the sporting-estate market, Clive Hopkins, head of farms and estates at Knight Frank, welcomes the emergence of an estate of such high calibre. ‘Given the stock issue, when a quality estate does launch at a reasonable price, it can receive a huge amount of interest and competitive bids, as exampled by a solely sporting estate in Yorkshire that we recently sold for well over the guide price.’
Some 1,200ft above sea level, the Brendon Hills, on the eastern edge of Exmoor, provide the sort of rolling countryside with steep valleys below open farmland that is ideal for shooting. There is also a shooting lodge, plus a farm and farmhouse as part of the sale.
‘Chargot is one of the best shoots on Exmoor,’ says William Morrison, head of South-West farms for Knight Frank. ‘Also, unusually for shoots in the region, Chargot is a proper, working farm, providing multiple income streams through its beef and arable farming.’
The property incorporates three-bedroom Langham Farmhouse, three game-keepers’ flats, a three-bedroom bungalow, a six-bedroom cottage, three-bedroom lodge, shoot lodge, offices and further farm buildings, spanning about 647 acres of pasture and woodland with magnificent, uplifting views across the Bristol Channel to Wales.
'There is potential to develop the estate further, as positive discussions have already begun with the Exmoor National Park Authority regarding planning application for a new nine-bedroom shooting lodge,’ adds Mr Morrison.
Since 2008, Chargot, which is 20 miles west of the M5 at Taunton (under two hours to Paddington), has been owned by Bettws Hall, a company that rears game birds and owns a number of sporting estates, mostly in mid Wales and the West Country, where you can take let days and accommodation.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Under its tenure, the shoot has improved dramatically, developing a reputation for sizeable bags and repeat bookings. It is now consistently voted one of the top 10 pheasant and partridge shoots in the country. Indeed, ‘drives such as Spitfire and Melanies have become synonymous with game shooting of the highest quality and are the benchmark against which other shoots measure themselves’, say agents. A typical bag is always above the 200 mark, sometimes reaching 400, with 30 to 40 head of roe and fallow deer taken per year.
The area is rich in hunting, including the West Somerset Foxhounds, Quantock Staghounds, Devon & Somerset Staghounds and West Somerset Beagles. There’s fishing, too, on nearby Rivers Exe and Barle, plus sea-fishing from Porlock Weir and Watchet Harbour.
Currently, the esteemed estate employs five full-time gamekeepers, most of whom are Chargot stalwarts. There is a clear opportunity here for a West Country-loving buyer – the vendor will retain shooting rights for the 2017/18 season, after which, the buyer can either leave it in Bettws’s hands or take full control.
Credit: Sarah Farnsworth
Top 10 pieces of essential shooting kit
To ensure you have all the gear and some idea, look no further than Nick Hammond’s wish list.
Credit: Simon Jauncey
Torosay Castle: The Hebridean shooting lodge that stayed in one family for 150 years
Mary Miers tells the story of a Victorian shooting lodge owned by the same family for 147 years – with
Annunciata is director of contemporary art gallery TIN MAN ART and an award-winning journalist specialising in art, culture and property. Previously, she was Country Life’s News & Property Editor. Before that, she worked at The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, researched for a historical biographer and co-founded a literary, art and music festival in Oxfordshire. Lancashire-born, she lives in Hampshire with a husband, two daughters and a mischievous pug.
-
Jnane Rumi, Marrakech, hotel review: 'The most talked about opening this year — and for good reason'
The Moroccan capital of Marrakech is the world capital of hotels, says Christopher Wallace — and Jnane Rumi is the latest string to its hospitality bow.
By Christopher Wallace Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in Cornwall
The Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its history
In the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston Martin
A new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
By James Fisher Published
-
The Mediterranean Magic of Malta
With historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
By Holly Kirkwood Published
-
Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country Life
If Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for sale
Great estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
By Anna White Last updated
-
A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in years
The ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
The new property hotspots where you can have it all: Beautiful houses, great schools and idyllic lifestyle
Across the country people are selling up and heading to the towns where there's no compromise on dream homes, outstanding schooling and the good life, according to analysis from two of Britain's top estate agents. Anna White explains.
By Anna White Published