Country houses for sale

Splendid sporting estate in Devon

Bears Rock is bordered by the Rivers Bray and Holewater and boasts salmon and trout fishing on both, with the addition of a spring-fed, stocked trout lake. There is a pheasant drive, which is part of a local syndicate as well as Red and Roe deer.

When the current owners moved in eight years ago, their vision was to let all the land go back to it natural habitat. They had no livestock, took down all the fencing, cleared the riverbanks of dead trees. The fields were left to grow wild which encouraged new flowers to seed including an abundance of wild orchids.

The trout lake has become a wonderful haven for wild life: otters, dragon flies and masses of toads and frogs. Swallows feed at dusk and bats at night.

In May, the ancient wood (which extends to about 30 acres) is a carpet of bluebells and wonderful ferns.

Furthermore, the land joins the Tarka Trail and one can walk for miles through woodland and often see Red deer and huge stags during the rut.

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The main house is a four-bedroom Devon long house and there is a secondary converted barn with two bedrooms and a terrace. In addition, there are three stables and tack room.

For sale through Stags 01271 322833; www.stags.co.uk