Being in the thick of it is all well and good, but all one really wants after a long day out and about is to come home to a world of your own.
Few properties can offer this without the impingement of neighbours or pesky towns with loud night lives but Burrator House, sitting in its own private estate of 34 acres, does nicely.
Set in the iconic tors of west Dartmoor, right next to the stunning Burrator Reservoir, the beautiful 19th century house (now on the market with Jackson Stops for offers over £2 million) was once called home to Sir James Brooke, the first 'White Rajah' of Sarawak. The British soldier and adventurer took vigorous measures to suppress piracy in the region when he became governor, and his restoration of the Sultan of Brunei to the throne led to his appointment as Rajah.
Sir James ruled from 1841 until his death in 1868.
Prettily bordered by the Sheeptor Brook, named for the towering outcrop which rises behind the village of Sheeptor, the property is supported by three holiday lets, farming buildings and a holding of surrounding land. The grounds are extensive and cover a range of terrain rarely found at this sort of price point, with pasture, woodland, an arboretum and a lake.
Not too far from Plymouth, the village of Sheeptor is charmingly quaint and under three miles from Yelverton.
The beautiful house on the lake has eight bedrooms, a bright drawing room, reception, dining room (all with wide fireplaces and marble mantlepieces) and a remarkably cosy eat-in kitchen, as well as a pool room and a lovely conservatory. Stunning surroundings are guaranteed in any National Park estate, but Burrator House is certainly something special.
Government gives South Downs national park status
The South Downs, including the historic Western Weald, has been granted national park status under new plans announced by environment
Country Life's guide to England's 10 breakthtaking national parks
One year on from Michael Gove's consultation on our nation's national parks, we round up the reasons to visit the
Period property in the Dartmoor National Park
This former cottage has been extended and updated, but retains its period charm and comes with six acres of woodland
Devon farmhouse within Dartmoor National Park for sale
This period farmhouse would make a perfect family property within the lovely surroundings of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon
Arts & Crafts house for sale in Dartmoor National Park
This charming Arts & Crafts house sits within the Dartmoor National Park and has a wildflower meadow and a bluebell
-
Embrace off-grid living on this Scottish island for sale, but you'll have to share it with the local seal populationA dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come up for sale.
-
Are you a 'frag head'? Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 30, 2025Well, ARE you? And how well do you know Leonardo DiCaprio's 2002 work? It's time to find out.
-
Embrace off-grid living on this Scottish island for sale, but you'll have to share it with the local seal population
A dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come up for sale.
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country LifeOur look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spotsThe Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
-
826 years of history, painstaking restoration and 'a garden like no other' at this former National Trust house which has come to the market in KentA blooming property in Kent showcases the original garden of England. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
A wisteria-clad delight with lawns running down to the Thames at the prettiest riverside home for sale in London todayDeodar Road, near Putney High Street, offers unrivalled views of the Thames and is characterful in excess.
-
Five of the most majestic properties for sale in Britain today, from a 1,700-acre estate to a private island, as seen in Country LifeOur look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes some genuinely breathtaking places.
-
Save me: A castle on the Isle of Wight designed by James Wyatt is up for saleNorris Castle Estate also comes with 225 acres of gardens and grounds, and needs a little TLC
-
The 1,800-acre estate of the man who bought Stonehenge has come up for sale at £25 millionThe Bapton Manor Estate, in the beautiful Cranborne Chase National Landscape, seeks a new owner. Penny Churchill takes a look.
