Broomshields Hall, a five-bedroom home with landscaped gardens in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, is on the market for £1.75 million

Close to the Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the North Pennines National Landscape, Warcop House is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The property is grade II listed and in 1.44 acres of south and west-facing gardens. There are three reception rooms, a kitchen/diner and WC on the ground floor, and upstairs are four bedrooms, two with dressing rooms and three bathrooms

Hindley Hall has 19 acres of grounds, including woodland, equestrian facilities, an Italian walled garden and expansive lawns. The property has five bedrooms and five bathrooms, including an impressive main bedroom with his and hers en suite bathrooms and dressing rooms and a private sitting room. On the ground floor there’s a south-facing sunroom and a large broken-plan kitchen/breakfast room and sitting room, as well as a drawing room, utility space and toilet. Hindley is close to the village of Stocksfield, about a 25-minute drive from Newcastle.

It is easy, at the age of 32, to consider oneself a grownup. There are many grownup things I do. I open letters that are addressed to me often. These days, they are demands for money, rather than when I was a kid, when they contained money. I go to work, to make money, to help with the letters. Everything can be a bit serious, quite a lot of the time.

What’s interesting, with all this grown-up behaviour, is how quickly I can be yanked back to more childish endeavours. A certain smell can incite a mild psychosis of youth; or an image of a treehouse. Nothing makes you want to be a kid again quite like a good treehouse. I am constantly wishing I was in a treehouse, hiding from my problems. If I lived at Springfield House, in Northumberland, I would spend a lot of time in the treehouse there. It is for sale with Finest Properties for £5.75 million.

Less than four miles from Carlisle, Old Swinford was built using the winnings from a horse race bet- and named after the winning horse. It has four bedrooms and an established garden.

This five-bedroom home was built in the 1940s in Rotherby, a conservation village with views over the Wreake Valley. It has half an acre of gardens, and is entered via the grand entrance and driveway of the former Rotherby Manor. On the ground floor there are three reception rooms and an open-plan kitchen with French doors leading out to a terrace. Upstairs are five bedrooms and four bathrooms, including the principal bedroom which has a dressing room and en suite bathroom. There is a detached double garage and views across the valley and the neighbouring 14th-century church adding a historic backdrop. Leicester and Melton Mowbray are nearby.

Hagg House is a gorgeous family home that just happens to have a miniature castle in the gardens. Annabel Dixon explains more.

Distinctive Tower House dates to 1657 and has, as its name suggests, a characterful tower, adjoining the rear of the Grade II-listed, four-bedroom, three-storey house. From it, you can survey the marshland of west Norfolk where King John’s crown jewels were reputedly lost in 1216 and the imposing 14th-century churh of Terrington St Clement, known as the Cathedral of the Marshland. The village, near King’s Lynn with its direct rail link to London, has a selection of shops, two pubs and two doctors’ surgeries.

Set in 11 hectares (27 acres) of sloping pastures in the Teme Valley and with views of the Malvern Hills, this period conversion has low beams, an inglenook fireplace and flagstone flooring. The property has five bedrooms and a timber balcony attached to its main bedroom. The farmhouse-style kitchen has a central island and an arched door out on to the terrace. Within the grounds is a self-contained annexe, stable blocks and a metal-framed agricultural building that could easily house a collection of classic cars.

The River Balder forms a boundary of Hagg House’s 1 3/4 acres of walled gardens, which manage to pack in formal sections, a pond with a  bridge, wildflower meadow, cottage garden with an orchard, outdoor dining areas and a paddock with 26 solar panels, which connect to a hybrid gas/air-source heat pump system. In the midst of all this, a charming Grade-II listed folly known as Monk’s House has planning permission for restoration.

Sitting in the Lake District National Park, this three-bedroom house is clad in Lakeland slate. Its garden includes patio areas for outdoor dining and entertaining.

A period property set in landscaped gardens in the Tyne Valley. The house has exposed beams, Yorkshire stone floors, open fireplaces, and a large dining kitchen with an Aga, an inglenook fireplace, and French doors leading onto the garden.

Smithy Cottage is a four-bedroom house in the village of Dalston, five miles from Carlisle. The kitchen has a farmhouse feel and outside there are three barns that could be converted.

Woodlands is a well-maintained, updated and extended detached family home in the picturesque village of Hargrave, 12 miles from Wellingborough. There are four double bedrooms in this 2,600 sq ft house — two of which have en suite bathrooms — three reception rooms and a large, bespoke kitchen. Situated on a plot of about four acres, it also has equestrian facilities, including stables, three paddocks and grazing land.

A converted barn surrounded by landscaped gardens in a secluded location close to a village. It has stone floors, exposed beams, a living room with a vaulted ceiling, a bespoke breakfast kitchen with an electric Aga, and a contemporary annexe with a spacious office area.

A restored Grade II-listed village house originally build as a grammar school in 1576 and situated adjacent to a church. The house comes with a one-bedroom annexe attached to the garage. It has oak floors, open fireplaces with wood-burning stoves, a hand-painted kitchen with an Aga and a vaulted ceiling in one of the bedrooms.

With views over Cley Church, a south-facing garden and a detached rotunda studio, South Knoll is an idyllic country retreat. The Norfolk coast is a few minutes away, and Cley next the Sea has all the essential amenities. On the ground floor is a large sitting room, quirky kitchen, garden room, shower and downstairs bedroom. Upstairs are two more bedrooms and two bathrooms. The gardens have been meticulously maintained with plenty of alfresco dining spots and off-road parking.

[T]hese little halls dotted around our countryside have held a special place in my heart. There is an inherent beauty to how they bring the countryside — a place that is by its very definition quite large — closer together. I had not, until today, seen one converted into a home before. The abode in question was the former village hall at Shotley Bridge in Co Durham. Now reimagined as a five-bedroom house rather aptly named The Village Hall, it has become a spacious and contemporary modern home in the north of England.

The Malt House is a five-bedroom grade II listed property in Bewdley. Period details include beamed ceilings and an inglenook fireplace, while the kitchen is housed in a modern glass extension with double-height ceilings overlooking a lush garden with a pond. Shops and cafés are within walking distance.

Nestled in the Towy Valley countryside, Blaen Nant Melyn is fully off-grid. Electricity is supplied via solar panels attached to a battery bank with a back-up diesel generator. Heating and hot water is provided by multi-fuel stoves and a boiler, while springs and streams provide a private water supply. It’s a traditional stone and slate farmhouse with a whole host of original features dating from 1785. On the ground floor there is a kitchen, sitting room, large entrance hall/dining room and storage area. Upstairs are three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Rhandirmwyn is 5.2 miles away and Brecon is 32.7 miles away.

Kemlyn sits in the north of the Lake District National Park in a quiet village location surrounded by unspoilt landscape. The property opens into a hallway, which leads into a sitting room and snug, as well as a kitchen that has a utility room and downstairs toilet attached. Upstairs there are four bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as a mezzanine in one of the bedrooms offering extra sleeping space for guests. Outside you can find a shed, patio and raised deck area. Carlisle is 13.8 miles away.

This property on the outskirts of Southburgh in Norfolk feels like a secret worth sharing. It is that fabulous East Anglian shade of pink. It has a splendid thatched roof. It has two acres of gardens and grounds, and four bedrooms. It is for sale with Sowerbys for offers in excess of £700,000. It has a rare ‘Cheese Room’ tax sign, whatever that might mean.

A 1930’s property situated on the slopes of Skiddaw with views across Derwent water and the surrounding fells. The house has been modernised and extended and has an open-plan kitchen and living area with a wood-burning stove and French doors opening onto a terrace.

Fine Georgian townhouse with impressive interiors. The property is close to the city centre and overlooks Durham Cathedral and “Caslte” College.

Beauty lies in the symmetry of this tall, red brick, five-bedroom farmhouse. Behind brick gateposts, the property lies in four rambling acres of gardens, orchards and a lake. It has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a games room, a boot room, a cellar and a study. The games room has floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the lawn. The heart of the home is the farmhouse-style, open plan kitchen-cum-dining room with a wood burning stone, an Aga and a central island. To one side of the house is a timber pergola and a flagstone terrace that wraps around the corner of the property to face the lawn.

First a chapel, Thurloe House was then used as a fire station and a youth hall before being converted into a family home. On the ground floor, the living space wraps around an internal courtyard, which provides light throughout, as well as alfresco dining. Upstairs the main bedroom has an en suite bathroom and built-in storage space. There are two more bedrooms and another bathroom, although one of the rooms is more office-sized. It is in Reepham, a market town 12 miles north of Norwich.

A slate house with commanding views in the Lake District National Park. Three beds, family bath (one ensuite), kitchen/diner, two reception rooms, garden.

Two’s company at these cosy countryside boltholes.
Just north-east of the village of Ninebanks in the North Pennines, Old High House Chapel enjoys sweeping views of the Wes Allen valley. Grade II listed and dating back to 1750, it operated as a Wesleyan chapel from 1859. Accomodation is spread over three floors and includes one en-suite bedroom.

Back Garth is a three-bedroom Georgian townhouse in the market town of Alston, 20 miles from Penwirth. The interiors feature exposed beams, original floorboards that have been sanded and waxed and a wood-burning stove. The main sitting room has vaulted ceilings. It featured in the 1999 ITV adaptation of Oliver Twist.

Back Garth is a three-bedroom Georgian townhouse in the market town of Alston, 20 miles from Penrith. The interiors feature exposed beams, original floorboards that have been sanded and waxed and a wood-burning stove. The main sitting room has vaulted ceilings. It featured in the 1999 ITV adaptation of Oliver Twist.

Beautifully maintained, four-bedroom Middlemiss Farm, not far from Cramlington and Morpeth, dates back to the 17th century. With far-reaching views, the mature gardens ‘are a spectacle of manicured beauty,’ enthuse agents, ‘with lush lawns, neat topiary, miniature hedgerows and tastefully shaped climbing plants adorning the stone facades.’ Within a little over 23 acres, the stable block is in equally fine fettle and a tranquil dene runs the length of the property, surrounded by woodland.

The Wainhouse is the ultimate country house with wonderful views set in around 32 acres. The house is immaculate from top to toe with circa 5,500 square feet and includes a self-contained annex. The Wainhouse is beautifully proportioned and has eight double bedrooms, five bathrooms and a range of reception rooms, with a live-in country kitchen and a large dining room, perfect for entertaining.

Glebe Farm is a substantial detached Grade II Listed character home with a self-contained annexe with seperate access. The property is situated in the heart of the popular Rutland village of Market Overton, just set back from the Main Street. The property boasts over 6,000 square feet of immaculately presented accomodation having undergone a tasteful contemporary refurbishment, with original character features including exposed beams throughout, combined with a high end modern interior finish.

Anick Hall is a grand six-bedroom country house in the desirable hamlet of Anick, near Hexham, Northumberland. Occupying a private 3.62-acre plot, the property is surrounded by mature trees and shrubbery, with a south-facing aspect that fills its principal rooms with natural light.

The Glass House is part of an enclave of nine architect-designed homes in the countryside near Hexham. On the ground floor there is a large family room, kitchen, sitting room, dining room and southwest-facing conservatory. Upstairs are three bedrooms, one with an en suite bathroom, plus a family bathroom. The gardens are landscaped, with rhododendron shrubs, beech hedgerows and alfresco dining areas. Newcastle is 22 miles away.

EPC D (current and potential)
Upside Underfloor heating and insulated glazing.
Price £1.1 million

With its elevated position, Oakwell House enjoys breathtaking views across the Tyne valley, and its 2.5 acres includes a paddock and stables. The Edwardian property has six bedrooms, two bathrooms and four reception rooms. Brownside Cottage is a self-contained annexe in the grounds, perfect for guests and family

Ebbastrand is a four-bedroom Edwardian home on the beach in Coldingham Bay, about a mile along the cliffs from the fishing village of St Abbs and four miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed. Highlights of the interior include stained-glass windows, an English oak kitchen and a classic cream Aga. French doors opens on to a terrace with sea views

For the first time in half a century, this Grade II-listed converted water mill has come onto the market. The current owners have spent their occupancy lovingly restoring the building into a five-bedroom house. The inner workings of the old mill are still on display. Among the oak beams and trusses is the original working sack hoist. Light pours in from the slanted glazed windows in the vaulted ceiling. Outside is a wildflower meadow and an orchard, as well as a gravel beach and banks down to the River Caldew.

Ben Y Craig near Keswick might be one of the best houses in one of the most sought after locations in the Lake District National Park.
There is much to admire about the ambitions of Percy at Ben-Y-Craig. This five bedroom house makes the most of its elegant hillside position, with large sash windows throughout allowing residents to indulge themselves in the far-reaching views over Derwentwater and the surrounding fells. Here are some views to get lost in.

With beautiful sweeping gardens and countryside views, this property near Abberley village is the perfect rural retreat. The ground floor has a spacious kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, sitting room, drawing room, games room/gym and a one-bedroom annexe that can be accessed separately. Upstairs there are no less than seven bedrooms and four bathrooms, including the main bedroom with an en suite bathroom and private balcony with far-reaching views across the Teme Valley. There are 32 acres of grounds, mainly pasture for ponies or sheep, as well as a swimming pool and floodlit tennis court. Kidderminster is 25 minutes away by car.

It’s not often that you’ll find a cottage in the middle of the Lake District with a perfect EPC, but this new-build, on the northern tip of Coniston Water, is A-rated. With underfloor heating, triple-glazed windows and an electric vehicle charging point, sustainability was at the heart of The Keld’s design. The three bedroom, three-bathroom property comes with almost four acres of ancient woodland and has direct access to a number of trail walks and fells for hiking.

Like cider? Pomona Farm would be perfect for you — it comes with four acres of orchards, plus gardens, tennis court and a lake. The five-bedroom house is in the hamlet of Bartestree, four miles from the centre of Hereford. It has a large Aga in the kitchen, but if you tire of cooking, the highly rate Carriages restaurant is a stroll away.

Part of a historic estate, The Coach House’s Georgian architectural style reflects the style of Carlton Hall — having been built from the same stone and with similar attention to detail. On the ground floor you enter into a double-height formal dining room with a large marble fireplace and a staircase leading up to the galleried landing. Also on the ground floor is a large kitchen with a walk-in pantry, office, snug, drawing room and games room. Upstairs are five bedrooms, including an impressive principal suite with a dressing room and en suite. There is an expansive walled garden, paved seating areas and wildlife pond. In the village of Carlton, Richmond is ten miles away.

The Georgian 5 Britannia Square has 4,650 sq ft of space in a prime part of central Worcester. An elegant, stucco-fronted detached house, there is a sweeping driveway with electric gates and a Doric-style porch. The ground floor has five reception rooms, including an orangery, plus a generous kitchen. The lower ground floor has ample cellar space, a laundry room, pantry, workshop and play room. There are five bedrooms, three bathrooms plus a downstairs WC and a balcony private to the principal bedroom. Worcester Foregate Street railway station is a 12-minute walk away, and the cathedral, on the banks of the River Severn, is 20 minutes.

EPC Exempt
Price £1.5 million

Quarry House lies less than six miles from the market town of Haltwhistle, within easy reach of Hardian’s Wall and the North Pennines, as well as Carlisle and Newcastle. Almost 1,200 sq ft of characterful living space includes two reception rooms (one of which has an inglenook fireplace housing a wood-burner) and a kitchen on the ground floor, while the two bedrooms share bathroom upstairs.

Ben Y Craig is built into the foothills of Skiddaw, from where the spectacular views over the fells and Derwentwater are constant, thanks to large sash windows throughout. When it’s too cold to swim in the lake, there’s an indoor pool with a hot tub and shower rooms. The 1930s house, built for architect Sir Percy Hope in the hamlet of Millbeck, near Keswick, has five bedrooms, six bathrooms and a glass-roofed space linking the open-plan living area with a large terrace. Ben Y Craig is set in 1¾ mostly wooded acres and has outbuildings and a useful annexe.

This is a beautifully presented detached Edwardian Villa with secluded gardens on the shores of Coldingham Bay which, with its horseshoe-shaped shoreline, is one of the most picturesque beaches in southern Scotland. Ebbastrand is one of only a small number of homes that occupy the grassy slopes over the kilometre-long white sand beach situated at the mouth of the Buskin Burn. This detached property is set far enough back from the water’s edge to provide stunning views of the dramatic coastline, yet close enough for an early morning swim or a leisurely stroll on the sand. Inside, the main living areas are elegantly presented, with a sophisticated blend of stylish and traditional décor. A notable highlight are the landscaped gardens which immediately surround Ebbastrand. The main garden, facing south east, overlooks the bay and features a concealed pond with decorative lighting, extensive hardwood decking, a circular central lawn, and gravel pathways. On the opposite side of the lane lies an additional beach garden that extends down towards Coldingham Bay

Situated next to Hereford Cathedral and boasting its own landscaped walled gardens, this Grade II*-listed house dates from the 14th century.

The farmhouse not only has 1.26 acres of gardens, woodland and riverside, but an at-home spa with a sauna, shower, gym and hot tub. On one side there is an annexe with a kitchen, lounge, dining room and three bedrooms, but it could easily be integrated back into the house. The main building has four bedrooms, an assortment of reception rooms and a conservatory. Cleator Moor is a peaceful town just outside thw western edge of the Lake District National Park.

This property is an historic, Grade II Listed country  house in a scenic coastal location with extensive grounds, a separate cottage, outbuildings and paddocks. Set in a secluded and private setting, Tuggal Hall is a quintessential English country house, steeped in history. Originally dating back to the 1600s, with significant extensions added in the 1920s, this impressive Grade II Listed home showcases a wealth of period features. Tuggal Hall features extensive grounds with mature trees, providing ample privacy. The property features three road access points for easy entry, and adjacent paddocks, suitable for equestrian pursuits. The property also boasts an expansive walled garden, home to a Grade II Listed dovecote. The property includes a two-bedroom separate cottage and two separate outbuildings incorporating stabling and storage, all set within approximately 7½ acres of gardens and grounds

Once a coach house that welcomed weary travellers, now a welcoming family home, this six-bedroom house has been lovingly restored. Dating back to 1829, it retains much of its original character, with limestone walls and inglenook fireplaces. The second living room was the coachworks’ ironmongery and has French doors opening on to outdoor decking and a staircase up to the office. Below is a basement now used as a gym, wine cellar and utility room. Each bedroom is picked out in a different, rich colour and two have en suite bathrooms

A Victorian house in an idyllic rural setting and formal gardens. Main suite, guest suite, 3 further beds, family bath, kitchen/breakfast room, 3 receps, utility, study, folly, garden, garage.

The village of Lesbury stands midway between the historic town of Alnwick and the white-sand beach of Alnmouth. Bowls Cottage forms part of a Victorian terrace and has south-facing garden. Until now, it’s been run as a successful holiday let, popular among those exploring the historic land-marks of the Northumbrian coastline, including Lindisfarne Castle, once home to Country Life founder Edward Hudson, but the cottage could easily be turned into a permanent residence. The village boasts all the essentials, including a shop, post office and pub. Alnmouth station links to the East Coast mainline, providing access to Edinburgh and Newcastle.

A charming Victorian sandstone house set in mature gardens and
surrounded by open countryside. Main suite, 3 further beds, family bath, kitchen/breakfast room, 2 receps, garden,
garage/workshop/store, parking. £875,000

Once the gatekeeper’s lodge for Belford Hall, this grade II listed building has one bedroom. It features a symmetrical layout and makes clever use of the limited space, with a wet room-style shower and freestanding bath in the bedroom. It has 0.34 acres within the woodland gardens. Belford is a pretty village close to the Northumberland coastline.

Ten miles from Bedford and its commuter station – with trains into Luton, London and Brighton – is this village surrounded by countryside but bustling with a park and a gym, plus football, cricket and bowls clubs. On the edge is the four-bedroom Millers Cottage, which has outbuildings including a garage, two stables and a hay store. The hallway leads to two reception rooms. The country kitchen has an oil-fired Aga with Shaker-style units and the main bedroom is dual-aspect with low ceiling beams.

Holly House is a handsome Georgian former farmhouse on the edge of Glanton, a tiny village with with a pub a 15- minute drive from Alnwick. Stone-built and semi-detatched, this house comes with five bathrooms, a classic green Aga, beautiful landscaped gardens and a paddock.

Built in 1933, Clontibret is a family-size home, restored to its original style. The five-bedroom, two-bathroom property has a double-height entrance hall, marble fireplaces and feature windows – some with stained glass. There are integrated workshops on the ground floor, while a large, sociable kitchen has French doors on to the extensive gardens. Up a long winding drive, the house is on the edge of the popular commuter town which has two outstanding schools (as rated by Ofsted), Sele first school and Queen Elizabeth high

West Layton Manor dates from the 1870s and is just as grand from the inside as it is from the outside. The building has been divided into three, and 2 West Layton Manor forms the central portion. It has some of the manor’s most impressive features. An original carved oak staircase attracts the eye in the reception hall and decorative plasterwork has been refurbished. On the ground floor there is a dining room, drawing room, sitting room and kitchen/breakfast room. On the first floor there are four double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and on the second floor there are two bedroom suites with copper rolltop baths and sitting rooms. The property is successfully used as a B&B three days a week. West Layton is close to Richmond and Barnard Castle.

This five-bedroom, four-bathroom property is a renovated barn with a stylish annexe of black timber and grey roof tiles, pitched to mirror the lines of the original buildings. Down a lane, in a secluded location, the sprawling home is in an elevated position set in 1.1 hectares (2.8 acres) with views of the countryside. The barn itself has exposed timber beams and brick archways, while the modern annexe (ideal for multigenerational family living) has a Velux balcony and a floating corner bedroom taking in the garden.