Property description

Positioned on the side of the valley formed by the River Nadder and about 400 yards from the wooded banks of the river, Hare Cottage has a truly enviable position amidst unspoilt, beautiful countryside. It is set at the end of a narrow lane with only one near neighbour about 50 yards away and enjoys almost complete peace and quiet, broken on occasion by the sound of birdsong. The house was built in a Georgian style in 1995 before being completely transformed in 2010. The main part of the house is built of local green sandstone, with a single storey wing clad in timber and all under clay tile roofs. The rooms have good ceiling height with tall sash windows that allow good levels of natural light to reach every part of the interior and the ground floor has a mix of stone-tiled floors and lovely pale oak flooring.

Almost every room has views out over the surrounding countryside, with the sitting room and kitchen/dining room positioned either side of the inner hall with south-facing views out across the garden. The kitchen is fitted with a range of electrical appliances and contemporary style units under granite work surfaces arranged on three sides of a square, with the remainder of the room given over to a large dining space.

The guest bedroom with en suite bathroom and shower is also on the ground floor. The remainder of the bedroom accommodation is on the first floor and is grouped around the centrally position staircase and galleried landing. It comprises a good-sized principal bedroom with en suite dressing room and bathroom along with three further en suite double bedrooms. Attached on one side of the house is a single storey wing with a studio/garden room looking onto the rose garden and an attic playroom/office in the roof space. This offers great potential for additional accommodation. Planning for a housekeepers cottage to include an open plan kitchen/sitting room and stairs up to a bedroom, bathroom and study was approved, however this planning has now expired

Hare Cottage has a truly beautiful, mature garden that extend out from the house on three sides and provide both an idyllic setting and privacy from its only neighbour. Below the house is a gravelled parking area with space for several cars, with a flight of steps leading up to paved paths to the house and studio. On either side of the steps are sloping borders planted with a rich variety of herbaceous perennials and between the house and studio the paths pass between deep beds of shrub roses and foxgloves. The south side of the house is fringed with a deep, paved terrace with far-reaching views on all sides and the house is festooned with a mix of climbing roses.

Beyond the terrace is a level lawn that eventually slopes down gently to a pond, whose banks are planted with a rich variety of water-loving plants including stands of yellow flag irises. At one end of the pond is a gazebo with a commanding view over the valley. The garden is bound by a mix of field hedging supplemented by a variety of native and specimen trees along with a natural arbour formed by mature honeysuckle that serves as a perfect, sheltered spot with views up the valley. In all the garden and grounds amount to just under an acre.

Surrounded by the unspoilt countryside of the Cranbourne Chase aonb, Hare Cottage is situated at the end of a no-through lane, about a mile from the charming, picturesque village of Donhead St. Mary. The village has a church and village hall with the popular Forester Inn in the neighbouring village of Donhead St. Andrew and a village shop/post office in nearby Ludwell. Shaftesbury town centre can be reached in a few minutes by car.

The town has extensive local amenities including a Tesco supermarket and many independent shops and businesses and there is a Waitrose in the neighbouring town of Gillingham. For wider requirements Salisbury and Bath are both within a reasonable distance. There is a wide choice of schooling locally both from the independent and state sectors. Local independent schools such as Port Regis, Sandroyd, Clayesmore and Hanford are all within a 10 mile radius. Transport links are good too with a regular, fast rail service to Waterloo from Gillingham and the A303 just 8.9 miles away. Bournemouth and Bristol Airports, which both offer UK and international connections, are also easily accessible.
Amenities

5 bedrooms

3 reception rooms

5 bathrooms

0.90 acres

Separate two storey unit with flexible

Detached

Garden

Rural

Village