4 bedroom detached house for sale

There is still time to find your perfect country home before Christmas, but you need to act soon.

The most wonderful time of the year is rapidly approaching. You may be dreaming of hanging decorations and putting up a Christmas tree in a new home, hosting parties in a spacious new dining room, curling up in front of a crackling fire, or simply gazing out at the enchanting winterscape scenery in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There's good news; here at Hamilton Stiller, we have a selection of charming and characterful homes that can be available before December 25 – and all of these homes are either chain free or have owners who have confirmed they can complete before Christmas*

But the time to act is now. There is an average of 12-14 weeks for the conveyancing process to complete. So, if you are aiming to spend the Christmas and New Year festivities in a glittering new residence, please call the team at Hamilton Stiller.
*Subject to the conveyancing process for both parties' solicitors.

Old Saw Mills

Set over three storeys, this magnificent four-bedroom country home carries period features in abundance. The grounds - over four acres in size - boast a sublime landscaped garden established around a natural stream and lily ponds, while a generously sized detached garaging block grants an ideal opportunity for a car enthusiast or for the equestrian pursuits.

Four bedrooms • Sitting room with mezzanine • Dining room • Garden room • Reception hall • Kitchen/breakfast room • Family bathroom • Shower room • Cloakroom • Utility room •
Extensive garaging, workshops & outbuildings • Approximately 4.3 acres • Chain free •

Location:

Longhope is a village inside the Royal Forest of Dean - a place of timeless beauty and untamed nature. These woodlands offer 24,000 acres of magnificent countryside, award-winning picnic sites, family cycle routes, gorgeous walks, and a huge selection of outdoor pursuits. The desirable village features a shop and Post Office - which stocks essential groceries - plus an active village hall and an artisan bakery, The Forest Bakehouse, which produces an excellent selection of bread, pastries and cakes. In terms of schooling, Hope Brook CofE Primary School sits in the heart of the village, just over half a mile from Old Saw Mills, and this attained a 'Good' overall Ofsted grade before its conversion into an academy. Meanwhile, the closest secondary, Dene Magna School in Mitcheldean (3 miles away) boasts 'Outstanding' and 'Good' Ofsted scores across all five categories.

There are some excellent pubs around Longhope: The Yew Tree, The Farmers Boy Inn, and The Glasshouse Inn have all earned superb reputations for their welcoming atmosphere and delicious meals. There are footpaths all around the village, taking explorers to an array of beautiful destinations – and the summit of May Hill is worth a special mention; this peak is distinguishable from miles around by a clump of trees on its crest, which forms an official Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The home at a glance:

Old Saw Mills is believed to date back to the late 1600s. As the name suggests, the residence served as a sawmill during the First World War and, prior to this, it was a gristmill. In more recent decades, the current custodians have entirely remodelled and restored the stone-built property to create a jaw-dropping country home. The main entrance leads into a grand reception hall, which sets a striking scene. There are exposed beams and an inglenook fireplace with a log-burning stove. A polished flagstone floor flows through from here into the dual-aspect kitchen, which contains high-gloss units with granite worktops. The ground floor of the property accommodates three impressive reception rooms, the largest of which is the show-stopping sitting room, a beautifully bright and airy space which is complete with a vaulted ceiling, timbered walls, an oil-fired stove on a stone hearth, an original wooden floor and a cast iron spiral staircase which leads up to a mezzanine floor. Much like the sitting room, the triple-aspect garden room also bears a vaulted and timbered ceiling with an enchanting outlook over the spring-fed stream in the garden, framed by a variety of vibrant blooms, while spectacular sculptures (available by separate negotiation) stand around two lily ponds.

The third reception room on this level of the property is a formal dining room; a dual-aspect area with original elm floorboards and a stone fireplace. This level of the property also gives a potential for multi-generational living. Beyond the kitchen, there is a sizeable utility room which has space and plumbing for a washing machine, room for a condenser dryer and also presents additional storage space and a sink with a pull-out mixer tap. From the utility room, there are two doors, one of which leads into a cloakroom, and the other into a workshop. It is worth noting that both the workshop and the utility room also feature large loft rooms above so, subject to the necessary planning consents, this portion of the home could be converted into a self-contained annexe.

A staircase in the reception hall leads up to a galleried landing on the first floor. There are two double bedrooms on opposite ends of the home, one of which presently serves as a snug, whereas the other includes four fitted wardrobes and overbed storage. In between the two rooms, there is a shower room with a walk-in shower, a WC, a pedestal basin and a linen cupboard. The top floor features two more double bedrooms, both of which carry vaulted ceilings and give elevated views across an orchard within the grounds, while May Hill presents an imposing backdrop. As with the level below, these two bedrooms share a bathroom which includes a bath with shower attachment, a pedestal basin, a WC and a bidet.

The Great Outdoors:

The grounds around Old Saw Mills grant occupants a slice of the good life and there are several zones within this private countryside haven. Many of the rooms within the home overlook an orchard - with plum, pear, apple and elm trees - and this spot can also present a good space for grazing horses, ponies, sheep or goats. The glorious rear garden - which is set around the stream - presents a wondrously serene space to sit and soak in the surroundings. A gush of a small waterfall enhances the tranquil atmosphere. Clusters of daisies fare particularly well around the sun terraces, which enhance the whimsical beauty of the setting.

There is also a greenhouse, a potting shed and an enclosed kitchen garden - all of which present ample opportunity to cultivate fresh produce.

In terms of parking arrangements, there is a large, detached garaging block which includes two lockable garages - one of which is large enough for a motorhome - plus three carports. This outbuilding also features a workshop with light and power and two wood stores.

General Services:

Oil-fired central heating. Mains water, electricity and drainage. Telephone line and fibre broadband available.
Local Authority Forest of Dean District Council. Tax band E.
Tenure Freehold

Directions:

From Ross-on-Wye, take the A40 towards Gloucester and head through Weston under Penyard, Ryeford and Lea. Then, at Boxbush, pass The Farmers Boy Inn and, around 550 yards after this, take the turning into Longhope. Keep to this road then, upon reaching the A4136, turn right. After approximately half a mile, opposite The Yew Tree, turn left into Old Saw Mills.

What3Words: breakaway.troubles.simmer

Distances
Ross-on-Wye 8 miles • Gloucester 11 miles • Monmouth 15 miles • Cheltenham 18 miles • Hereford 20 miles • Bristol 41 miles•
(All distances are approximate).

Agent's note: The 4.3-acre plot is subject to a right-of-way footpath which we are advised is rarely used.