Low Rough Hill

Low Rough Hill is an impressive, grade 2 listed former Lakeland farmstead with substantial grounds and breath-taking, wide-ranging views towards the Howgills, the Pennines, the Lowther valley and the Lakeland fells. The whole property, including a former school, large barns and kennels, has been beautifully restored by its current owners. The schoolhouse has been converted to provide additional accommodation and has planning permission for use as a holiday let if desired. There are two large barns, one of which is attached to the farmhouse, and stone-built kennels, which have been refurbished to provide a garden tool store and potting shed. A bespoke sauna completes the picture.

The property sits in a private, rural location, in approximately 1.2 acres of grounds with beautiful, landscaped gardens, which have been designed and planted by the current owners and include lawns with country style flower borders, two ponds, a rose garden and an enclosed vegetable garden with a large greenhouse.

The Farmhouse

The original farmhouse has a date-stone from 1682, though it may well have earlier origins. It has been comprehensively renovated to provide a very comfortable home, retaining many original features and sympathetically incorporating quality materials, including green oak, stone flags and hand-crafted oak panelling.

From a courtyard garden you enter the house through an open porch with traditional stone flagged seats, which is clothed with roses and honeysuckle. The large entrance hall has bespoke oak panelling and a stone flagged floor with the main staircase to the first floor.

A door to the left leads into the spacious sitting room, with its oak beam and window heads. A wood burning stove sits in the substantial, locally crafted stone fireplace. This is perfectly framed by the two original recess alcoves. The room has three large windows which make it very light and airy and give delightful views of the front garden and beyond.

A door to the right leads into the large dining room, again with a large stone fireplace and wood burning stove. The whole of the ground floor of the house is stone-flagged, with underfloor heating. From the dining room you enter the living-kitchen, which is very much the heart of the house and a superb space for the family or for entertaining. The lounge area is centred around large wood burning stove in a substantial stone fireplace. The bespoke kitchen, which is divided from the sitting area by a large peninsula is very striking, with dark walnut wall, floor and pantry style cupboards and a leathered granite work-surface. The large island unit incorporates a walnut breakfast bar which provides comfortable seating for four and a vented Bora induction hob. The kitchen also includes two built-in fan ovens, a steam oven and microwave and an integrated dishwasher. A large Belfast sink with professional tap completes the picture.

Double doors from the kitchen lead, under a green oak canopy, into the walled garden sitting area, great for dining and entertaining under a dark night sky. The path leads you to the beautifully appointed bespoke sauna.

From the kitchen, the property continues into the utility room, again with dark walnut floor cupboards and Belfast sink with space for an American fridge freezer and washing machine. Through the utility room is the boot room with ample shelving, hanging space and plenty of room for outdoor gear, for example rucksacks.

Beyond the boot room is the well-equipped gym which has a more modern feel, with an oak and glass staircase leading up to the beautifully arranged offices. These are equipped with bespoke fitted furniture and meeting table and have stunning, green oak trusses and beams.

The main staircase from the entrance hall, splits to the landing. To the left are two light, airy double bedrooms with panoramic views and beautiful green oak trusses. Here also is the family bathroom, with bespoke dark walnut cupboards, echoing those in the kitchen, a large, free-standing bath and large walk-in shower with rain shower head. Two large windows, again with panoramic views make this a very light room and the floor is tiled.

Turning right from the stairs is another light and airy double bedroom and the master suite, with a very
spacious bedroom, a large dressing room and a large double-aspect ensuite, again with bespoke, dark walnut fitted cupboards, a very large free-standing bath and a wonderful walk-in shower.

The School House

The school-house served the children of the locality until 1950, when wars and mechanisation reduced the number of farmworkers. It was then used to house animals, most recently goats! It sits at the entrance to the property and has been carefully restored and converted to provide one-bedroomed, additional accommodation, with current planning permission for use as a holiday cottage if desired. This part of the

property benefits from air source heating. The lay-out is open plan and features a mezzanine sleeping gallery overlooking the spacious sitting area with its large stone fire-place and wood burning stove. A dining bar divides this from the well-designed kitchen with its integral appliances including oven and hob, washer/drier and fridge/freezer. The ground floor is stone flagged throughout.

The school-house is filled with light, flooding in through the large windows which give wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and up to the Lakeland Fells. Externally, the school-house has an enclosed garden with a terrace which offers fabulous views over the open countryside and is a real suntrap.

Barns and Outbuildings

The original farmstead of Low Rough Hill includes a number of buildings.

The attached barn;
Attached to the house is a very large, two-storey barn, which is also listed and has been carefully restored, with lime pointing both externally and internally and a Westmorland green slate roof on green oak kingpost trusses. On the ground floor this has been divided into a boiler room with storage shelving and cupboards, a workshop/store with shelving and work benching and a large log store. The upper floor is an amazing space which, with appropriate permissions, could have a great variety of uses and already makes a fantastic games room and entertaining space.

The detached barn;
This is another large barn which has been fully lime pointed externally and lime rendered inside. It is currently used for storage and has been used for entertaining but it has permission for conversion to offices if required.

The kennels;
The former kennels have, again, been carefully renovated to create a spacious tool store/potting shed.

Externally

The country gardens are a major feature of Low Rough Hill. They have been designed and planted by the current owners to provide year-round colour and interest. The iconic red squirrels are daily visitors, giving great pleasure. There is a wide variety of bird-life and the planting has been carefully chosen to support the population of bees and butterflies.

The rose garden is a tranquil place to sit in the summer months, with a variety of old and English roses.
The wildlife ponds team with life, including newts and add a gentle charm, while the vegetable garden and large greenhouse are highly productive.

Sitting in the garden you can hear the lambs in spring, the curlews calling in the summer and at night, under the dark sky, owls are frequent visitors. The lay-out of the farmstead gives an enclosed courtyard feel and adds to the feeling of privacy and seclusion.

Key Features

• Superb lifestyle opportunity
• Rural, stand-alone location
• In a very quiet corner of the Lake District National Park
• Fabulous views of Lakeland, Howgills and Pennine fells and across the Lowther Valley
• Beautiful landscaped country gardens
• Renovated to an enviable standard
• 3 double bedrooms and master-suite in the main house
• Bespoke sauna
• Schoolhouse additional one-bed accommodation with planning permission for use as
  holiday cottage if wished
• Very large bank barn with a variety of potential uses with appropriate permissions
• Further large barn with planning permission for conversion to offices
• Direct access to the Lakeland Fells
• Excellent amenities in the beautiful nearby village of Askham
• Despite its feeling of peace and seclusion, Low Rough Hill is only 15 minutes from the
  excellent facilities in Penrith
• Easy transport links

This property offers a wonderful opportunity for a fabulous family home with a country lifestyle and stunning Lakeland views and surroundings.

Services

• LPG Gas central heating
• Mains Water and Electricity
• Package treatment plant
• Underfloor heating throughout the downstairs.
• Council Tax Band F
• 996 leasehold with no ground rent or service charges

Tenure
The land and property will be sold on a 996 year long-leasehold basis. The access road for Low Rough Hill Farm will not form part of the sale, a right of way will be granted to the purchaser, however the maintenance of the access road will be the purchaser’s responsibility. All boundaries are the responsibility of the purchaser and are to be maintained in a stock-proof condition. The covenants on this lease state no farm animals. 

Location
Low Rough Hill is located 3 miles south of Askham in the Lake District National Park. Askham is a picturesque and highly sought after north Lakeland conservation village in the beautiful Lowther Valley. This desirable village is elevated above the banks of the River Lowther at the foot of Askham Fell. The area offers an idyllic country lifestyle with country pursuits on the doorstep, including riverside walks and fishing and hiking, horse- riding and biking on Askham Fell. Ullswater is a short drive away and can be accessed on foot over the fell. The village has excellent amenities including the church, two pubs, village store, outdoor heated swimming pool and the Michelin starred Askham Hall country house hotel and restaurant lies a short walk from the property. The nearby A6 offers easy access to Penrith with all its’ amenities. Junction 40 of the M6 is a short drive and the West Coast main line station in Penrith takes you to London in around three hours.