8 bedroom house

The origins of Westacott, which is unlisted, are unknown but are thought to date back to the early 17th century. For most of its life until the 1960s the property served as the farmhouse for a traditional sheep farm, when it was sold along with its attendant period outbuildings and surrounding grazing land. It has been the home of its current owners for the past 12 years. During their tenure extensive improvements have been undertaken including the conversion of two small barns, a granary and store to create a 2 bedroom, south-facing guest cottage. The main house has also been extended to accommodate a swim spa with steam room and sauna. Much of Westacott dates from the 19th century and is built of local stone with a Welsh slate roof.

On the ground floor are three reception rooms including a recently added, good sized living room with windows on three sides that look out across the garden towards a backdrop of Exmoor. All three reception rooms have fireplaces, with the one in the sitting room fitted with a wood-burning stove. At the back of the house is the charming kitchen/breakfast room, which has ample room for dining and is fitted with a range of units and has a range fireplace fitted with a 2-oven, oil-fired Rayburn. Immediately adjacent is a second fully fitted kitchen equipped with a LPG/electric Britannia range cooker and walk-in larder. Scope exists for the current two kitchens to be joined together creating a single, much larger kitchen/dining room if desired.

The first floor has a split landing. Off one landing is the principal bedroom with a walk-through, en-suite bathroom leading to the swim spa with integral shower room, steam room, sauna and with French windows opening out to the upper part of the garden. Off the other landing, which cleverly incorporates a laundry area, are five further double bedrooms and the family bathroom with separate shower.

Westacott is approached via a 100-yard long drive leading to a tarmac parking area beside the main house. On three sides of the parking area are a grouping of 19th century farm buildings offering extensive potential. This traditional arrangement of agricultural buildings incorporates a barn with two adjoined stores, hay store, three-bay cart shed, range incorporating two pigsties, two loose boxes and tack room and a modern cattle shed converted to provide garaging and workshop space. Along one side and facing away from the main house is the guest cottage, which has its own parking area and looks out over its own garden.

The house is surrounded by its own land, which amounts to about 8.12 acres and incorporates four paddocks (two with field shelters). Aside from a pretty, paved courtyard at the front of the house, the formal garden extends out behind and to one side and is an absolute delight. It has a quintessential cottage garden feel to it and incorporates a paved terrace below tiered borders, lawn, two ponds, evergreen arboretum and gravelled seating area with panoramic views of Exmoor. Above the formal garden is the kitchen garden with polytunnel and greenhouse. Below the garden is an area of woodland extending down to a stream running along the valley floor.

Ash Mill 1.4 miles, South Molton 6.3 miles, Tiverton 13 miles, Barnstaple 17.5 miles, J27 M5 18.2 miles, Tiverton Parkway station 19.7 miles (Paddington 1 hour 52 minutes), Exeter City Centre 27.4 miles, Exeter Airport 29.8 miles (London City Airport 1 hour) (Distances and times approximate)

Marketed by: Knight Frank, Exeter