3 Ivy Cottages

This stunning three bedroom house in Craddock, Mid-Devon has been transformed into a contemporary, eco-friendly and stylish home by the current owners. It blends character with minimalist design, bespoke joinery and high quality fittings throughout. Situated in the catchment area of the Ofsted “outstanding” Uffculme school, with far-reaching views across open farmland to the Blackdown Hills AONB, yet only 5 minutes from the M5 and the mainline station at Tiverton Parkway. This property offers so much potential for a variety of buyers, with over an acre of grounds and a fantastic brand new 70 square meter outbuilding and garden office completing what is undoubtedly a very rare opportunity, not to be missed! 



Highlights



- 3 generous double bedrooms



- South-facing with gorgeous countryside views from most rooms



- Completely renovated with bespoke joinery, modern bathroom and stunning kitchen



- Excellent schooling, road and rail links nearby



- Underfloor heating, biomass heating, insulation, triple glazing and eco finishes



- 70 sqm barn/workshop/garage and garden office building



- Over 1 acre of grounds with plenty of potential



- Direct access to miles of byways and footpaths along the River Culm



The Tour



3 Ivy Cottages is accessed via an ancient hidden lane, before turning onto its own 150m private drive, where you come past the veg patch, orchard and paddock before arriving at the brand new larch-clad triple garage. Through lawned gardens, gravelled paths take you to the front door and on into the spacious principal living space. Flooded with natural light this room reveals dining and living spaces focussed jointly on the efficient wood burning stove in the fireplace and stunning views south over fields and the wooded Gaddon Hill. With underfloor heating throughout, the polished concrete floors underpin a wonderful balance of character features like exposed stone walls and modern bespoke joinery in the birch plywood staircase and fitted shelving.



Through into the kitchen, another generously sized space offers matching bespoke birch ply units, hiding a full set of A-rated integrated appliances and topped with more polished concrete in the form of sleek worktops. From the peninsular unit with induction hob in the center, you look straight over the garden through a full wall of triple glazed window. Further stunning views across to the Blackdown Hills AONB await beyond the garden. A breakfast bar provides the perfect place to admire these views or keep an eye on kids playing, whilst a handy back door gives access to the rear and further outbuildings comprising the biomass boiler, pellet store and a large block-built garden shed.



Upstairs you’ll find original pine floorboards throughout, and a landing offering access to three large double bedrooms, an equally large family bathroom and a loft hatch with ladder to a fully boarded loft space. The spacious master bedroom has another feature exposed stone wall, lit by custom LED lighting and further fantastic views south, as well as plenty of fitted storage and shelving. On the same side of the building is the second bedroom, currently used as a nursery but more than capable of fitting a double bed and also boasting far-reaching views. To the rear of the house is the third large double bedroom with picture window overlooking the paddock and rear fern garden.



The family bathroom is a real gem, with a contemporary white suite providing bath, wash basin, low-flush WC and a generous walk-in shower with rain head. A heated towel rail and ingenious hidden cupboard spaces behind a “living” wall complete a delightful room.



Throughout the house every care has been taken to create a comfortable and functional place to live. All of the windows have been replaced with high-spec double or triple glazed timber units, whilst most of the walls have been insulated, as have the roofs and floors. There’s a filtered air ventilation system in the loft, and appropriate breathable materials have been used throughout to preserve the fabric of the building whilst also making the indoor environment as high quality as possible. Bathrooms, ceilings and party walls have also been soundproofed, whilst storage is cleverly hidden to ensure you can keep the minimalist look even with a busy family life.



Outside



Back outside, you are spoilt for choice and space. From the low maintenance front garden terraces, perfect for watching the sunset on a warm evening, to the main lawns bounded by well-stocked borders and local-stone gabions, there are ample areas for every season and activity. On the other side of the lawn is the garage building, offering a large office room with electric underfloor heating and wired network connection - perfect for working from home or even as an occasional 4th bedroom. The office is contained within the triple garage building, where it sits underneath a useful full-width mezzanine storage area. This building is a brilliant versatile space, with a 5m ceiling and light and power throughout, that could be suitable for a whole host of uses.



Beyond the garage you have over an acre of land, currently divided into orchard, grass paddock and an extremely large veg path. Fenced to the neighbouring fields with stock proof fencing, as well as being bordered by traditional Devon hedge banks, the paddock would be perfect for livestock or a pony, while the young orchard offers a variety of apple, plum and pear trees to enjoy for years to come. Higher up and separated by further hedge banks, the rabbit-fenced veg patch occupies the prime spot, with views in all directions, wonderful sunny aspects and yet is sheltered from the prevailing winds by the landscape and mature native hedging. A greenhouse here and sufficient space for further horticultural buildings if required complete a gardeners paradise.



Back up the driveway, there are further hard-standing areas with parking for 3-4 cars, after which you can walk back past the neighbouring property and through a pedestrian gate onto an ancient drovers track that leads down to “Five Fords” and the Woodland Trust’s “Hunkin Wood”. This hidden gem of woodland and riverbank meadows then open out into miles of footpaths leading both up and downstream to Culmstock and Uffculme respectively.



The area



Situated between the quintessential Mid-Devon villages of Culmstock and Uffculme, the sought-after hamlet of Craddock is perfectly situated to take advantage of the wonderful surrounding countryside yet is close to all amenities. Uffculme provides a shop, pub, fish and chip shop, hairdressers, cafe, garage and popular preschool & nursery. Further excellent pubs within walking distance include the Culm Valley Inn at Culmstock and the Ashill Inn at Ashill.



Also in Uffculme is the highly sought-after Ofsted "Outstanding" secondary school Uffculme School and the property is within the catchment area of three "Good" primary schools. Renowned independent schooling is available nearby at Tiverton, Wellington and Taunton.



Despite the serene location, the property is less than 5 minutes drive to J27 of the M5, allowing you to access Exeter and Taunton within 30 minutes, or the local towns of Cullompton or Tiverton in 10-15 minutes. From the equally nearby Tiverton Parkway station it’s just under 2 hours by train to London Paddington or 45 mins to Bristol Temple Meads. Further afield by car you can be on the beach at Exmouth in 35 minutes, or surfing the waves of North Devon’s coast in about an hour. Walkers, horse riders and mountain bikers will also find Exmoor and the Quantocks 30-45 minutes drive away. 



Despite all that, you might just find the network of hidden ways, cosy pubs and rolling valleys in this often overlooked part of the West Country too beguiling to make it much further than your own doorstep. We strongly recommend an early viewing to see everything this unique property has to offer.





Tenure: Freehold

Council Tax: D

Marketed by: Strike, Nationwide