About this property
This inviting 500-year-old countryside retreat is a perfect base for families and friends to explore the beautiful Stour Valley. The Essex village of Ardleigh (1 mile) offers welcoming country pubs, scenic walks and a charming reservoir. Visit Skylark Social (0.5 miles), a vineyard with a farm shop, kitchen and bar, where you can enjoy vineyard tours, wine tastings, pizza nights, locally sourced produce and occasional live music. The Dedham Vale National Landscape (3.5 miles) unfolds along the River Stour, revealing idyllic waterside spots and picturesque villages that lead all the way towards the Suffolk coast (less than 10 miles). Within 3 miles, you can reach Colchester United Football Stadium, and North Colchester’s park & ride to visit England’s oldest recorded city, boasting Roman remains, a Norman castle and plenty of shops and eateries. Stoke By Nayland Golf Club and Colchester Golf Club, both 12-hole courses, are also just a short distance away.
Set in peaceful isolation and surrounded by patchwork fields, this detached property blends space, light and comfort, and enjoys generous outdoor space to be savoured on sunny days. Step inside via the entrance hallway, where there’s ample room for coats, boots and outdoor gear. At the heart of the house lies a striking double-height, open-plan living space, showcasing impressive beams, ancient trusses and an abundance of natural light. Comfortable seating faces a projector for memorable movie nights, while a wood burner adds warmth, and a games area with a pool table ensures hours of entertainment. The rustic aesthetic continues into the bespoke kitchen, where original cabinetry and quality appliances create an inviting space for cooking and dining around the central table. A utility room, separate boot room and a downstairs WC with external access complete this main area. A second, cosy snug provides an alternative place to relax, featuring soft seating, a wood burner, a Smart TV and a selection of family games and books. The ground floor also hosts two separate bedroom wings. One wing includes a king-size bedroom and a super-king-size zip-and-link room sharing a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, alongside a further double bedroom with its own en-suite. The second wing houses two king-size bedrooms, one with an additional double sofa bed, served by a contemporary shower room. Upstairs, the final bedroom is a spacious family room with a super-king-size bed and a pull-out sofa bed for one, ideal for a younger guest, complemented by a luxurious en-suite with a walk-in rainfall shower and a generous bathtub.
Bi-fold doors from the main living space open onto wrap-around gardens, enhancing summer stays with furnished patios and landscaped lawns dotted with colourful planting and a swing. One patio features outdoor seating, a charcoal BBQ and a hot tub perfect for relaxing all year round with a glass of fizz under the stars. A secondary games room provides an extra snooker table and dart board, perfect for rainy days. Extensive grounds offer ample parking, including covered space for three cars within the carport. Please be mindful of young children around the unfenced pond in the grounds.
Additional information and rules
No dogs allowed
- 6 bedrooms – 2 king-size, 1 super-king zip-and-link, 1 king-size with double sofa bed, 1 super-king-size with pull-out sofa bed, 1 double
- 4 bathrooms – 1 Jack and Jill with walk-in shower and bath, 1 en-suite with shower and WC, 1 with shower and WC, 1 en-suite with walk-in shower, bath and WC, 1 separate WC
- Electric AGA, electric hob, American-style fridge/freezer, microwave, air fryer, coffee machine, and dishwasher
- Utility room with fridge/freezer and washing machine
- Travel cot and highchair available
- Smart TVs in the open-plan living area and snug
- Wood burner in the open-plan living area and snug (first basket of logs supplied)
- Games area with pool table, table tennis, a projector and screen
- Enclosed, landscaped garden with patio dining, outdoor seating, charcoal BBQ and hot tub
- Separate external games room with a snooker table and a dart board
- Private parking for ample cars (including 3 in a covered carport
- EV charger - Type 2, please bring your own charging cable
- Pub and shop 1 mile
- The property has a private water supply
- Sleeps 12 + 4 (2 double sofa beds available)
- Please note: there is an unfenced pond at the end of the gardens. For safety, please ensure children are supervised at all times.