Noteworthy Homes - South West England

In 'Holiday cottage or not?' this week we have this character cottage for £600k dating back to the 1700's which used to be the black smith's cottage. Listing link: Wildcard Character Cottage, Crantock, Cornwall This is the one I would probably have a holiday in but would be more of a wildcard on my property shopping list. The outside is country cottage and the inside is easy country living, so what's not to like. Let's look at the layout first, it may work as a 3 bedroom holiday cottage with the third bedroom on the ground floor but if it were a main house that room would work better as a study leaving you with a 2 bedroom house. The ground floor layout is definitely a strength for this house, with plenty of space, room and light. Upstairs there are two bedrooms and a shower room. Then there is that awkward space that often gets labelled a dressing room or could be just a big landing, not really a room itself, just a storage space. The garden is mainly a patio w...

The view alone for this house is worth the asking price of £235k . The house is a bit of blank canvas needing a complete refurbishment but could become a dream house with some serious work. Listing link: Check out that view! Bideford, Devon. If you buy this house you will spend your time looking at the view. I give it a day before you order some binoculars or a telescope and the bay windows are just asking for a window seat. The house has clearly seen better days and you probably need to be a builder or need a tame builder to help you put things right. On the upside, the kitchen has already been ripped out so you can completely redesign that to your taste. The rooms are all large and there are some nice period features such as the hall floor and fireplaces. The small third bedroom also has a sheltered balcony overlooking the river, a perfect spot to sit and watch the world go by. The back garden is nothing to speak of but then you will be spending most of your time out the front for th...

At just £15k this is probably one of the cheapest ever properties to feature on this website. Who wouldn't want to sit in front of their very own beach hut and watch the world go by? Listing link:  Beach Hut, Westward Ho!, Devon Property this cheap could be very affordable. If you have 4 families you can pay just under £4k each for joint ownership or maybe even buy it yourself on a mad splurge. Being essentially a posh shed the selling points are a short but succinct list: close to the car park, close to the beach, inside and outside seating area. What more do you need? Of course, if you buy it you will need to come up with a funny name, something like Mum's Retreat, Dad's Folly, beach view, dun Roamin, serendipity or maybe something completely random like Dave. There are some practical considerations to bear in mind though if you do buy it, you have to pay ground rent; it is only licenced for five years (presumably renewable), it's only leasehold and there are often re...

 Listing Link:  Coastal Living, Buck's Mill, Near Bideford . On the north Devon coast, there are a series of small valleys that lead to the shore. £475k will buy you this sweet little hideaway nestled in a green coastal valley. Walking the coastal path between Westward Ho! and Hartland Point is experiencing the coast at its best. The beating heat and the coastal Atlantic salty breeze bring a freshness to the soul. The roar of the Atlantic rollers rolling the pebbles on the shore below the cliff demonstrates the power of nature and gives you a certain reference point to your place in the universe. The dream would be to own a house within walking distance of the coastal path so you can walk out of your door and be on the cliffs in 15 minutes. Watching the season change and learning the ever-changing character of the ocean, coastal living at its best. The house is the perfect bolt hole away from the Atlantic breeze. Set in a clearing at the bottom of the small valley with trees s...

Listing Link: Chapel, Church Road, Penponds, Camborne You don't get an awful lot for £120k these days and in this case, you just about get four walls and a roof but with some gaps. You do get a lot of chapels in the South-West, many of which are in the already converted condition or the last service was last month kind of condition. This one is unusual because it clearly hasn't seen a service for some time. Chapels often come with unique features which is part of their charm. This one has a couple of windows, the ghost remains of an arch and a nice traffic cone. In other words, what you have here is a shell with character; on the upside, it already has planning permission for a 3-bedroom house. Of course, you might not agree with the design that has been created but there may be potential to go back to the planning stage and create a house that better fits your dreams. Another bonus/drawback depending on how you look at it is that the property is right next to a railway. Good ...

Listing link:  Beautifully appointed mill house, Axeminster, Devon This is a dream house and very reasonably priced at £520k. Who doesn't dream of owning their own mill race and being the master of a mill. You can imagine taking breakfast in the sunshine next to the mill race accompanied by the noise of rushing water. A different pace of life, the photographs sell you the dream of a quieter life in the country. The mill even comes with some bonus features. The master bedroom has an additional staircase leading up to your own private study or hobby room. You just need to think of a hobby to do in it, probably not much use for a golfer although you could always turn it into a trophy room. The garden paths seem to meander like a stream at least according to the estate agent but it does appear to have a variety of cosy spots to enjoy that morning coffee in rolling hills of Devon. It might not tick all the boxes but it is certainly worth a second look.