luxury houses with terrace for sale Etchingham, United Kingdom

Set within 24 acres of landscaped gardens, parkland and ancient woodland this glorious unlisted country house includes an indoor swimming pool complex. While an attached three-bedroom cottage is available by separate negotiation. A private lane leads under a clock tower to a circular driveway and garaging for four cars and an enclosed porch opens onto a landing and oak stairs to the ground floor hall that has access to a cloakroom and wine store. There is a triple aspect 37ft long sitting room with a vast brick fireplace, a patterned ceiling, wood flooring and a large bay with French doors to the garden while the dining room has a fireplace, beamed ceiling, herringbone parquet flooring, display shelves and banquette window seating. The kitchen/breakfast room includes exposed beams, parquet flooring and a large inglenook fireplace in the dining area while the kitchen features Poggenpohl units housing modern appliances. There is a dual aspect study/snug with oak panelling, a stone fireplace and fitted shelving as well as a large utility room/scullery. From here steps lead down to the indoor swimming pool complex with its 34ft pool, hot tub, shower, changing rooms, cloakroom and a seating area inside and a large terrace outside. The galleried landing with exposed beams and storage cupboards provides access to a family bathroom and shower room as well as five/six double bedrooms. Some of the bedrooms have beams and fireplaces while the guest room has a barrelled ceiling and living room/sixth bedroom. There is a second staircase to the ground floor and stairs to the attic room. The principal suite includes an ante room, a contemporary ensuite bathroom and a bedroom with a barrelled ceiling and a large bay window. The terraced garden has steps to different areas and pathways through shrubs and trees. There is a sheltered courtyard and a formal garden with a terrace partially enclosed by clipped hedging surrounded by lawns and colourful shrubs as well as a waterfall and stream plus acres of pasture, part of which could always become paddocks. While six ‘hopper’s’ huts with separate access could be converted, subject to planning. What the owners say: “This has been a special home for over 45 years but it is time to pass the baton on to new owners to cherish it as we have. Although it is private and secluded, it is not isolated as it is part of a small enclave of properties which were the original Bassetts estate. We are a couple of miles from Mark Cross and it is not much further to Wadhurst station where trains to London Bridge take 53 minutes, while Wadhurst Road provides easy access to the A267 for Tunbridge Wells. Mark Cross includes a primary school, a village hall and we can walk to the Lazy Fox pub, while Wadhurst has a charming high street, supermarkets and independent shops, pubs and restaurants, a farmer’s market, sports clubs and a community cinema. There is a primary school, Uplands Academy and the independent Sacred Heart school as well as doctors, a dentist, vets and beauty salons, the station and bus services.  Nearby is Bewl Water and Bedgebury Pinetum for a variety of outdoor activities while Tunbridge Wells offers high street stores, independent shops, bars and restaurants, retail parks, a station and excellent sport, entertainment and educational facilities.

There could be few more beautiful places to enjoy the rural idyll that this simply stunning country residence nestling in  9.45 acres of grounds and fields surrounded by a five hectare vineyard in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The property was originally two barns and was built in the 1980’s and offers some stunning period features such as a Kent ragstone exterior and impressive exposed beams. However it was recently converted and extended by the current owners, so not only does it have the character of a bygone era but also incorporates a contemporary high end design, focusing on modern family life with leisure and pleasure in mind. It also includes a detached annex, additional outbuildings and a heated swimming pool.   The property is approached through a charming automated white wrought iron gate with the name emblazoned on the entrance. The gate opens onto a long private drive flanked by lawns interspersed with trees and shrubs that leads to a vast parking area and an attractive pitched roof three vehicle carport and to the front entrance. It is at this stage you can take in the house’s external appeal with its steep Kent peg tiled roof, delightful pitched roof dormers, high chimneystacks, multi-pane casement windows and impressive oak front door.   This opens into the awe-inspiring, partially double height 30ft reception hall where you need a minute to take in everything. There is the beautiful oak staircase, oak panelling and a galleried landing, attractive slate tiled flooring, a plethora of exposed beams, feature brick walls and a fireplace with a log burner. You will also find a cloakroom and a coat room as well as sliding doors to a walk-in wine cellar and double doors to an inner hall with a second cloakroom and also double doors opening into the superb triple aspect drawing room. Guests will be delighted to be entertained in this large and well-proportioned room with its historic beams, inglenook fireplace and delightful oak fitted cupboards and shelving as well as French doors to the wraparound terrace. Doors from the spacious inner hall open into a charming central courtyard that can also be accessed from the breathtaking 53ft L shaped garden style sitting/dining room. This has windows on all sides including to the inner courtyard and two sets of bi-fold doors to the terrace as well as a limestone fireplace with an open fire, engineered oak flooring and the original external stone walling. The dining area includes tall windows providing stunning views over the grounds, the vineyard and the countryside beyond.   In line with the emphasis on leisure and pleasure there is also a cinema room, while the superlatives continue when you see the kitchen/breakfast room. For anyone who enjoys catering and entertaining the kitchen has everything you might want including an enormous walk-in pantry, stainless steel units housing a Gaggenau built in oven and steam oven, an American style Subzero fridge, a dishwasher and a Quooker boiling water tap. There is also a large central island/breakfast bar with wood units and polished concrete worktops incorporating a Gaggenau induction hob, a built in grill and teppanyaki plate  with an impressive extractor system. You will never have to queue for the bathroom in this house since, as well as the two downstairs cloakrooms, upstairs there is a family shower room and four double bedrooms that surround the reception hall and the courtyard and three if these have ensuite facilities. Two have fitted cupboards and an ensuite bathroom with a bath and separate shower another includes an ensuite shower and a dressing room and a third has French doors to the fabulous roof terrace.  While the luxurious principal suite includes a very large dressing room and the ultimate in contemporary bathrooms with a superb stand-alone oval bath and a raised decked double shower as well as French doors to the roof terrace. Here you can enjoy your morning coffee revelling in the panoramic views across the grounds, the vineyard and the countryside as far as the eye can see.   A secondary driveway provides access to outbuildings and the detached annex. This was originally the stables and has been beautifully converted to provide a spacious single storey dwelling that includes two double bedrooms and a single that could make an excellent study, a shower room and a spacious living room/kitchen. It is currently in use as a successful air b and b but could be ideal for elderly relatives or adult children if you have multi-generational requirements. There is also a garage, storage facilities and a first floor studio. Much of the garden is laid to lawn and surrounds a delightful swimming pool with a decked terrace, ideal for enjoying the far-reaching views. There is also the main terrace that wraps around half the property and is just the place for outdoor entertaining and relaxing in the sunshine. Beyond the lawns the grounds create a park like atmosphere with impressive trees and a small lake bordered by two large fields.   What the owners say: We moved here about 10 years ago because we fell in love with the wonderful location and the character of the property. It is very quiet, peaceful and private with fabulous views. During our time here we have extended the property and completely refurbished and updated the house to provide everything needed for contemporary living. We also created the annex and built the swimming pool as well as planting the vineyard and developed a highly successful winery. Although we live in a country paradise, we are not far from the delightful Eridge village with a mainline station where the direct train to London Bridge takes just under an hour or you can drive to Tunbridge Wells for faster trains to London. There is also a gothic style church, a village hall with a variety of activities as well as two good pub/restaurants. The village grew up around the Grade II Listed  Eridge Park and mansion, which has been the seat of the Earl and Marquess of Abergevenny since 1448. We are also only 2.5 miles from the famous Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells as well as the town centre and the station where trains to London Bridge only take 44 minutes.    Tunbridge Wells or, more formally Royal Tunbridge Wells, became a famous spa town in Regency times when it was frequented by the aristocracy who came to take the waters and enjoy the entertainment organised by Beau Nash. Much of this historic town was developed during that time including the Pantiles that now offers a delightful mix of independent shops, bars and restaurants. While the rest of the town includes high street stores, a variety of eateries, individual shops, hair and beauty salons and a number of hotels as well as retail parks. Entertainment facilities include a nine-screen Odeon cinema, the Trinity theatre, the well-respected Assembly Hall Theatre and exhibitions in the Amelia Scott cultural centre.      With regards to education there are a number of primary and secondary schools rated Outstanding by Ofsted including St James and St Peters’ C of E primary schools and secondary schools including Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, the St Gregory’s Catholic School as well as Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School and Skinners Grammar School.  Claremont primary has also been judged Outstanding in various categories. You will also find excellent private schools in the area including Rosehill, The Mead, Kent College, Holmewood House and Beechwood prep and secondary school while in Tonbridge there is the famous Tonbridge School founded in 1553. For sporting aficionados you have the Neville Golf Club and Tunbridge Wells rugby, tennis and cricket clubs as well as the indoor sports and tennis centre and a swimming pool.   Agent’s note: The Busi Jacobsohn vineyard and additional acreage is available by separate negotiation.

Set within one of Tunbridge Wells' most desirable south-side locations, this handsome detached residence occupies a generous plot on the peaceful and leafy Birling Road, offering an exceptional balance of space, privacy and convenience. Approached via a substantial driveway with parking for three vehicles, alongside an attractive front lawn leading to the double garage, the property immediately creates an impression of established family living. Inside, the accommodation is notably well proportioned, with excellent room dimensions and a versatile layout perfectly suited to modern lifestyles. The welcoming entrance hall provides access to a generous sitting room, where natural light pours in and garden views create a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. A separate dining room offers an elegant space for entertaining, family celebrations or more formal occasions, while the kitchen/breakfast room forms the heart of everyday life, providing ample space for cooking, dining and socialising. Upstairs, four genuine double bedrooms ensure comfortable accommodation for families of all ages. The principal bedroom is particularly impressive, enjoying generous proportions and the benefit of a private en suite bathroom. The remaining bedrooms are served by well-appointed family bathroom facilities and offer flexibility for growing families, guests or home working requirements. The current owners have refreshed the property throughout, creating a home that is ready to move straight into while still presenting exciting opportunities for personalisation. Buyers may choose to create the kitchen of their dreams, introduce luxurious bathroom suites or explore the considerable potential to extend, subject to the necessary planning consents. To the rear, the mature garden has been thoughtfully designed to be both attractive and manageable. Predominantly laid to lawn, it is complemented by a secluded patio terrace ideal for outdoor dining and summer entertaining. Bordered by established trees and shrubs, the garden offers a wonderful sense of privacy and tranquillity rarely found so close to the heart of the town   What the Owner Says The things we have loved most about living here are the big windows creating so much natural light and the location. Birling Road is a quiet and friendly residential road, yet everything that makes Tunbridge Wells so special is within easy reach. Directly opposite the house is a convenient cut-through leading into Warwick Park, making morning walks, dog walks and family outings effortless. From there, it's a pleasant stroll into The Pantiles and the historic High Street, where independent shops, cafés, restaurants and regular community events create a vibrant atmosphere throughout the year. For commuters, Tunbridge Wells station is easily accessible, providing regular services to London and making the daily journey straightforward. At weekends, we have enjoyed leaving the car at home and walking into town to meet friends for coffee, browse the boutiques or enjoy dinner in one of the many excellent local restaurants. The neighbourhood itself is genuinely welcoming, with lovely neighbours and a real sense of community, while the property's private setting means you can retreat to peaceful surroundings whenever you wish. The combination of leafy streets, beautiful parks, excellent amenities and outstanding connectivity has made this a wonderful place to call home.

Setting Oldlands Corner Cottage sits on the edge of the charming village of Fairwarp, with direct access to the six and a half thousand acres of the enchanting Ashdown Forest; an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty offering superb walking, cycling and riding across open heathland and ancient woodland. The village itself is anchored by the characterful Foresters Arms, a beamed inn dating from 1898 which serves real ales and food and is a firm favourite with walkers and locals alike, alongside Christ Church and a thriving village hall hosting regular events and a monthly farmers' market. For more comprehensive day-to-day shopping, the nearby towns of Uckfield (approximately 4.5 miles) and Crowborough (approximately 4 miles) provide a good range of supermarkets, shops, restaurants and leisure facilities, whilst the historic county town of Lewes and Royal Tunbridge Wells are within comfortable reach for broader retail and cultural pursuits, including world-class opera at Glyndebourne. Locally there is a good choice of state schools including Bonners CE Primary at Maresfield and Nutley CE Primary, whilst further afield are a number of well-regarded independent schools serving the area. Buxted Station, just a short drive away, provides Southern Rail services to London Bridge with a journey time of approximately one hour fifteen minutes, with East Croydon also served en route. For golfers, the area is exceptionally well served with East Sussex National Golf Club at Little Horsted, home to two championship courses that have hosted the European Open, Piltdown Golf Club with its historic heathland course carved from ancient Sussex heath and the beautifully situated Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club at Forest Row, all within easy reach. For equestrian enthusiasts, the Ashdown Forest Riding Centre at Duddleswell and Misbourne Riding Centre at Nutley are virtually on the doorstep, offering riding across some of the finest countryside in the South East.

Approached down the leafy Forge Lane the property is accessed via a driveway with plenty of parking. The attractive Victorian house features original multi-pane casement and sash windows, chimneystacks and a pitched roof porch. There is a reception area with stairs to the first floor and a very wide beamed archway to the cosy sitting room. This has a log burning stove and is just the place to relax and enjoy a quiet read. While the ‘heart of the house’ is the superb triple aspect L-shaped family space that includes a seating area where you can spend time with the kids and a spacious dining area for friends and family to enjoy sitting round a table together. The contemporary kitchen area is a delight for anyone who enjoys catering as it includes an inset range cooker, a variety of charming country style units with a selection of built in appliances, French doors to the garden and access to the large utility room and a cloakroom. Upstairs there is a well-appointed modern family bathroom and four individually designed double bedrooms all with fabulous and far-reaching rural views. One is currently in use as an office, another has fitted shelving and hanging space while the triple aspect principal suite includes an ensuite shower room. Another excellent feature of this property is the charming single story barn conversion annex. The stylish design includes an open plan living space with a kitchen, seating and dining areas as well as a light and bright double bedroom and a shower room. This would make an excellent home for an adult family member or elderly relative or perhaps a groom. Alternatively, it would also be ideal as a country holiday let. While the other barn could also be converted for family or guests or could make an ideal gym, games room and bar or another income generating air b and b, subject to permissions and consent. The superb and well-designed equestrian facilities are ideal for those who want the best for their horses. Much of the 4.66 acres of grounds is given over to well fenced paddocks, while the large manège provides an excellent training ground whatever the weather. The spacious stable block includes three well-maintained stables, a hay store and plenty of space for grooming and tacking up under cover. While it is just a 10-minute walk along Forge Lane to Ashdown Forest for those delightful off-road hacks where you can not only enjoy a ride but also the woodland, the heath and the local wildlife including a wide variety of birds, deer, badgers, weasels, foxes and stoats. You can also come across grazing animals including Exmoor ponies as well as rare breed cattle and sheep. While the stables are impressive the gardens are a delight. There is a large terrace with charming shrub and rockery borders where you can entertain your friends or just revel in the views across Ashdown Forest and beyond. This is bordered by swathes of lawn surrounded by trees, shrubs and high hedging providing privacy and seclusion What the Owner says, This has been a delightful home for us and our horses for the past nine years and we are only leaving because we feel it is time to downsize. We fell in love with the uninterrupted views over Ashdown Forest and the countryside, the charming characterful house and the excellent equestrian facilities including access to the forest. We also enjoy the fact that it is very secluded but, at the same time, it is only a five minute drive to Marks and Spencer and Home Bargains, which provide for our daily needs while we can walk to the lovely Foresters Arms for a drink and a meal in about 10 minutes. Horney Common is a popular destination for nature lovers as it is home to a variety of wildlife. It is about a mile and half from the villages of Maresfield and Nutley and not far from Uckfield. Maresfield includes the Bonners primary school and the delightful 18th Century Chequers coaching in hotel and pub/restaurant. There are also tennis, cricket, football and gymnastics clubs as well as a village store and post office. While Nutley offers a Londis, a farm shop, a petrol station, a bowls club and a primary school as well as the cosy Nutley Arms and the Hatch Inn located in the forest and for golfing aficionados there are the Piltdown and Royal Ashdown Forest clubs. Uckfield includes two supermarkets, a cinema and leisure center with a swimming pool as well as a variety of independent shops and eateries. The railway station provides direct trains to London Bridge taking an hour and 20 minutes while Uckfield College secondary school is rated Outstanding by Ofsted as is the Beacon Academy in Crowborough. With regard to private education there are a number of excellent schools in the vicinity including Cumnor House and Mayfield

Backing onto glorious countryside next to the High Weald National Landscape (formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) stands this beautifully updated four-bedroom chalet bungalow. It is surrounded by 0.68 acres of ground and includes a heating swimming pool. The property is approached along a spacious drive providing plenty of off-road parking and bordered by a delightful front garden with a lawn, a rose bed and mature trees. The front door opens into a useful lobby and leads to the hallway with oak wood flooring that flows through to the impressive sitting room. This features a charming brick surround log burning stove that provides additional warmth on cold winter days, a very large multi-pane bay window with views over the front garden and it is open plan to a fitted study area with bespoke built in shelving and storage facilities, a separate multi-pane bay window and a staircase to the first floor. However, it is the kitchen/breakfast room that is the ‘heart of the household’. It was redesigned about three years and includes attractive units with high-end appliances such as a five-ring gas hob and extractor, a built-in double oven and microwave as well as an integrated dishwasher and full-height larder fridge while a freezer is in the adjacent utility. In the breakfast area there are patio doors opening out onto the rear terrace, additional storage cabinets and shelving as well as a boiler cupboard. There is a relaxing family room/snug with a very wide archway to the dual aspect dining room that has a door to the terrace and is ideal for more formal entertaining or family celebrations. The rest of the ground floor incorporates a family bathroom, a separate cloakroom and three double bedrooms including one with an ensuite toilet. The smallest bedroom is currently set up as an office with fitted shelving and a day/occasional bed. The delightful principal suite is on the first floor and features a walk-in dressing room as well as bespoke fitted cupboards, a trendy ensuite shower room with a contemporary vanity basin and French doors to a wide balcony with a glass and chrome balustrade. Here you can sit and sip your morning coffee reveling in the stunning views and sun rises across the rear garden and the superb countryside beyond. Outside this property provides something to enjoy wherever you look. There is a spacious terrace for barbecues and outdoor entertaining that continues through an arched pergola and around the heating swimming pool with its attractive pool house. Vast swathes of lawn are ideal for a game of cricket or football and are bordered by specimen trees and plenty of shrubs that provide a colourful display at varying times of the year. You will also find a charming summerhouse with a patio/bistro area, a large vegetable and herb garden, an orchard, fruit cages, a chicken run and bee hives. While solar panels on the roof provide economic water heating, separate PV panels provide electricity and cover the cost of running the swimming pool in the summer.   What the owners say: We bought this property some 19 years ago and it has been delightful. We have loved creating the garden and not only enjoying the swimming pool but also developing the ‘good life’ with our own fruit, chickens and bees. We have also taken great delight in updating the house to be the lovely home you see today. We like the space, the views and the countryside feel yet it is only eight minutes’ walk to the centre of Horsmonden This charming village is surrounded by farmland, orchards and vineyards. It is bordered by the River Teise and includes attractive artificial lakes for fishing and bird watching. There is a large village green, a convenience store, pharmacy and hairdresser as well as a doctor’s surgery, a good primary and kindergarten school and a village hall that offer a variety of activities to suit all age groups while popular pubs and restaurants nearby include The Halfway House and The Hopbine Inn.  We are also in the catchment area for the numerous excellent state and private schools around Cranbrook and in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells. Regular bus services, including school buses, connect the village with neighbouring towns and schools, providing convenient access for families and commuters alike. They go to Cranbrook, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge while the nearest station is Paddock Wood where trains can whisk you to Charing Cross in 52 minutes and Cannon Street in 48 minutes or Tonbridge station where the fast train to London Bridge takes just over half an hour.

Step Inside Offering the very best of village living, this exceptional family home is tucked away just moments from Brenchley’s charming High Street. Significantly extended and comprehensively renovated to an exacting standard, it now provides over 3,000 sq ft of beautifully appointed accommodation, combining luxury, space and contemporary family living in one of the area's most sought-after village settings. Electronically operated gates open to a large driveway with parking and turning space and a detached double garage to the side of this handsome home. There is an EV charging point and the innovative Fox solar system and battery storage creates an eco-friendly home.  Entering a bright and spacious hall your eye is drawn through to the magnificent kitchen/breakfast room. The stunning Schüller kitchen forms the centerpiece of the home, expertly combining premium German craftsmanship with elegant contemporary styling. A striking statement island takes centre stage, creating the perfect space for cooking, entertaining and everyday family life. Graphite marble-effect handleless cabinetry is beautifully complemented by warm wood accents and work surfaces, delivering a sophisticated yet welcoming aesthetic. The kitchen is further enhanced by a range of top-of-the-line dark-finish Miele integrated appliances, seamlessly incorporated to maintain the sleek, streamlined design. Extensive storage solutions, luxurious finishes and impeccable attention to detail ensure this exceptional space is as practical as it is visually impressive. Natural light streams in through a bank of garden facing windows, a glazed door to the same and a large skylight and glazed internal doors with matching overlights connect you seamlessly with a large dining room.  Flooded with natural light, the dining area is a beautifully designed space that effortlessly blends contemporary style with characterful detailing. A striking petrol blue wainscote feature wall provides a rich splash of colour and architectural interest, while a cleverly concealed trompe l'oeil door discreetly reveals access to the utility room. Light tiled flooring enhances the sense of space and reflects the abundant daylight that pours in through a large overhead skylight. Neutral walls and ceilings create a calm, sophisticated backdrop, allowing the design features to take centre stage. Dark aluminium bi-fold doors span the rear elevation, framing garden views and opening seamlessly onto the terrace, creating an exceptional indoor-outdoor entertaining space. A study that makes an ideal fifth bedroom with the cloak/shower room adjoining, a generous family room with a pretty bay window, a stylish conservatory and a capacious 37 foot sitting area and drawing room with bi-fold doors onto the garden complete the extensive living space.   Upstairs the four more bedrooms are all good doubles with three luxury bath/shower rooms including a superb principal suite. Whilst a ground floor study with adjacent shower room would make a fifth bedroom. The house sits nicely within its plot, in an elevated position with a generous frontage that allows for a sweeping driveway, plenty of parking and the double garage. The landscaped rear garden centres on a broad entertainment terrace with outdoor bar and kitchen that runs the full breadth of the house and is accessed from the Kitchen, dining room, living area and conservatory.    What the Owners Say Location and comfort were the two watchwords in my search for the perfect home, and I was delighted to find the ideal location and then upgrade the house for maximum comfort, economic running and luxurious convenience. I like living in Brenchley because it offers a wonderful balance between peaceful countryside living and convenient access to nearby towns and London. The village is surrounded by beautiful Kent countryside, with rolling fields, orchards, and plenty of walking routes, making it an ideal place for anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors. When at home I can spend hours entertaining or relaxing in the garden, and I can even sharpen up my golf game with my private professionally designed pitch and putt replete with bunker! I also value the strong sense of community. Brenchley has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, with local events, fairs, and community activities throughout the year that bring residents together. It feels like a place where people know their neighbours and take pride in their village. Despite its rural setting, Brenchley is well positioned. I can easily access nearby towns such as Paddock Wood and Tunbridge Wells, while rail connections from nearby stations make commuting to London quick and simple. The village also benefits from a range of local amenities, including a primary school, village shop, post office, pubs, and sports facilities

What the owners say: This impressive four storey country residence forms part of a magnificent Victorian manor house surrounded by half an acre of delightful private gardens in the charming hamlet of Golden Green. It backs onto farmland with far-reaching views across the Medway Valley and is approached through a pair of solid wood automatic gates that open onto a private driveway leading to a spacious parking area is flanked by an avenue of trees and shrubs bordered by a large lawn.  Wonderful external features give this property such a special character including very high chimneystacks, differing roof lines with attractive barge boards, patterned brickwork, pitched roof dormers, bay and windows and an arched entrance. The period features continue internally with high coved ceilings, picture and dado rails, wall panelling and ornate ceiling roses as well as beautiful fireplaces. At the same time the property has been superbly but sensitively updated by the current owners to provide everything needed for modern day living and is beautifully presented and maintained. The front door opens into a long L-shaped hallway with a cloakroom, a stained-glass door to the courtyard, a staircase to the lower ground floor and upper floors as well as Amtico herringbone flooring that flows through to the spacious, modern dual aspect kitchen/breakfast room and hallway. This has views over the courtyard and features a range cooker, a central island and shaker style units housing a fridge freezer, wine fridge and dishwasher, while still leaving plenty of space for a table and chairs. There is a very elegant dual aspect lounge with an attractive bay window, a wood burning stove surrounded by a charming slate fireplace and solid oak flooring that continues into the spacious dining/sitting room. This also includes an attractive sandstone fireplace with a log burner and fitted shelving and is currently in use as a family room/second sitting room. However, it would be ideal for those more formal occasions where you could seat at least a dozen guests. On the lower ground floor, you will find the utility room which comfortably accommodates several large appliances whilst providing essential hanging and drying space. In addition to this there is also a large boiler room and substantial private office with varied and versatile bespoke storage. An L-shaped galleried landing on the split level first floor includes an airing cupboard with access to three double bedrooms and the large stunning family bathroom that all have wonderful countryside views. The bathroom features a modern stand-alone oval bath where you can sit and enjoy the views, a separate double shower and twin basins. One of the bedrooms has a charming original fireplace while the large and well-proportioned principal bedroom is dual aspect and includes a plethora of fitted cupboards as well as a staircase leading up to a superb ensuite dressing room/shower room. While there is access to the rest of the second floor accommodation from the dressing room there is also the main staircase that leads to the second floor landing and a contemporary shower room serving two double bedrooms that provide a panoramic rural vista or could perhaps a bedroom and sitting room for a teenager wanting a little independence and private space. Outside, as well as the courtyard with access to the garage, there is a nearly 19ft long workshop with a pine boarded ceiling, windows, electrics and lighting so could always be converted into a games room/bar or offices for anyone working from home who needs peace and quiet. In order to provide complete privacy and security the beautifully landscaped garden is surrounded by six-foot-high fencing and hornbeam hedging so is completely secure for children and animals. It includes a truly charming and relaxing sunken garden seating area with delightful, raised lily ponds bordered by well-manicured lawns and shrub beds overlooking farmland as well as a large terrace for outdoor entertaining and barbecues.

The position of this delightful, detached period home is quite superb and offers the best of both worlds in that it is tucked away and yet provides good access into the village and to the popular station to London with the additional benefit of backing onto open fields.   A long driveway from the Tonbridge Road leads up hill to the large block paved parking and turning area and a detached double garage and your first glimpse of this delightful home surrounded by gardens that lend a feeling of calm that comes with being far from the madding crowded. A few steps up past a fabulous pond takes you to the terrace which makes the most of its elevated position and affords you far reaching views beyond the village to the distant horizon.   In order to make use of this sunny aspect and delightful view a large conservatory has been added to the front elevation of the house to create a much used and much-loved space for sitting or entertaining whilst maximising the benefit of the view. From here a large reception hall makes a superb study area or reading nook with its pretty bay window, brick fireplace and parquet floor.   A large single storey addition has created a very generous living room, maximising the natural light with its triple aspect and views out over the gardens. The charming kitchen is linked to the dining room via a conservatory that currently serves as a utility area and would make a fine breakfast room. A doorway leads past the wine store to a traditional dining room with a fireplace and pretty side bay window. This is another large room and is ideal for seating large gatherings and makes a superb entertaining space.   Upstairs there are four double bedrooms, two of which are en-suite to shower rooms, with a family bathroom and separate toilet.    A formal garden fronts the property with a large terrace, a pond garden and lawn. A further large lawn wraps around the house and is ideal for garden sports or if you prefer to be left as a natural wildflower garden. To the rear of the house is a pretty little painted brick outbuilding under a pitched tiled roof that has plenty of scope to be your home office, children’s den summerhouse or potting shed.     This has been an amazing house in a brilliant location. We always loved the fact that you come up a long driveway before you get to the house, so you feel like you are so tucked away and as the driveway is uphill you have a lovely, elevated position with superb far-reaching views. Having said that you are perfectly situated for easy access to Hildenborough village, the station with services into London, as well as to Tonbridge Town and Sevenoaks.   The village has two state primary schools, Stocks Green School, and Hildenborough cep school as well as the independent Fosse Bank, and the independent Sackville school. Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks offer a brilliant choice of schooling in both the state sector including superb grammar schools like The Judd School and TOGGS, and the private sector including Tonbridge and Sevenoaks schools, Hilden Grange and the schools at Somerhill.

If the ultimate in unique properties is your idea of home, then look no further than the magnificent Hadlow Tower – or ‘May’s Folly’ as it is less reverently named by the locals. Once part of a Romantic Gothic style 18th century castle, the 175ft eight storey tower stands six foot higher than Nelson’s Column and is visible from Bidborough to Sevenoaks. Having fallen into disrepair and severely damaged in the 1987 storm, it was restored in 2013 at a cost of £4.2 million with grants provided by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Its impressive restoration won multiple Historic England Angel Awards as well as the Lloyd-Webber Angel Award.   Now a fabulous private home it is accessed through the fantastic triple arched and castellated Romantic Gothic entrance on Hadlow village high street. There is a long and winding private road that passes a few individual properties and stunning countryside as far as the eye can see and ultimately leads to the spectacular tower, a parking area and the impressive walled courtyard. This includes additional buildings and a fabulous external window in what was thought to be the original castle entrance. The ancillary buildings have now been converted into six private dwellings and, together with the tower custodian, the owners of these six properties are responsible for the wonderful communal grounds that include sweeping lawns interspersed with impressive specimen trees and a beautiful lake encircled by a plethora of colourful shrubs.   As soon as you see the iconic tower with its octagonal shaped exterior, arched windows, ornate mouldings and fantastic lantern you will almost be transported into a fantasy world and may perhaps wonder why Rapunzel is not looking out of an upstairs window. However once inside, while there are stunning original and historic features, it has been designed as a one-of-a-kind modern family home.   There are three entrances to the tower and the main double height arched front door leads to a lobby with an original brick floor and a fascinating octagonal reception hall with interesting displays, terracotta flooring and, fortunately, a contemporary lift to the first four floors. There is also a utility room, cloakroom, boiler room and boot cupboard, a pair of original oak external doors and access to the main circular staircase and an outer secondary circular stone staircase.   Opening the lift door on the first floor you are immediately confronted by a superb octagonal dining room where guests will be queueing up to be invited to a meal as this characterful room includes full height circle top arched windows providing far reaching views, a beautiful polished wood floor, a unique arched recess and sculptured oak doors that come from the original castle. These open into a small corridor with the main staircase and a second set of old oak doors that lead to the triple aspect kitchen/breakfast room with fantastic stained glass windows that were also rescued from the castle, access to the secondary staircase and shaker style units housing various appliances.   The octagonal drawing room on the next floor is something to behold with its gothic casement windows, polished wood flooring, exposed beams and amazing brick arched fireplace with a log burner but is also cosy enough for the family to enjoy relaxing and spending time together. There are steps down to a double bedroom that also has a charming stained glass window from the castle, lovely views over the grounds, an en suite bathroom and access to the secondary staircase.   You can take the main stone staircase up to a dual aspect double bedroom with a central beam and oak flooring, while oak steps lead to the principal suite with exposed beamed, storage facilities and a contemporary en suite. On the fourth floor there is a fascinating double bedroom with an octagonal inner frame surrounding the bed, an octagonal dressing room with a walk-in wardrobe, oak stairs leading to a superb bathroom and a door to a castellated roof terrace offering excellent views over the surrounding countryside.   The next floor includes a useful study area and external access while open staircases lead to the additional floors. There are original six inch square vertical beams, interesting billboards showcasing the history of the tower and doors to the external castellated parapet with 360 degree views as far as the eye can see. At the very top of the tower is an exact replica of the original lantern that was destroyed during the Great Storm of 1987.   The Tower also owns an area of woodland and grounds beyond the communal lake area and this is basically a blank canvas so new owners can create whatever they like. It includes a large shed that houses the remains of the original lantern that were retained to provide a reference point for the replacement.   What the owner says: This has been a very exciting and unique home that I have been privileged and proud to own for the past few years. I and my family have thoroughly enjoyed our time here in this peaceful and tranquil environment, but my business is taking me abroad so I feel it is time to hand the baton over to new custodians who will appreciate the uniqueness of this amazing place in such an incredible setting.   Although where we are is private and peaceful, Hadlow high street is at the end of the lane. This charming village is in a Conservation area and includes many attractive period properties and a variety of shops, pubs, hairdresser, restaurant, church, library and a medical centre. For the more energetic there are cricket and bowls clubs as well as a good primary school and the renowned Hadlow College of Agriculture and Horticulture that includes the Broadview Gardens complex that has a tearoom and florist and where you can enjoy wandering around the grounds.   Other facilities are available in nearby Tonbridge including excellent grammar and private schools, independent shops and high street stores, pubs, restaurants, a theatre and the station where trains to London take around 30 to 40 minutes. There is the Tonbridge School leisure club while for golfing enthusiasts there are numerous golf clubs and courses within a radius of nine miles around Hadlow including the local Poult Wood Public Golf Centre.   Historical Note: Hadlow Castle was built in the 18th century in the then fashionable Strawberry Hill Gothic style. It was extended in the 19th century and the owner Walter Barton May at the time built the Tower (May’s Folly). Local lore has it that he had it built so he could spy on his estranged wife but it was probably because he wanted to show off his wealth.