Hot property: five homes in English national parks

House, South Downs, £5.85mn

What A seven-bedroom, five-bathroom house with more than 670 sq m of living space on its three floors. Large glass sliding doors maximise the views of its 20 acres of surrounding fields and wild flower meadows.

Where On the west side of the South Downs National Park, which is south of London and close to the coast. The city of Winchester, with its medieval cathedral, is 20 minutes away by car, while Heathrow airport can be reached in less than 90 minutes, depending on traffic. There are several stables offering horse riding in the local area, as well as a winery with 30 acres of vines.

Why The house has been carefully designed to create a striking structure which combines the renovation of a Grade II-listed, 17th-century farmhouse with the conversion of a 19th-century barn and farmyard.

Who The Modern House

Estate, Lake District, £8mn

What A 21-acre estate with a four-storey detached house, built in the early 20th century and featuring six bedrooms — two with dressing rooms — as well as four reception rooms, a wine cellar and a study. Among the outbuildings are a treehouse, greenhouse and detached garage with a gym on its first floor.

Where On the eastern shore of Lake Windermere, about half an hour by car from both the M6 motorway and the mainline train station at Oxenholme, which has direct services to London. The city of Lancaster, overlooked by its medieval castle, is about 50 minutes away by car. 

Why The property includes 0.4 miles of lake frontage and a boathouse with two jetties. The rooms at the front of the house are west-facing, making the most of sunset views across the lake.

Who Fine & Country 

House, Dartmoor, £1.2mn

What A Grade I-listed medieval manor house with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The property also includes a two-bedroom, two-bathroom Grade II-listed 19th-century coach house, currently used as a holiday let.

Where Close to the village of Lustleigh in Devon, and on the eastern edge of Dartmoor National Park, which is known for its ponies and its remains of Bronze Age villages. Exeter is roughly 40 minutes away by car, and trains to London run from Newton Abbot station, which is a 20-minute drive away.

Why The main house dates back to the 14th century but has been updated over the years with both Victorian and mid-century features. Its original structure, with arched windows, has been painted mustard yellow, which distinguishes it from the granite Victorian additions.

Who Inigo

Estate, Yorkshire Dales, £1.5mn

What A farmhouse dating back to the 17th century, along with outbuildings including two stone barns. The roughly 480 sq m house has seven bedrooms, five bathrooms and four reception rooms. Period features include stone flag floors, exposed wooden beams and an original Venetian window.

Where The centre of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, on the bank of Lake Semerwater. The nearest village, Bainbridge, is less than 10 minutes’ drive away, from which there is easy access to main roads leading out of the Dales. Leeds and York are both less than two hours away by car.

Why The nearly 23 acres of land include a manicured walled garden, grassland, a shingle beach and a section of Lake Semerwater, along with fishing and sailing rights.

Who Savills

Farm, Exmoor, £6.5mn

What An estate comprising a Grade II-listed Georgian house, farm outbuildings and four cottages. The main house has nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms plus a one-bedroom annexe, while the cottages each have three bedrooms.

Where Exmoor National Park — just outside the village of Simonsbath — which spans both Devon and Somerset. South Molton, a market town known as the gateway to Exmoor, is a 20-minute drive away. It is a similar distance to the cliffs of north Devon’s coastline, as well as beaches such as Lynmouth.

Why The working farm has just under 900 acres of land, which covers pastureland for farming, enclosed moorland and woodland. There is also a tennis court and equestrian facilities, including 18 stables.

Who Knight Frank

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