SITUATION The property enjoys a stunning rural location nestled on the edge of Croydon Hill with access to Gallac's Hill and Batts Castle which has outlines of the ramparts and ditches of the Iron Age hill fort and enjoys wonderful views over the Bristol Channel, Dunster Castle and across to Exmoor. The ancient village of Dunster lies on the north eastern boundary of the Exmoor National Park and has a wealth of historic buildings from the National Trust's 11th century Dunster Castle to the Yarn Market in the middle of the High Street. The seaside town of Minehead is close by. The spectacular coastline of North Somerset is beset with cliffs, beaches and harbours and includes some wonderful walking and riding.
DESCRIPTION Higher Dumbledeer is located in one of the most picturesque and unique locations in Somerset. There is direct access onto Croydon Hill for its wonderful walking, riding and countryside. The traditional farmstead includes a charming house built of local stone under a slate tiled roof. Fully renovated some 25 years ago the original barns that were attached/adjacent to the house were converted into accommodation providing further bedrooms and living space. The property is set around a courtyard garden where there is additional detached accommodation.
The house is situated at the end of a half mile track and this true moorland gem is surrounded by its own grounds and benefits from no immediate neighbours. The house has been beautifully maintained by the current owners who undertook the renovation/conversion and have occupied the house for nearly thirty years.
ACCOMMODATION The accommodation offers great flexibility and includes an entrance hallway which links the house to the ground floor bedrooms in the old barn (one of which is currently used as a study) and provides access to the courtyard. From here there is also access to the utility room and downstairs loo and to the kitchen. This has been fitted with hand built kitchen units and a Nobel range cooker is inset into the original open fireplace. It features heavy beamed ceilings, double aspect windows with oak floors and has the benefit of a sizeable larder. Conveniently there is direct access from the kitchen through to the dining room, from which there is a half flight oak staircase; this leads to the upper ground floor and to the sitting room. This is an impressive room which centres upon an open fireplace; it's partially vaulted ceiling adds to the feeling of space. It has oak floors and double doors which open out onto the rear courtyard.
The stairs continue to a further half flight to the first floor landing which leads to the principal bedroom bathroom and a dressing room which has a staircase leading to the large attic which has been used as a large workroom, office and store.
Within the courtyard there is a self contained annexe situated in a converted cattle shed/barn. This consists of an open fronted area used for outside dining and a large open plan room with partially vaulted beamed ceiling and features a wood burning stove. This is currently used as a bedroom/music studio and benefits from a newly fitted en-suite/shower room; doors open out onto the courtyard which is filled with mature planting and ponds with a connecting leat.
OUTSIDE Higher Dumbledeer is approached via a long established half mile track making its way to the farmstead where there is a gravelled parking area providing parking and turning for multiple vehicles. There is access to a substantial steel framed agricultural building which houses a workshop, garaging and storage. This could be converted for a variety of uses including stabling if required.
The mature grounds have been beautifully maintained around the property. Adjacent to the house is a protected courtyard garden with water feature and raised terrace. The gardens that surround the house include flower beds, areas of lawn and have been heavily planted with a variety of specimen trees and shrubs. Behind a large protective beech hedge there's a vegetable garden with greenhouse, shed and fruit cage and a grassy orchard where the trees are underplanted with wildflowers. A separate paddock lies to the north east, which is laid to pasture and is enclosed by stock proof fencing.
At the front of the house there is a sizeable paddock laid to pasture and includes a wildlife pond. This is also enclosed by stock proof fencing. There is a public footpath to the surrounding moorland which follows a rural track between the farmhouse and western paddock, unobtrusively shielded from the property by the outbuildings, garden wall and mature hedging. This gives direct access for the house onto the moor.
SERVICES Mains electricity. Private water. Private drainage. LPG bottled gas for the supplementary kitchen hob. Oil fired central heating. Solar panels with Feed-in-tariff. Broadband currently supplied by Airband. Mobile signal available via EE and Three (Ofcom). Please note the agents have not inspected or tested the services.
DIRECTIONS From Taunton take the A358 to Minehead, continue through Wiliton and Washford, through Bilbrook on the A39 and then turn left to Withycombe. Go through the village and proceed out on Higher Rodhuish Road which extends into Oak Lane. Follow Oak Lane for at least a mile and the entrance to Higher Dumbledeer can be found just before Bowden Lane on the right hand side.
