Crediton, Mid Devon, EX17

Higher Park Farm is set off a no-through lane, nicely tucked away at the end of a 250 yard long driveway with only one neighbour about 300 yards away. It therefore enjoys perhaps those rarest of commodities today: peace and privacy. Better still, the house faces south and sits in an elevated position with lovely views across miles of unspoilt Devon countryside.

Possibly dating back to the 14th century, Higher Park Farm was largely rebuilt in the 1830s and is a fine example of a farmhouse of the period. It has also fortunately retained all its former outbuildings, a three-bed, attached cottage and just over 15 acres. Together they form an attractive grouping that is Grade II listed under two separate listings. The main farmhouse is attached to a cow barn, known locally as a shippon, which in turn is attached to a small cottage. The current owners have completely refurbished the farmhouse and the cottage and have converted the upper floor of the shippon to provide additional bedroom accommodation. The ground floor of the shippon today contains a large workshop with an integral storage room. The main farmhouse is built if local stone with tall, small pane, Crittall-style windows under a slate roof, whilst the shippon and cottage, which pre-date the farmhouse, are built of painted cob under slate roofs.

The interiors of both dwellings have a light and airy feeling, amplified by pale, neutral décor alongside original architectural fittings including exposed roof timbers and beams. The sitting, dining and kitchen/breakfast rooms in the farmhouse form a line to take best advantage of the south-facing views, whilst the ground floor of the cottage largely consists of a large living room, which is partly double height, with an integral kitchen. Upstairs the farmhouse and cottage have five bedrooms and a single bedroom respectively, with the converted upper floor of the shippon providing a further two bedrooms usable by either dwelling.

Outbuildings, garden and grounds

Higher Park Farm sits centrally within its own land, which totals just over
15 acres incorporating two large pasture enclosures plus roughly two acres of mixed, broadleaf woodland. The house is approached via a 200 yard-long drive, which passes behind the house to a rhomboid-shaped concrete yard, where there is ample parking space for several cars. Arranged around three sides of the yard is an impressive range of brick built period outbuildings incorporating a linhay, party barn, workshop, three further stores and a hayloft. Full planning permission has been granted for the brick barns to be used as a wedding venue if someone desired. Behind the range is a further concrete yard beside a cluster of modern agricultural buildings including a former dairy (53.9 sq m)) and a large livestock barn (390.7 sq m). The garden extends out from the south-facing front of the house consisting of gently sloping lawn with a deep, richly planted mixed border along one side. At one end of the border is a paved seating area sheltering under a pergola with fantastic views out over the surrounding countryside. On the lawn about 20 yards from the house is a part-walled and paved outside seating and dining area that includes a roofed shelter. Behind the house is a Mediterranean- style, gravelled walled garden with a seating area in one corner.

Higher Park Farm is in a rural setting with no immediate neighbours, about one and a half miles from the centre of the historic market town of Crediton. With a population of about 21,500, the town has excellent amenities capable of meeting most day to day needs. These include a selection of local shops and businesses, GP, dental and veterinary surgeries, large Morrisson's and Sainsbury's supermarkets, a leisure centre and a farmers' market. For wider requirements Exeter is nearby with all the amenities one would expect to find in a university and cathedral city. The local area has good transport links with the A377 linking to Exeter, The M5 and A30. Crediton has a train station providing services to Paddington (2 hours 40 minutes) via Exeter St. David's and Exeter Airport offers UK and international connections, including a daily service to London City Airport (1 hour). There is a wide choice of state and independent schooling locally including three Good-rated primary schools within a two mile radius, Blundells in Tiverton and The Cathedral School, Maynard School and Exeter School in Exeter.