Milborne Wick, Sherborne, Somerset, DT9

This immensely characterful, link attached property epitomises all the wonderful elements of rural living in a fabulous location on the fringes of what is arguably one of the most idyllic villages outside Sherborne. Entry is via a stable door into a large open plan kitchen/sitting/dining room with exposed beams and stone walls, terracotta tiled flooring and vaulted ceiling. With a true country feel, the kitchen is complete with a range of wall and base units under a timber worktop with a large Rangemaster cooker, space and connection for a dishwasher and fridge freezer, along with plenty of space for a large table and chairs, ideal for informal dining and entertaining. With a further area for sitting and relaxing this notably light and bright space also has French doors to the rear terrace which, with a south westerly aspect, is the ideal spot to spill out onto on those warmer evenings.

A downstairs double bedroom with ensuite shower room provides a versatile option for dependant relatives or teenagers looking for their own space. A utility, also just off the kitchen, provides functional space with plenty of storage, a Belfast sink, space and connection for a washing machine and a small fridge freezer. Beyond is a recently modernised shower room with stylish tongue and groove panelling and a generously large shower cubicle. A conservatory then provides the ideal space from which to enjoy the garden. In the oldest part of the house, with further exposed stone work and deep window recesses, we find a beautiful sitting room with wood burner and a snug beyond. Stairs rise up to the first floor with two excellent double bedrooms with dual aspects and a further single bedroom, all with views across the gardens and surrounding countryside. A galleried mezzanine above the kitchen also provides further useful space, perhaps as a home office, with plenty of eaves storage.

ANNEXE
An exciting feature of this substantial property is the attached, contemporary styled annexe that offers the perfect solution for relatives, guests or perhaps as a lucrative revenue stream. There is a good sized sitting room with wooden floors, a bathroom, well appointed kitchen, dining room and two double bedrooms with plenty of storage on the first floor.


GARDENS AND GROUNDS
Parking for several cars is available at the front of the house. A private and sheltered paved terrace at the rear of the property is the perfect sun trap and an ideal spot to relax. A raised pond offers first glimpses of the wildlife that is to come, as gravelled paths, bordered by well-established shrubs and plants lead up, past a small lawned area, to various outbuildings that include a potting shed, stores and kennels. Fruit cages and raised beds provide useful infrastructure for anyone looking to live off the land. Beyond here a three-acre field has been lovingly established to provide the perfect home to lots of species throughout the year. The basis of the field is to keep animals happy for all their life cycle along with the people that immerse themselves in it for pure enjoyment. Two hundred cobnut trees (hazels) produce early pollen and a saleable crop of tasty nuts. The field is surrounded by a hedge of native species such as hawthorn, blackthorn, field maple and spindle, punctuated by dog roses and split into different areas. These areas include a wildflower meadow, a wild bird small seed mix, a pollen and nectar mix for invertebrates and a wild area with a small hidden pond. The amount of wildlife on this small area is stunning and includes barn owls that nest in the owl box, kestrels, green woodpeckers, flocks of linnets and goldfinches, troops of long tailed tits, common lizard, grass snakes, slow worms, many types of bees, glow worms, oil beetles, dragonflies, newts, toads, weasels, voles and much more. The field is very private and can be observed, along with the rolling neighbouring countryside, from the ‘poop deck’ that is attached to the tractor shed; the ideal spot for a refreshing drink. This is truly a very special place that is absorbed by and genuinely sympathetic to its wonderfully natural surroundings.

SITUATION
There can be few places in the southwest as enchanting as Milborne Wick, lying in a hidden valley on the Somerset/Dorset border in a peaceful position away from main roads. This pretty hamlet comprises period houses and farms, gathered around a small village green with tiny church, an evocative scene which has changed little over the centuries. The village is designated a Conservation Area in which strict planning controls prevent incongruous development.

The nearby village of Milborne Port has a modern general medical practice, garage with post office, pharmacy and other facilities whilst the Abbey town of Sherborne is but a short drive away, with its range of traditional shops, boutiques and supermarkets.

Communications are excellent with the A303 to a dual carriageway most of the way to the M3 and London. To the west, this road leads to Honiton and Exeter and to the M5 at Taunton. Railway links are excellent with mainline railway stations at Sherborne and Templecombe serving Waterloo and an interCity service from Castle Cary on the Penzance to Paddington line.

EDUCATION
The area is particularly noted for the excellent range of independent schools, most notably the Sherborne Boys and Girls schools, Leweston, Bryanston, the Bruton schools and Millfield. There are also some excellent state schools including the Gryphon secondary school

SPORTING AND RECREATION
Racing at Wincanton. Golf at Sherborne and Yeovil. Sherborne Abbey holds regular concerts and recitals. The Newt Country Estate and Hotel is nearby. Hauser and Wirth in Bruton and The Sherborne in Sherborne for the arts. Theatres at Salisbury, Yeovil and Bath (within an hour). Numerous footpaths, bridleways and quiet lanes make the area ideal for walking, cycling and riding.