Claybrooke Road, Ullesthorpe, LE17

‘A great family home for making memories.’

As an introduction to a delightful property on the outskirts of the lovely village of Ullesthorpe the present owners have commented,

“We have spent six amazing years at The Woodlands raising our children in a beautiful rural setting where they had the freedom to run and explore the paddock land and as a family enjoy the picturesque lake and woodland. This is a great family home for making memories in a lovely Leicestershire village with a fantastic local community that we will dearly miss.”

If such a warm endorsement appeals, The Woodlands certainly has the credentials for providing an amazing home for any who love the natural beauty of the countryside.

Completely private and with a neighbour to one side only, this unique four bedroom detached property, has been extended to offer spacious, contemporary accommodation. Additionally, there is planning permission for further remodelling by creating a two storey extension.
The Woodlands is within a short walk to the village school, shop, post office and country pub with restaurant. It is a short drive away from major transport links that crisscross this convenient Midlands location within Leicestershire.

Appearance and outlook

This truly distinctive residence is set in a large plot of land with front and rear gardens, a two acre paddock and lake, stocked with fish. Originally constructed during the 1960s it has been refurbished and maintained by its present owners to create a home offering comfort, quality and space. The Woodlands has the advantage of contemporary innovation and style, with high quality fixtures and fittings throughout. It is an original in layout and potential. If you have equestrian or fishing interests, this is a rare and exciting opportunity to purchase a home that is bordered by land protected from further residential construction: the land must be used for agricultural or equine purposes.

On approach, The Woodlands has the appearance of a large bungalow with a grey hip and valley roof and a canted bay window to the front. The building is rendered and has grey framed double glazed Tripple windows. It is the side elevated dormer windows that reveal the first floor and the length of the property that stretches along a long block paved driveway. Here there is ample space for several vehicles. The lawn and planted beds in the front garden are bordered by a recently replaced fence and wooden gates matched to correspond to the contemporary colour scheme of the exterior.

A unique layout of rooms

This bespoke residence has been developed and personalised to maximize the ground floor space and has two staircases to the floor above. It has a spacious lounge/dining room linked to a conservatory, a similarly large eat in kitchen, family bathroom and two bedrooms - one presently set up as a play room - on the ground floor. On the first floor there are two further bedrooms, one of which is the master. It has its own ensuite bathing facility.

The formal entrance point of the house is from the side and through a newly replaced composite door with glass panels to the sides and top, adding light to the welcoming entrance hall, the theme is established for the internal decorating style. Here the wooden flooring, industrial lighting and integrated storage for coats and shoes demonstrate contemporary taste and attention to functional practicality.

From the hall the double ground floor bedrooms are to the right and overlook the front, the first benefitting from a bay window and the second having integrated wardrobes and dual aspect windows. Bedroom three on the first floor can be accessed from a staircase here and has an exposed beam, integrated storage and views to the open fields. There is access in this room to the loft space above and a small door opening into the master ensuite facilities next door.

The recently refurbished family bathroom is on the ground floor. It has metro tiling on the walls and floor tiles. The stylish bathing facilities include a free standing bath with hand held shower tap, walk in shower cubicle, and vanity unit with storage, toilet, extractor fan and illuminated mirror.

Zoned relaxation spaces

The generously spaced lounge and dining room opens into a conservatory and through French doors, into the garden. By using different materials for flooring, purposeful zones have been created. A carpeted area compliments a comfortable lounge, fitted with an exposed rustic brick fireplace. This has an oak mantel, slate hearth and multi fuel burning stove. There is industrial type lighting throughout the entire room but the second zone – similarly the conservatory - has a wooden floor and could be used for dining, being easily able to accommodate suitable furniture. The conservatory has been plastered and has separate lighting. It enjoys year round light and views looking into the private garden beyond.

A stunning master suite

The remaining bedroom is the master suite and is accessed from the staircase leading from the lounge. It has commanding dual aspect views of the grounds from the side and a gable end floor to ceiling window and glass door. This is a stunning feature. The door opens on to a balcony, with safety glass screening. It is fitted with blackout blinds. The room has double integrated wardrobes providing ample storage and a luxurious, contemporary ensuite comprising of a walk in shower, vanity unit and toilet.

The refurbished kitchen

Running alongside the lounge and leading out onto the decking, a beautifully refurbished breakfast kitchen presents as the perfect hub for family or larger scale entertaining. Recently retiled on walls and floor, new integrated appliances include a dishwasher, oven, hob, tap, sockets and fixtures. Wall and floor units provide generous storage and it has a breakfast bar. There is also capacity for a separate table and chairs. The kitchen has provision for laundry appliances.

The outbuildings and grounds

Outside, the separate garage – located at the top of the drive – has actually been converted into a large indoor office. It is served with wireless internet and doubles as a home gym because of its wooden floor. With bi folding doors opening from it, double doors from the kitchen and lounge, the areas of the house and office are perfectly located to easily facilitate entertaining in the garden. Next door is a boot room fitted with a toilet and sink unit. Further outbuildings provide substantial storage and currently store fishing tackle, wood and provide an outside toilet.

The landscaped formal rear gardens are made up of three large lawns, a patio and a play area with high quality equipment anchored in chip bark. A railway carriage has been converted into a wooden cladded summer house and with unrestricted views of the lake and woodland, its insulation allows maximum usage. It is entered through French doors and is currently set up as a cinema with mains power, wired and wireless internet, projection equipment and a large pull down screen. The natural woodland and lake are found beyond ornate black gates.

As the name of the property suggests, the mature coppice of trees and native wild flowers is a truly beautiful and significant feature. It provides year round interest as seasonal changes alter the light and colour of the scene and provides a fascinating, secluded retreat. The reed fringed lake is half an acre in size and descends to six feet in parts. It is fed from an underground spring and has been connected to an overflow pipe that channels water into a local stream. This ensures a consistent water level in even extreme weather conditions and freshness that is evidence by swan mussels that live in the water and an abundant seasonal variation of creatures, including ducks and moorhens. Adorned with lily pads, stocked with multiple fish species and fully registered with CEFAS as a fishery, it has a stocking permit should additional fish need to be added. Otter fencing has been positioned around the perimeter and recreational pursuits such as paddle boarding and canoeing have been enjoyed by the present owners. A large tree house provides an elevated view over the idyllic scene and is perfect for wildlife watching. Beyond the lake, there are a further two acres of paddock.
The paddock has four wooden stables on a concrete base, with windows and doors. A concrete yard area has adjoining outbuildings including a brick store, chicken pen and a double height barn. The paddock gently slopes towards the lake ensuring consistent drainage and very little standing water. Both stables and barn are served with mains water and power supplies, and one of the stables is serving as a tack room, being secure and weatherproof. Bridal paths are extensive in this area and hacks can begin from the paddocks. There is permitted vehicular access across the neighbouring field that leads directly to the main road. Usable year round, it too permits easy access.

Ullesthorpe is an active and well-served Leicestershire village around 10 miles from Rugby and 8 miles from Hinckley. It’s within easy reach of the M1, M69 and M6 and benefits from railway links to London Euston (50 minutes) and Birmingham (33 minutes).

There is plenty of open countryside to explore and numerous walking and horse-riding routes to enjoy. For everyday needs, the village has a doctor's surgery, village shop and post office, butchers, hairdressers, garden centre with a café and a congregational chapel.

The popular Chequers Country Inn pub is within walking distance of the house. Ullesthorpe Court Hotel and Golf Course is just over half a mile away and boasts a swimming pool, fitness room, restaurant and conference rooms, an 18-hole championship course, and plans to open a driving range short course.

Nearby, you will find the Ofsted-rated‘Good’Ullesthorpe Church of England primary academy school and a secondary education college in Lutterworth, just 10 minutes away. Theres also a good choice of independent schools in Rugby.