Location

Higher House sits on the outskirts of the pretty village of West Bagborough in West Somerset, amongst the southern slopes of the beautiful Quantock Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (ANOB). The property enjoys extensive southerly views across the Taunton Vale to the Blackdown Hills Beyond.

The Quantock Hills are renowned for their beautiful and varied landscape of heathland, ancient oak woodlands hosting an abundance of wildlife. For the outdoor enthusiast, there are numerous opportunities for walking, riding and cycling, and the Blackdown Hills and Exmoor National Park are also within easy reach.

West Bagborough has a thriving community, with a popular pub, a village hall and active cricket team, whilst the adjoining villages of Bishops Lydeard and Crowcombe between them, have a doctors surgery and selection of shops including a Co-op, paper shop, farm shop and Post Office.

There are primary schools in Bishops Lydeard, Crowcombe and Stogumber, whilst the county town of Taunton, about 8 miles away, has three excellent private schools, including Taunton School, Kings College, and Queens College. Taunton also has Richard Huish Sixth Form College, and further afield, there is Wellington School, Blundell's at Tiverton and Millfield near Glastonbury.

Communication links to the area are good, with the M5 at Taunton and Wellington. There is a mainline train station in Taunton, with regular direct services to London Paddington in under 2 hours , and there are International airports at Exeter and Bristol, providing regular flights to UK and International destinations.

Description

The property sits in a wonderful, elevated position with pretty views across the surrounding countryside of the Taunton Vale. Higher House is not Listed, and is beautifully presented throughout, following an extensive renovation in recent years by the present owners. With extensive and versatile accommodation, extending to just over 7000 sq ft, the building provides plenty of space for a large and extended family.

Immediately noticeable is the abundance of natural light, complemented by tall ceilings and numerous period features throughout the buildings many well-proportioned rooms. In the main house, the elegant reception hall leads to a fine selection of reception rooms, including a dining room and further to the kitchen, which has an Aga and double doors leading to a pretty courtyard.

The drawing room offers beautiful views over the surrounding countryside through stone mullion windows, and a pair of French doors leading to the garden. Next to the drawing room is a cosy sitting room, with bay window and open fireplace, a perfect place to relax. A study, butlers pantry, laundry, utility room and wine store complete ground floor space.

On the first floor, the large landing incorporates a library and sitting area with a stairs leading to the principal bedroom suite, with dressing room and ensuite bathroom. On the south side of the house there are two further bedrooms, one with an en suite shower room. Two further bedrooms share two shower rooms and a family bathroom.

A connecting door on the first floor leads to a self-contained annexe, also accessed from the ground floor, with kitchen sitting room, bedroom, and shower room. This could be incorporated into the main part of the house if desired.

In addition to the accommodation in the main house, there are two cottages, both of which have been sympathetically renovated and sit side-by-side, overlooking a pretty paved courtyard with views over the gardens beyond.

There is a good degree of privacy between the cottages and the main house, offering the opportunity to generate an income through holiday lets. Honeysuckle Cottage has two bedrooms, one bathroom and a kitchen/dining room. The Mouse House has one bedroom, a bathroom, and an open-plan kitchen/sitting/dining room.

The well-established gardens are a key feature of the property, enjoying a great deal of privacy, whilst the many different sections offer numerous places to sit and enjoy your surroundings and views. Within the gardens, there is a selection of mature trees, formal lawns and pretty borders, all of which are linked by a series of paths and terraces.

A beautiful wisteria decorates the front of the house, beneath which there is a substantial terrace and outdoor seating area. To the east side of the buildings, there is a large driveway, accessed via electric gates, which has plenty of space for numerous vehicles, a car port and workshop/garden store. Within the grounds there is also a stone summer house, two further outbuildings and a tarmacadam tennis court.

There is a gently sloping paddock to the south of the house and buildings and a further area of wild grass meadow to the north and east, both of which have vehicular access. In all, the gardens and grounds extend to about 5.5 acres. Further land to the north is available by separate negotiation.

Directions

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