Wick Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6

Carters Cottage is a handsome period house amidst beautiful gardens occupying a lovely rural setting. The house is believed to date from the 17th century and enjoys a plethora of period features and architectural merit. Exposed beams, timber floors and inglenook fireplace in the sitting room give the house a warm cosy feel. There are four bedrooms with three bath/shower rooms above. The accommodation is versatile and there is plenty of scope to convert the double garage into additional ground floor space with a second storey or master bedroom above.

Carters Cottage lies amidst classic Cotswold countryside on the west facing side of the Painswick Valley.

Painswick, known as the Queen of the Cotswolds, is famous for the fine parish church and the 99 clipped yew trees in the churchyard. The town has a good range of everyday shops and services, as well as restaurants and hotels.

Stroud, about 2 miles to the south, has a wider choice of shops as well as the award-winning farmer's market. Cheltenham is the main regional centre and offers excellent shopping facilities, as well as the Everyman Theatre, Literature Festival and other cultural amenities.

Stroud station has direct services to London Paddington from c.95 minutes. Good access to the M4 and the M5, Junction 11A of the latter being about 8 miles to the north. Regional airports at Staverton, Birmingham and Bristol.

A good choice of sporting opportunities in the area including a number of golf courses. Gloucestershire has long been associated with equestrian events including National Hunt racing at Cheltenham, polo at Cirencester Park and Westonbirt and the Badminton and Gatcombe Horse Trials.

Excellent walks and rides in the surrounding countryside. Painswick has a primary school and there are various grammar schools in the area including Stroud High and Pate's in Cheltenham.

Private schools in the area include Beaudesert Park at Minchinhampton, Wycliffe College, Westonbirt and the Cheltenham Boys and Ladies Colleges.

The gardens are incredibly pretty and welldesigned into compartments linked by a series of pathways. There is an ornamental pond fed by a natural spring, a productive vegetable garden and further walled garden. Beyond is a small arboretum of carefully planted specimen trees. Near the house are workshops or stables with planning permission to be converted into a triple garage with an annexe or home office above.