Bourton, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8

Old Charlie Youngs Cottage is an attractive, period home with a wealth of character features, including exposed gnarly timber beams, which blend harmoniously with thoughtfully-crafted interior styling to create an enchanting home. The property originally dates back to 1730 and was extended by the current owner in 2011. The ground floor accommodation flows from a welcoming reception hall with flagstone flooring which extends into a practical utility/cloakroom. There is also a comfortable family room with brick-built fireplace. On the opposite side of the hall, the sitting room is filled with natural light courtesy of south-west facing French doors and an open link to the kitchen/dining area. Fitted with a Belfast sink and rustic, handmade cabinetry which is original to the house, the kitchen is centred around an AGA with stone feature splashback, and a glazed door which opens into the rear garden.

There are two bedrooms on the first floor, along with a family bathroom, with the principal room being accessed via a study area and having the benefit of a well-appointed en-suite shower room. An outbuilding to the front of the cottage offers an office space for home working or hobbyists, with an adjoining summerhouse, offering plenty of additional storage.

Situated just to the north of the village of Bourton, where there is a good range of local amenities including a public house and garage/post office/village stores, the property also enjoys a setting on the edge of the Cranborne Chase AONB and is in close proximity to Bullpits Golf Club for golf enthusiasts. The nearby town of Gillingham provides everyday needs with a Waitrose store, along with a mainline railway station with services to Salisbury and London. Communications in the area are excellent with the A303 providing links to the national motorway network, London and the West Country.

For schooling, there is a wide range of noted independent schools which include Port Regis, Clayesmore, Warminster and Bryanston School. The cathedral city of Salisbury is within easy reach and provides a comprehensive range of recreational, shopping and cultural facilities including the Salisbury Playhouse theatre and a multi-screen cinema, along with further rail services offering journeys to London, Cardiff, Exeter and Bristol.

Mature trees and hedging to the front boundaries provide a sense of seclusion at the property, which is approached via a length of gravelled driveway offering parking for numerous vehicles. An attractive selection of mature shrubs and trees frame the lawned area of the front garden, which enjoys an outlook over a lake. A side picket-gate provides a route through to the rear garden which features clipped hedging and a paved courtyard. There is space for outdoor entertaining, with direct access to the kitchen, and flowering climbing plants and a blossom tree create a delightful setting for relaxation in this peaceful rural setting. There is also a tool shed and a wood hopper.