A beautifully presented modern country house with fantastic views across the Blackmore Vale.
Pen Selwood had no less than three motte and bailey castles around it, all built shortly after the Norman Conquest. One of these, Ballands Castle was positioned just below where Woodlands now stands and it is not difficult to understand why as it dominates the surrounding countryside with views out to 47 miles on a clear day, taking in Glastonbury Tor, the Quantocks and the Dorset Hills. Woodlands was built twelve years ago just below the crest of the hill, to a striking, curved design with the bedroom accommodation placed on the lower ground floor to reserve the best possible views for the kitchen and living room above. The house's curved shape faces south to west and its floor to ceiling windows, half-vaulted ceiling and principally pale décor give a wonderful feeling of light and space coupled with unparalleled views. It is built of pale Chilmark stone under a slate roof and the rear is clad in timber. The upper ground floor consists of one main living room, the cloakroom and a boot and laundry room. At one end of the living room is the cosy seating area with an open fireplace and built-in bookshelves and study area. Immediately adjacent and occupying the centre of the room is the dining area, whilst at the far end, with the sink and cooking area tucked away out of sight, is the kitchen. This is fitted with a range of contemporary units under pale Corian work surfaces, a range of electric appliances including a steamer, gas hob and larder cupboard. The bedrooms and bath/shower rooms are on the lower ground floor and all look out across the garden to the seemingly endless views beyond. The principal bedroom has an integral, walk-in dressing room and en suite bathroom with a distant view of Glastonbury Tor from the tub. The guest bedroom has an en suite shower room and between the two main bedrooms is a third, smaller double bedroom.Woodlands is approached along a little-used country lane with gravel driveway that sweeps up and around behind the house to a sheltered parking area for about three to four cars. The house is built into the hillside with a gently sloping area of garden immediately in front of the house and a generous, level lawn on one side, part of which is paved with a curved backdrop of clipped box providing a wonderful seating and dining area that looks out over the surrounding countryside from beneath the boughs of an ancient apple tree. Behind the house is an attractive line of mature trees including oak, sycamore, hawthorn, a magnificent eucalyptus and reputedly the oldest cider apple tree in Somerset. A flight of rustic steps leads down from the upper lawn to the lower part of the garden. To one side and below the house are a summerhouse and a period bothy cottage that has been refurbished and is currently used as workroom/home office but could also serve as a guest cottage. Between the house and the hillside is a garden and machinery store. Overall, the garden is designed for easy maintenance and amounts to about one acre (0.4 hectare).
A303 0.9 mile, Bourton 1.7 miles, Zeals 2.6 miles, Wincanton 3.7 miles Gillingham station 5.7 miles (Waterloo 2 hours), Bruton 7.3 miles Castle Cary station 11.4 miles (Paddington 1½ hours), Bristol Airport 35.9 miles (Distances and times approximate).Pen Selwood is a small but thriving hilltop village within the Cranborne Chase AONB. The house overlooks Pen Forest, which stretches to Stourhead and Longleat and is laced with a network of footpaths and bridleways. A short drive away are the villages of Zeals and Bourton, which between them have two pubs, two post offices and a petrol station (see www.penselwood.ning.com and www.bourtondorset.org). For day to day needs nearby Gillingham and Wincanton both offer good ranges of shops and local businesses including a Waitrose supermarket in Gillingham, as well as GP, dental and veterinary surgeries. The larger centres