Location

Forest Cottage is situated off a country lane on the north-eastern edge of Buxted, a popular village with a primary school, health centre with pharmacy, two public houses, a village store and farm shop, together with a mainline railway station (just 1.4 miles distant). The neighbouring village of Maresfield has a Marks and Spencer food hall, and 24-hour Little Waitrose (both within four miles, or 9 minutes by car).      

The old market town of Uckfield (four miles) offers a more comprehensive range of facilities including High Street shops, an independent cinema, supermarkets and a leisure centre. Tunbridge Wells 12 miles; Lewes 13 miles; Haywards Heath 14 miles.   

Buxted is just south of Ashdown Forest, over which the property has far-reaching views, and which offers superb walking and off road riding (for which a permit is required). There is a vibrant cultural scene in Sussex, with world-class opera at Glyndebourne, theatre at Royal Tunbridge Wells, the nearby historic County town of Lewes - famous for its bonfire celebrations, and the annual Brighton and Charleston Festivals presenting a huge programme of theatre, dance, classical music and literary events.                        

Transport: Buxted, 1.4 miles (London Bridge from 63 minutes), Uckfield, 4.3 miles (London Bridge from 70 minutes), Haywards Heath, 15.2 miles (London Bridge/Victoria from 42 minutes), and Tunbridge Wells, 12.2 miles (London Charing Cross from 53 minutes). Gatwick airport 25 miles.            

Schools: There are a number of state and independent schools and colleges in the local area, including Buxted, Maresfield and High Hurstwood village primary schools, Uckfield Community College, and independent schools Cumnor House in Danehill, Great Walstead near Lindfield, Brambletye near East Grinstead, Michael Hall in Forest Row, Mayfield School, Worth School, Tonbridge, Ardingly College, Bede's near Hailsham and Brighton College.      

All times and distances are approximate, driving times taken from Google Maps.

Description

Set in a glorious elevated position with far-reaching views over its own grounds and surrounding countryside to Ashdown Forest in the distance, Forest Cottage is an attractive and beautifully refurbished five bedroom country home dating from the 1930s, offering spacious and versatile accommodation. The house is located in a tucked-away rural setting near the village of Buxted, occupying a plot of nearly five and a half acres, part of which falls within a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The property has been recently thoughtfully extended and completely remodelled to create a stylish and well-appointed family home, with generous open-plan living spaces, stylish modern bathrooms and a superb connection to the outdoors via large bi-folding doors and raised decking - ideal for entertaining or simply enjoying the exceptional outlook.

The accommodation is arranged over two floors, the full extent and layout of which can be seen on the accompanying floor plan.

The front door opens from under an oak-framed open porch into a welcoming entrance hall with a cloakroom and stairs rising to the first floor. To one side of the hall is a generous reception room, currently used as a cosy sitting room, with an open fireplace and a wonderful outlook over the gardens to the rear.

To the other side hall is the heart of the home: a superb open-plan kitchen, dining and sitting room, which spans the depth of the house and is bathed in natural light via extensive glazing and bi-fold doors to the decked terrace. The kitchen is well fitted with a range of painted shaker-style timber cabinetry, with composite worktops and a woodblock-topped breakfast bar, and there is ample space for both dining and relaxed seating around the wood-burning stove. Beyond the kitchen lies a separate utility/laundry room and a boot room with external access to the driveway and garage.

On the first floor, there are five bedrooms arranged around a central landing. The principal bedroom is of an excellent size, with a vaulted ceiling, fitted bedstead and magnificent views over the land and countryside beyond. It is served by a modern en suite bathroom with both bath and separate shower. There are three further generous double bedrooms and a fifth single bedroom or study, which share a well-appointed family bathroom, also with separate walk-in shower and bath.

Outside
The house is set back from the no-through lane and approached via a generous gravelled driveway offering parking for a number of vehicles. A detached double-length garage provides storage for vehicles and equipment and there is a large garden/tractor shed offering additional garden storage; the garage benefits from planning permission for a replacement two-bay timber-framed garage with adjoining log store.

The house is surrounded by mature and private gardens. A raised decked terrace adjoining the rear of the house offers an ideal vantage point to take in the panoramic views across the land to Ashdown Forest; the gardens lawns surrounding the house are terraced with sandstone retaining walls to create areas of level lawn. Beyond the formal garden open grassland dotted with young trees slopes gently down away from the house, to a band of mature woodland with established deciduous trees, and a fenced footpath providing direct access towards the village and local countryside.

In all, about 5.4 acres.