Location

Racedown Cottage is situated in Ashmore, reputedly Dorset’s highest village, set within the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village benefits from a church, a village hall, and a cricket field, offering a strong sense of community. Day-to-day amenities, including shops and post offices, can be found in the nearby villages of Fontmell Magna, Iwerne Minster, and Ludwell. The historic market town of Shaftesbury, approximately six miles to the northwest, offers a wide selection of artisan shops, cafés, gastro pubs, as well as two large supermarkets, a doctor’s surgery, and a small hospital.

To the north, the ever-popular town of Tisbury, around nine miles away, boasts a vibrant high street with independent shops, cafés, a convenience store, a doctor’s surgery, a primary school, and a leisure centre with a swimming pool. It is also home to the acclaimed Messums art gallery and benefits from a direct rail service to London Waterloo, with a journey time of approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes. The area is well served by a number of excellent local pubs and
eateries, including The Museum Inn in Farnham, The King John Inn at Tollard Royal, Pythouse Walled Garden Café, and The Beckford Arms near Tisbury.

For more extensive shopping, dining, and cultural experiences, the cathedral city of Salisbury is around 18 miles east, offering direct rail links to London Waterloo in approximately 90 minutes. The Roman city of Bath is also within easy reach, just a 45-minute drive away.

The surrounding countryside is ideal for a variety of rural pursuits, such as walking, cycling and fishing. Racing is at W incanton, Bath and Salisbury, whilst golf can be enjoyed at Rushmore Park. Poole, Weymouth and the Dorset coast are all within easy reach.

There is an excellent selection of both state and independent schools nearby, including Port Regis, Sandroyd, Clayesmore, Bryanston, Salisbury Cathedral School, Chafyn Grove, and Godolphin. Highly regarded state education is available at Bishop Wordsworth’s and South Wilts Grammar Schools.

Communications in the area are excellent. The A303 lies to the north, providing convenient access to the South West and London via the M3, while the A350 offers a direct route to the South Coast.

All distances and travel times are approximate.

Description

Racedown Cottage, formerly a stable building is grade II listed, was converted into residential accommodation in the 1990s and has been owned by the current occupants for the past 25 years. The property has since undergone extensive refurbishment, showcasing a standard of interior design and finish rarely seen in a home of this size.

The entrance hall provides access to both the kitchen and the sitting room, and also includes a door to the guest WC. The generous kitchen, complete with underfloor heating, comfortably accommodates a large dining table. It features a limestone tiled floor and enjoys lovely views over the pond, for which the village is best known. On the opposite side, French doors onto the terrace, creating a seamless connection between the interior and gar den. The kitchen is fitted with cabinetry by the world-renowned German designers, Bulthaup. A large central island offers ample storage on both sides and incorporates a dual sink. Additional work surfaces with drawers below sit either side of the AGA, with a honeycomb-tiled splash back. Flanking the American-style fridge freezer are full-height sliding pantry cupboards, while a substantial built-in cupboard on the other side of the room provides excellent general storage.

The sitting room is beautifully presented, featuring oak flooring and two French doors that open onto the terrace and the garden beyond. A Bath Stone mantelpiece with a working fireplace forms the focal point of the room. To one side, a door leads to the study, while the opposite alcove houses a cupboard with shelving above. The staircase leads to the first floor.

Upstairs, the landing corridor forms the backbone of the house, offering a series of built-in cupboards providing ample storage and giving access to all bedrooms and the family bathroom. Each bedroom has a dormer window with views over the garden and is carpeted in a herringbone weave supplied by the Unatural Flooring Company. The principal bedroom features a built-in wardrobe and an en suite bathroom with underfloor heating, a twin sink vanity unit, WC, and a bath with an overhead shower. There are two further bedrooms, one of which includes a built-in wardrobe. The family bathroom is well-appointed with a WC, sink, and bath, and enjoys lovely views over the garden.

OUTSIDE
The house is approached via a shared, gated gravel driveway. The former garage has been thoughtfully converted to provide a garden tool store at one end and a gym at the other, equipped with electricity and heating. The garden path is subtly lit with sensor lights.

The sheltered garden faces South West and enjoys sun across the lawn and into the house from mid-morning till sunset. The beautifully maintained lawned garden is separated from the house by a terrace and a gravel path, with a well-established wisteria climbing the front
elevation. The garden features several well-stocked borders and raised beds, and is enclosed by a mature hedge and a traditional knapped flint wall with pleached Hornbeams on the adjacent side.

A variety of trees are dotted throughout the garden, including crab apple, apple, and pear trees, along with several delightful Amelanchier trees.

Directions

SP5 5AE

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