Nice work in the West

With hybrid working now a fact of life, four special houses in Devon and Cornwall are well equipped to more than pay their way

- 

FLORENCE BISS of Knight Frank's Exeter office (01392 423111) quotes a guide price of $1.9 million for idyllic Eastacott Barton near Umberleigh, north Devon, six miles west of South Molton and 10 miles south of the ancient town of Barnstaple on the River Taw. A former 16th-century farmhouse on the surrounding Clinton estate, Eastacott Barton was substantially enlarged in the 19th century, when its two stone barns were added. Located at the head of its own private valley, the imposing main house, its Victorian barns and outbuildings are now the focal point of a thriving, 27-acre, small country estate set within gardens, meadows, woodland and lakes running down to the Taw, halfway between Exmoor and Dartmoor and within a short drive of the rugged north Devon coast.

The main house, built partly of the local stone and partly of cob under a slate roof, has been significantly upgraded by its current owners, who acquired the property in 2019 and worked from home throughout the pandemic, thanks to excellent connectivity provided by super-fast broadband and a good mobile-phone signal. 'We use fast broadband from Airband that has 25Mb minimum download; it works well for working from home alongside television streaming and kids gaming,' the vendor reveals.

Eastacott Barton offers more than 4,600sq ft of stylish, well-organised accommodation on two floors, including four reception rooms, four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a large kitchen/breakfast room; both the sitting room and garden room look south over the terrace and garden. The light and airy kitchen, with southerly views across the valley, has been completely re-fitted within the past 12 months.

Upstairs, all four bedrooms are south-facing with bathrooms en suite and lovely views over the surrounding countryside. Additional guest accommodation is provided in an adjoining one-bedroom annexe.