Folke, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9

Folke Manor Farm has a beautiful, south facing setting in grounds of about 35 acres with lovely views across its two large ponds towards the pretty parish church and the unspoilt countryside beyond. The house was built in 1988 and then extended in 2002 and has been the much-loved home of only one family over that period. It has a lovely welcoming feel to it and has clearly been well maintained over the years and is very well presented. The house has two storeys and is built of composite stone under a concrete tile roof with double glazed, stone mullion windows. Its position and design mean that the interior is filled with natural light flowing in to well laid out and generously sized accommodation. The ground floor is focussed around a wonderfully light, centrally positioned reception hall, which has a parquet floor and an impressive oak staircase rising to the part-galleried landing. Off it are the drawing and dining rooms and a good-sized kitchen that opens into the adjacent breakfast/garden room that has French windows top a sheltered terrace. The kitchen is fully fitted with units including a central island, a mix of timber and marble work surfaces, Belfast sink, two-oven AGA and a gas hob. Off the kitchen are the boot room and a sitting room fitted with a wood-burning stove. On the first floor off the well-lit, part-galleried landing are five bedrooms, all with fantastic, far-reaching views out over the surrounding countryside and either an ensuite bath or shower room.

To one side of the house, about thirty yards away and tucked away behind a range of outbuildings is a holiday cottage complex arranged around a gravelled courtyard. The complex encompasses four self-contained cottages, guest garaging for up to seven cars and a contemporary agricultural building containing an indoor heated swimming pool, changing room with showers and separate WC on the ground floor and a games room within the roof space. The complex produces a reliable, steady rental stream throughout much of the year plus an additional income stream for swimming training. In addition, the cottages have use of a communal, grassed play area and each cottage has its own outside dining and barbeque area.

Between the main house and the holiday cottage complex is a line of outbuildings that provide an excellent degree of mutual privacy between the two. The outbuildings comprise a store room, bin store and workshop together with a double garage first floor storage above, a garden store and a greenhouse.

The house, holiday cottage complex and outbuildings are approached off a quiet country lane leading into the village via a 100-yard long, tree-lined drive that opens out into an extensive tarmac/concrete area for parking. The garden and grounds surround the house, extending mainly to the south, east and west. The garden amounts to about two acres consisting of extensive areas of lawn studded with a variety of mature trees and two large ponds fringed by graceful weeping willows. One pond has a duck house and an island at its centre accessed via a causeway. Beyond the ponds is a small paddock and the backdrop of the parish church and surrounding countryside. Immediately adjacent to the house are two paved terraces, one accessible from the drawing room and the other from the breakfast/garden room. Extending out to the east is an area of permanent pasture split into 2 enclosures bound with stock-proof fencing.

The property is situated on the eastern edge of the tiny village of Folke, which is centred around its manor house and parish church and is surrounded by beautiful, unspoilt countryside. The neighbouring village of North Wootton has the popular Elms Farmhouse Kitchen & Restaurant, whilst most day to day needs can be met in the nearby town of Sherborne, which has a wide choice of shops and local businesses including GP, dental and veterinary surgeries, a large Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. It also has a railway station on the West of England Main Line running between Waterloo and Exeter St. David’s, providing regular, fast services to both. The property is also well placed for swift access to the main arterial roads across the region including the A352, A30 and A303. Bournemouth Airport is also only just over an hour away by car. The local area also offers a wide choice of schools catering to children of all ages. This includes a CofE primary school and the well-regarded Gryphon School for