When temperatures are hovering around zero, there’s nowhere more inviting to shelter from the worst of the weather than in a classic period cottage. Offering character, charm and warmth, they’re perfect for cocooning ourselves in winter and delightful during the summer months. Whether you’d prefer a bijou bolthole or a larger family home, why not snap up one of these gorgeous cottages?
1. Gorebridge, Midlothian, £345,000
A traditional stone-built cottage on a quiet street in walking distance of the town centre, and a half an hour’s commute from Edinburgh. In turnkey condition, it has a spacious a kitchen/diner, a real coal fire in the living room, a study and three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms and the bathroom are on the ground floor, and there’s a lovely landscaped garden. From McDougall McQueen via ESPC.
2. Harberton, Totnes, Devon, £375,000
You wouldn’t know it from the external appearance, but this end of terrace early Edwardian cottage requires modernisation. Accommodation is well-proportioned, comprising two reception rooms with fireplaces, a kitchen at the back plus two double bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor. Totnes, an arty market town full of independent shops and eateries, is three miles away. Contact Marchand Petit.
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3. Aldbury, Tring, Hertfordshire, £400,000
Dating from the 1500s, three-bedroom Cobwebbs Cottage is in the heart of a historic Chilterns village that’s hardly changed in centuries. The Grade II-listed property was originally part of a medieval open hall house and boasts features such as exposed timber beams, wooden floors and an open fireplace in the living room. The kitchen’s fitted with oak units and the third bedroom, accessed from the main, could be used as a dressing room, nursery or study. Via Brown & Merry.
4. Leverton, Hungerford, Berkshire, £450,000
Due to its unusual shape, this Grade II-listed home is known as a pepper pot cottage. It sits within a row of similar, thatched cottages and has been upgraded and well maintained by the current owner. On the ground floor you’ll find a sitting room with an open fire and exposed ceiling beams, a kitchen that was redesigned to make room for a table, a study/third bedroom and an adjoining shower room. Two double bedrooms and a bathroom are upstairs, and the big, well-stocked garden’s a joy. From Carter Jonas.
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5. Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire, offers over £500,000
Timber framed, Grade II-listed Broadleigh Cottage lies in a rural village with direct trains to London and Birmingham. At over 1,700 square feet it’s a decent size, consisting of four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two reception rooms, a kitchen, a utility and boot room and exposed beams throughout. Some remedial work is required – this is reflected in the price. Find out more from Grant & Co
6. Nonington, Canterbury, Kent, £700,000
Despite 13th-century roots and some 17th-century brickwork, Old Cookys Farmhouse isn’t listed. This means that the existing owners were able to upgrade it without the restrictions a listing imposes. Their improvements included adding a new kitchen, bathroom, cloakroom and double-glazed windows, rewiring, re-plumbing and repairing and replacing the lead roof. It’s now a stylish, light-filled home with many period features and an idyllic cottage garden. On the market via Fine & Country.
7. Rhydwyn, Holyhead, Anglesey, £725,000
Currently run as a holiday let, this detached three-bedroom cottage is in a scenic coastal position, overlooking Church Bay and the surrounding countryside. However it won’t appeal to everyone as it comes with a renovation project – a derelict 19th-century windmill and granary. Planning permission’s been granted to convert both to residential use, and it’s worth looking into the viability of renting them out to holidaymakers once work’s complete. Via Purplebricks.
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8. Boxford, Suffolk, £795,000
This detached, Grade II listed four-bedroom house was previously three separate 16th/17th-century cottages. In recent years it’s been tastefully refurbished and features an open plan kitchen/dining room at one end, a sitting room with a log burner and a study at the other, and a snug and further sitting room in between. The main bedroom, together with a dressing room and bathroom fitted with cast iron roll top tub and walk in shower, occupies nearly half the first floor. From Strutt & Parker.
9. St Hilary, Cowbridge, Vale Of Glamorgan, £799,950
Late 17th-century Little Hall Cottage is freshly modernised so ideal for a busy family or a buyer who isn’t keen on DIY. As well as three bedrooms, it incorporates two good-sized reception rooms, a Shaker-style kitchen, utility, garden room and south-facing garden. The village green’s opposite and a popular pub is close by. For sale through Watts & Morgan.
10. Arlington Green, Gloucestershire, £1.1m
Hotfoot it to Jasmine Cottage if you have a penchant for timber beams, as they grace the ceilings of virtually every room. This Grade II listed Cotswold stone house is fronted by a low wall and arranged across three storeys, with five bedrooms spread over the upper two floors. Includes an inglenook fireplace in the living room, a wood burner in the dining room, an Aga in the kitchen and a detached studio at the side. Contact Butler Sherborn.
11. Woodhouse, Loughborough, Leicestershire, £1.425m
With a total floor area of 3,300+ square feet, Grade II-listed Valley Cottage is somewhat more substantial than your average country cottage and considered one of the finest character homes in the Charnwood Forest. Parts date from around 1650, and it has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, four reception rooms, a large mature garden and paddock and fabulous countryside views. Available from Savills.
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