Say hello to the new Cotswolds
THE Cotswolds are lovely, but the problem with them is that everybody knows it. Prices are high – whether you’re buying dinner or a house. If it’s the latter, entering the market can be a struggle as demand far exceeds supply, and when you do land your dream cottage, you’ll be paying over the odds for it.
So, if you want a country bolthole with plenty of land and charm, Herefordshire is a clever alternative. It won’t work for daily commuting, being about three hours from London whether you take the train or drive, but for a weekend retreat, it offers all the Cotswolds do and more.
“I always say Herefordshire is the nearest bit of real countryside to London,” says Tim Jessop, of Knight Frank’s office there. “Yes, it’s another hour or so on the journey to London compared to the Cotswolds, but it’s rural and unspoilt – the Black Mountains are also a big draw. I’d say you definitely get a lot more for your buck here. You can buy something pretty special for £1m that would cost £2-£2.5m in the Cotswolds.”
Hurry though, as Jessop says Londoners are starting to pick up on the delights of the area: “Quite a lot of people are buying their main house in Herefordshire while keeping a pad in London. Or people still working in town might use this as their weekend house.
“There’s lots that appeals to the hunting/shooting/fishing brigade,” he adds. As for other forms of entertainment, Titley has got Britain’s first ever Michelin-starred pub, The Stagg Inn, and there’s lots of gastrofare about, along with a good theatre in Malvern. What’s not to love?
OLDFIELD FARM, LUDLOW
Price: £900,000
A five-bedroom, 16th century Grade II-listed farmhouse set within 2.5 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens
Contact: Strutt & Parker, 01584 873711
LUGWARDINE HOUSE, HEREFORD
Price: £1,675,000
Set in its own parland, this five-bedroom house has views of Lugg Valley and the Black Mountains.
Contact: Knight Frank, 01432 273087
BROOMFIELD, HAY-ON-WYE
Price: £900,000
Brilliant value Italianate Regency mansion, this five-bedroom pile near the Welsh border comes with nearly five acres of land.
Contact: Savills, 01952 239500