For sale: Country cottage near Bedale

s an estate agent, Sarah Jessop sees many properties for sale, so it took something special to make her fall in love. Mulberry Cottage stole her heart and ticked the most important box of all: location.

Her country home is in a pretty courtyard close to Hornby Castle. It has 800 sq ft of space and forms part of the prestigious Hornby Park development that has seen the farm buildings built to serve the castle converted into an exclusive hamlet.

Sarah says: “I bought it as my first home in 2006 after moving back to Bedale to join the family business. Robin Jessop Ltd sold the developed barns for Randall Orchard builders, a first class developer that has done many barn conversions. My house was part of the old stable block and it still had the hay racks in when I first went to view it. I picked my kitchen, bathroom and the decor and the builders did it all.”

She adds: “I am getting married in August and moving to York hence the sale, though I love it and would dearly like to keep it. It would be a fabulous holiday cottage or a bolt hole as it is very low maintenance.”

The property comes with oil fired central heating, an alarm system and includes characterful features, such as beamed ceilings, oak batten doors and oak window sills.

It has an entrance hall with flagstone floor and stairs to the first floor. On the ground floor, there is a living room with a feature fireplace with electric wood-burning-style stove. The kitchen has a bespoke Milton Ivory PWS kitchen with Belfast sink unit, integral fridge, freezer, dishwasher and microwave. There is also a Rangemaster Range Oven set into an old fireplace.

On the first floor, there is a double bedroom with en-suite shower room, a second double bedroom and a house bathroom. Outside, the property has a pleasant graveled area, along with a single garage and a car parking space in the courtyard.

Mulberry Cottage is situated on the outskirts of Hornby village and is close to market towns of Bedale, Leyburn and Richmond and within commuting distance of Darlington and Teesside, York and Leeds.

The A1 at Catterick is three miles away and there is a railway station at Northallerton. The area is well served by good state and independent schools.

*For more details on Mulberry Cottage, contact Robin Jessop, tel: 01677 425950, www.robinjessop.co.uk