THIS beautiful six bedroom detached period property set in mature garden and grounds of 2.45 acres with swimming pool, games room and gym is on the market for £1.525 million.

Buyers seeking rural properties frequently want more than a house with a garden, no matter how wonderful that garden might be.

As Tom Woods, newly-appointed head of residential sales and lettings at BCM Rural Property Specialists points out, one of the concerns for people buying a house with a decent outlook is that nothing can change what they see when they look out of the window.

But, adds the Winchester-based property expert, who is joint agent with Knight Frank, there can be a solution and this property simply called The Cottage at Church Oakley, close to Basingstoke, points the way.

“The cottage is set beside the lane and held in the embrace of an acre of beautiful gardens to the sides and rear, complete with a pool that offers a good degree of privacy,” explains Tom.

“The property also includes 1.5 acres of field immediately opposite with potential as a great pony paddock or a large vegetable plot that gives generously to the household, perhaps even a combination of the two.

“Most important, though, is that no-one is able to plant a house in it at some time in the future unless the owners of The Cottage want that to happen so the rural outlook onto open land will remain.

The main attraction of course is the house itself and it’s one in which a family can enjoy spreading out. The combined sitting and dining room connects via an arch to an inner hall. A door off to the right gives access to the study where a further door opens to a stunning L-shaped drawing room.

Open plan to the inner hall is the fantastic and more recent addition of a kitchen / breakfast room where the whole family could gather.

Two staircases serve the bedroom accommodation. The first rises to the master suite with a dressing room and magnificent bathroom with bath and drench shower area. Another similarly-equipped bathroom serves the other three double bedrooms on this landing.

The second is adjacent to the utility and huge family / games room and rises to two bedrooms served by a shower room. This area could easily become an annexe.

Basingstoke and Overton mainline stations are close by; it is easy to commute by rail as well as road – the M3 at junction 7 is also easy to access. The area has a fantastic array of schools suiting many educational needs.

For more information, contact Knight Frank Basingstoke or BCM Rural Property Specialists on 01962 763900.