DESCRIPTION Primrose Cottage
Forge Hill, Joys Green, GL17 9QT

This three-bedroom country cottage is perched on a hillside on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean. The stone-built home boasts panoramic views of the ancient woodland from the sunny slope and is a stone's throw from a myriad of walks through the spellbinding countryside. The property itself has been recently refurbished but still carries a plethora of charming rustic features.

Three bedrooms • Open lounge/dining room • Kitchen/ sunroom • Family bathroom • Cloakroom • Two store rooms •

Location
Forge Hill is situated on the fringes of the village of Lydbrook which offers magnificent views from its high slopes. It lies on the north-west edge of the Royal Forest of Dean - an area which offers 24,000 acres of magnificent countryside. The River Wye is a short stroll -around half a mile away - and a picnic site at Lower Lydbrook gives an opportunity to launch canoes or enjoy scenic riverside walks.
Lydbrook offers a wealth of local amenities including a primary school - rated 'Good' by Ofsted - plus a post office, convenience store, health centre, three reputable pubs, an Indian restaurant and a fish and chip shop. From Primrose Cottage, it is around a five-minute walk through little-known pathways into the village.

The home at a glance
The main entrance to this light-streamed home leads into a sunroom – a triple aspect space which showcases the striking scenery beautifully. This room gives an informal dining area and is open-plan with the newly-fitted kitchen, which was finished in April 2022. This includes a range of modern, integrated appliances such as a fridge, freezer and dishwasher as well as a Neff induction hob, oven and extractor fan. In addition, there is space and plumbing to accommodate a washing machine.
The colour scheme in the kitchen – much like the rest of the home – is light and neutral. Not only does this give a timeless elegance, but it also draws the eye outwards, to accentuate the magnificent views.
The open-plan sitting room/lounge is a delightful area and its centrepiece is an exposed stone wall which houses a wood-burning stove. Plenty of sunlight pours into this room through three large windows and some wooden frames on the opposing wall further heighten the delightful character of the property.
There is also a recently refurbished cloakroom on the ground floor, opposite the staircase which leads to the first floor.
The three double bedrooms are all found on this level of the home, and two of these carry excellent views of the valley. The larger of these two rooms also includes two built-in wardrobes with cottage-style doors, along with a wealth of built-in shelving.
The third bedroom is a beautifully bright and airy dual-aspect room which carries a vaulted ceiling, exposed beams and another built-in storage cupboard. The area presently accommodates a double bed as well as home office; so it would be large enough to be adopted into an artist's studio. A set of sliding doors from here lead out to the landscaped rear garden.
In terms of washing facilities, the recently-refurbished family bathroom features a bath with both a drench shower overhead as well as a handheld shower attachment. There is also a basin, WC and a chrome-heated towel rail.
The outside space
Outside, a set of stone steps lead around the home and up through the sloping garden which is a real sensory joy; colourful, scented flowers bloom in abundance, a variety of lovely birdsong fills the air and a fig tree and plum trees offer delectable treats. Two raised beds made from reclaimed sleepers are set in the centre of the expanse and these give further opportunity to cultivate fresh fruit and veg, or grow even more vibrant plants. At the top of the garden, there are two lovely seating areas which offer a tranquil spot to dine, enjoy a drink, or to simply enjoy the majesty of the surrounding boundless countryside.
At the front of the home, a wisteria grows over an arbour and spills out onto the front wall – in the spring, these fragrant flowers give Primrose Cottage an ethereal beauty. Then, during the autumn, a Virginia Creeper takes centre stage and its leaves turn a vivid shade of red, which exquisitely compliments the kaleidoscope of autumnal colour across the surrounding landscape.
Opposite the property and a short distance down the lane, there is an off-road parking area, as well as an enclosed kitchen garden, which is complete with three more raised beds, a shed to store gardening equipment and fruit cages which presently house rhubarb, raspberries and gooseberries.
Primrose Cottage also has a substantial storage room with external access, and beyond here there is a small courtyard which gives ample room to keep and season firewood. There are also three separate sheds dotted around the garden which provide plenty of space to stash away gardening equipment, tools or machinery.

General
Services
Mains water and electricity. Oil central heating. Septic tank.
Local Authority
Forest of Dean District Council.[use Contact Agent Button]. Council Tax: Band C
Tenure
Freehold

Directions
From Ross-on-Wye, head away from town, along Walford Road and take the B4234 and continue through Walford and Bishopswood before taking the left-hand turning towards Ruardean and Cinderford. Follow this road into Ruardean then take the right-hand turning towards Joys Green, The Pludds and Lydbrook. Stay on this road for just over a mile and turn right into Forge Hill. follow this road a short distance down and, as the lane forks, take the left-hand turning. Continue along the lane following it down the hill where the property will be found on the right hand side.
Ross-on-Wye: 7 miles • Monmouth: 10 miles • Chepstow: 17 miles • Gloucester: 19 miles • Hereford: 20 miles • Cheltenham 25 miles • (All distances are approximate)