A charming, quite substantial, old stone property is situated in an idyllic, very sheltered, tranquil spot surrounded by farmland offering 6 bedrooms, 3 reception rooms, a good sized garden and superb equestrian facilities with land amounting to around 6 acres.

A five minute drive from the highly popular, well served, pretty, Cliff village of Navenby, it lies 10 miles south of the historic city of Lincoln and 15 miles north-east of Newark where fast, direct trains reach London in about 75 minutes.

“The position has to be the biggest thing I have loved about the house. It is so tranquil, so private, so sheltered by natural trees and hedgerows – even the back fields are protected from any bitter North winds due to the neighbours’ copse - yet we are so close to a trunk road, the A15, and within a few minutes of a lovely, well served village.”

“The property was originally two adjoining farm cottages, so was the neighbours’ house, but now it is just us two. It’s reassuring to have someone next door so you don’t feel isolated and they are really lovely people, always there in an emergency.”

“We’ve lived here for 15 years and loved it. We had four daughters and have bred 5 racehorses, all raised here; it’s ideal land for horses, being up high on stony ground it is well drained and never gets muddy in winter and with the paddocks so sheltered we’ve been able to leave them out all year round.”

“The fenced menage surrounded by trees and bushes at the bottom is especially large and will accommodate a full set of show jumps. It used to be an old quarry and is set down on a lower level so it is also very sheltered. There are lots of hacking opportunities round here with two exits from the property but we have largely exercised in the menage which has an ash surface that is free draining. It’s an excellent area for riding with the Blankney Hunt the thriving local branch of the Pony Club with events very close by, whilst serious competing is at Arena UK at Grantham and there are Horse Trials at, for instance, Belton and Burghley.”

“We have ten stables in all including the large one for foaling. Adjoining that is an open-fronted barn adjacent to a covered area which, combined, has made a great corral in the past by adding some fencing around the front. We have a feed room, a tack room and a rug room in a row, and next to these is a large hay barn with two sets of double doors followed by a big workshop into the corner. There are six paddocks, four at the front and two at the back and an orchard in between. All are properly fenced and water is laid on to two of them.”

“The garden is very natural with lots of trees, shrubs and hedges. It’s green and big which is how we like it and it looks after itself! There are lawns to the south, north and a big one to the west. Although I can’t be doing with growing flowers, I do like to grow fruit and vegetables so we have a greenhouse and a veg plot with gooseberry and blackcurrant bushes and raspberry canes and the orchard contains four plum trees, two good quality eating apples, some medlars, a hazelnut tree and two mulberry bushes.”

“The house is lovely with lots of space and six bedrooms which was perfect when our four daughters lived here but now, they have all left home! A lot of natural light streams into the downstairs, even the north facing dining room thanks to its many windows on three sides. This room was a later addition incorporating the outside exposed stone wall and works well being cool in summer yet cosy in winter with the wood-burner blazing away, especially at Christmas. There are French doors to the garden from this room as well as from the sitting room, which open onto the garden to the south.”

“The pantry is a wonderful asset and the kitchen is nice and spacious with room for a free-standing fridge freezer although we keep ours in the utility. The kitchen sink is set under a window overlooking the garden to the south and a great place to watch the wildlife – there is so much round here – muntjac, hares, badgers and so many birds.”

“The downstairs shower room has a brand new shower just fitted and the bathroom upstairs, although only containing a bath at the moment, there is space and plumbing already in situ if someone wanted to reinstall one.”

“The study would be useful if you needed an office to work from home but I use it mainly for storage. There is actually a lot of storage in the house with several built-in cupboards and wardrobes and there are no less than six loft hatches to various small storage areas!”

Location

1 Hare Park Cottages is one of a pair of houses down a long, gated tarmacked drive off the A15 to the West, which runs alongside the property’s paddocks. The nearest village is attractive Navenby which is only about 5 minutes away lying on the A607 about 10 miles (15 mins) south of Lincoln and is one of the larger ‘cliff’ villages standing on the limestone escarpment that runs north to south in the centre of Lincolnshire. Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire is about 15 miles (20 mins) southwest, and Sleaford about 10 miles (15 mins) southeast. Fast trains from Newark to central London take around 75 minutes making it perfectly feasible for a day trip into the city. Grantham is less than a half hour drive south where there is also a mainline train station, fast trains to Kings Cross taking around an hour.

A few years ago, Navenby was voted one of the top rural locations in Britain in which to live. A charming village with a lovely mix of traditional stone period properties, many listed buildings, it is a thriving community. It has several family-run shops and businesses such as Odling’s Butchers, which was established in 1920, and Welbourne’s Bakery which is one of the longest standing artisanal bakeries in the county. It can also boast two pubs, The Lion & Royal and The King’s Head, as well as the popular Macy’s Brasserie. Navenby straddles the old Roman Road, Ermine Street, as well as the Viking Way providing wonderful country walks, and much local history. Mrs. Smith’s Cottage is a popular museum in the village illustrating a century of rural Lincolnshire life.

Schools

Navenby C of E Primary School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and around a 5-minute drive from the property. There is a wide choice of secondary education in the area with a popular state school, the Sir William Robertson Academy 5 miles (about 10 mins) down the road from Navenby in Welbourn, a co-ed school Ofsted rated Good.

Sleaford, about 10 miles to the southeast, has St. George’s Academy, Carre’s Grammar School, and Kesteven & Sleaford High School (for Girls), all rated Good. Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School and The King’s School (for boys), both rated Outstanding by Ofsted, are about 15 miles south in Grantham. Newark, 15 miles southwest, has Newark Academy and Magnus Academy, both rated Good. In Lincoln, 11 miles north, The Priory Academy, Sir Robert Pattinson Academy and North Kesteven Academy, amongst others, are also all rated Good. In the independent sector, the co-educational Lincoln Minster Schools are extremely well regarded.

Services: Mains electricity and water; oil-fired central heating (brand new tank); private septic tank
Local Authority: North Kesteven District Council
Council Tax Band: C
Epc Rating: E