Elm Grove Barns, Enstone Road, Westcote Barton, OX7

A substantial stone Barn Conversion set in a very private courtyard, with approaching 1/3 acre of the most delightfully peaceful gardens overlooking paddocks and the valley beyond.

Westcote Barton is one of three Barton villages approximately 7 miles from Woodstock, dating back to pre-Norman times. Middle Barton offers a range of facilities including pubs, a mini-market and cafe, a garage and a post office. The village has extensive sporting facilities and a recently-completed childrens playground. The primary school is within easy walking distance, and it is exceptionally well regarded. While rural and very much tucked away the village is well placed amongst other charming North Oxfordshire Cotswold locations such as Great Tew and Duns Tew. Commutability is easy. Lower Heyford station is a short distance away with connections to Oxford, London (Paddington), Banbury and Birmingham (New Street). Oxford Parkway Station, in nearby Kidlington, has direct connections to London (Marylebone) via Bicester. A local bus service circulates around the nearby villages.

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Elm Grove Barns is so tucked away, the first time we visited we missed the entrance! Originally part of the farm, the four barns were converted into houses in 1997. We can see why our clients bought it. The drive into the wide courtyard with its green in the centre and these lovely stone barns arranged around sets the scene, so peaceful and really very inviting. There is a whole heap of lovely character from the slit windows to the timbers to the stonework, the stone floors, the glazed barn frontage and then there's a lovely view over the garden, paddock behind and valley beyond. Often, barns offer charm but little practicality. Not so here. This one will cosset and care for you!

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The main door opens into a hallway that immediately seduces the eyes. Looking in either direction the corridor leads to visual treats. The flow is wonderful. Follow the stone floor to the right and you quickly enter a large living room lit beautifully by the full height glazing to the right which looks out across the front garden, and in front of which the stairs rise elegantly. Pan the room and ahead a lovely stone fireplace features a wood burner. Keep panning left and the glazed doors look out across the wide expanse of garden. It's a delightful space, both stylish and relaxing in equal measure. Just behind, under the stairs, there is also a cloak room.Head back down the corridor and the first room to greet you is bedroom four, a very spacious double room that has served admirably as a bedroom but could just as easily provide a study room. Beyond, the dining room opens up with a further terrace door to the rear, and an interesting feature is the set of old barn windows peeping out to the garden. Past the large cupboard and down a couple of steps is the kitchen. A timeless classic, the suite of cupboards is softly painted, with contrasting wooden work surfaces. Yet again, windows to both sides make for wonderful natural light, and the proportions are such that a breakfast table fits perfectly in the centre. As if the storage provided wasn't enough, to the side the utility room provides yet more cupboards, and there is also a sink. Being located at the end of the house, with doors to both the front and the garden, this is an ideal dog/ boot room, especially on muddy days!

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Upstairs, the space is surprising. A galleried landing runs across the glazed frontage. To one end, the master suite provides a space the envy of most, with ample room for a double bed placed perfectly to look down the garden. The space is such that a range of wardrobes have been fitted to the end wall, but there is still ample room for a dressing table, easy chair or a chest if desired. Adjacent, the en-suite is elegant and subtle, immaculately presented and, unusually for en-suites, equipped with a bath. NB If desired we suspect the room could be split into two. Along the landing, two further bedrooms both provide generous double space, and both feature the charm of timber purlins exposed in the ceilings. Serving all, the bathroom at the end is pleasingly fitted with panelling to the lower walls, a lovely feature, and the white suite includes a thermostatic shower above the bath.

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Outside, the peace and space are wonderful. The entrance to the yard is wide with a gravel turning area around a large circular lawn with trees and shrubs, flanked by curved stone edging. The dwellings are all set well back from the centre, hence each house has excellent parking - in addition to the garage. To the left of the house, behind the parking, is a gate through to the garden. Your first view is across a terrace and planter beds past a pretty topiaried hedge and towards the generous lawn, which is framed by post and rail fencing separating the garden from the paddock behind. Turning to the right, the lawn continues down to a corner past a pond, then flanked on the right by hedging which runs a good length up to a further lawn and terrace at the back of the house. The landscaping is sensitive, softly arranged to provide obvious areas for relaxing. The whole faces South and West hence the garden is bathed in light for much of the day. It is an incredibly relaxing, calm and attractive space that is rare to find.