A SUBSTANTIAL grade II listed country home set within the heart of Exmoor National Park is on the market for £1.85-million.

Highercombe House is a property offers exceptional versatility with five buildings on site offering either long-term rentals, multigenerational accommodation or holiday cottages.

Having once been a farm, it is believed to date back to the 15th century. It would then go on to become a hunting lodge acquired and extensively extended in the 18th century by Sir Thomas Dyke Acland.

It seamlessly combines historical charm with modern comforts. Altogether, Highercombe House offers a substantial main house, three smartly presented holiday cottages, and an annexe at the east wing of the main residence.

The property also has landscaped gardens and paddocks extends to approximately eight acres. The grounds also include a menage, stables and a coach house, meaning it provides excellent facilities for equestrian enthusiasts or those seeking a versatile country estate capable of generating a substantive income if sought.

Located just two miles from Dulverton, the property benefits from both tranquillity and convenience, with easy access to local amenities.

The renowned Tarr Steps is just two miles away and that surrounding area offers some stunning walking routes and picnic spots.

The property itself is approached via a sweeping driveway flanked by mature trees and gardens culminating in a central courtyard that provides ample parking for the main house. for this property

The ground floor of Highercombe House combines period elegance with fully functional family living. Entering through the formal front door, the games room features a log burner within a large open fireplace sets a welcoming tone.

To the left, the drawing room exudes timeless charm as it features tall windows, original shutters, and a central open fireplace with French windows opening into the garden.

The adjoining dining room is even more impressive, featuring wood flooring and a cosy reading alcove, as well as coming with the original front door to the garden that continues the classic aesthetic and flow of the rooms.

The family room offers a cosy and relaxed atmosphere, with a focal wood burner, whilst the kitchen stands as a striking blend of old and new, featuring a grand fireplace with another wood burner, two bread ovens, and underfloor heating beneath engineered oak wood flooring.

Towards the rear, the study provides a secluded workspace, and the utility/boiler room offers ample storage and practicality. Each room flows seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive layout that balances character and comfort.

For everyday living, the back doors enable practical entrances into the kitchen and hallway with downstairs WC, while an additional mid-stair bathroom services the first floor.

A cellar lies beneath most of the footprint of the house and is split into six large rooms with a connecting corridor, currently used for storage but which previously accommodated the 18th kitchen and servants' quarters. The back up oil fired condensing boiler is housed here.

The first floor offers a versatile layout combining spacious family living with adaptable accommodation options.

The principal bedroom enjoys expansive views over the front lawn and surrounding countryside with a comfortable en-suite bathroom. bedrooms two and three both feature en-suite shower facilities with bedroom four a useful addition.

The garden flat, which is accessible internally and through a separate external entrance, includes a spacious kitchen and lounge area, a separate shower room and a bedroom.

This self-contained space is ideal for independent living, multi-generational use, or as a rental unit, maintaining privacy while still being part of the main house.

This flat can be seamlessly incorporated into the main house or positioned with private access to the second floor if preferred. The top floor of the house consists of three bedrooms, one spacious bedroom at the front and two smaller bedrooms at the rear.

The gardens at Highercombe House provide a picturesque and versatile setting, combining formal lawns with beautiful natural landscaping.

The front lawn is framed by mature trees and hedging, creating a sense of privacy and grandeur with a discretely sunken hot Tub, Summer House and brick BBQ to one side of a walled rose garden.

To the side and rear the grounds open to informal gardens with perennial beds, established shrubs and expansive lawns; ideal for entertaining or quiet relaxation. A paved terrace offers a sunny spot for alfresco dining, with direct access heading through to the ground floor drawing room.

Beyond the main gardens lie approximately four acres of paddocks, perfect for equestrian use, complemented by a menage. A range of outbuildings, including stables, a tack room, and a workshop further enhance the versatility of the grounds.

The 19th century stables are a beautifully converted stone-built, link-attached building that is centred around a sheltered courtyard with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the courtyard.

Inside the stables is a spacious kitchen with exposed beams and flagstone floors which flow into a bright sitting room with vaulted ceilings and a wood burner. The Stables includes three bedrooms, with one of these benefiting from an en-suite shower room, while a family bathroom serving the remaining bedrooms.

The coach house is a stone-built one bedroom property the other side of the courtyard to the stables. It features an open-plan kitchen and sitting room, a bedroom with a shower room, next to an attached double garage.

The cottage is an attached, self-contained country property originally built around 1905 as a farm worker’s cottage.

The ground floor includes a kitchen and a sitting room/potential third bedroom, with a separate shower room and utility spaces. Upstairs, there are two bedrooms both with ensuite bathrooms alongside a generously sized lounge with further wood burner.

Those interested in booking a viewing of this home should contact Stags estate agents’ Dulverton office via email at [email protected] or by calling 01398 323174.

People can also visit Stags’ website here www.stags.co.uk, or view more images and information about the property on Rightmove via www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163007030#/?channel=RES_BUY.