VILLAGE LIFE IN RURAL IDYLLS

THE little nooks and crannies of South Devon hide some delightful little hamlets away from the hustle and bustle of city life. And Richard Copus Estates has two delightful properties nestling in quiet villages. Coombe, near Buckfastleigh is one of these. Built over 200 years ago as weavers’ cottages, Runnaford Cottages are located in the little hamlet of Coombe about two miles from Buckfastleigh. Hidden away off the beaten track, Coombe has no through traffic and is a pretty and peaceful backwater. Richard Copus has 3 Runnaford Cottages on the market. Richard, who
lives about a mile and a half away in Holne, knows Coombe well and says it is one of the best kept secrets in the
county.

“The valley of the River Mardle, which is a babbling brook rising only about a mile up on to the moor and joins the River Dart at Buckfastleigh, and Runnaford Cottages benefit from this delightful location,” he says. South facing, this terraced cottage has a very attractive living room downstairs with woodburner in a stone fireplace and small kitchen off. On the first floor are two double bedrooms and a bathroom and wc. Ideal for first-time buyers, or as a
second home, Runnaford is not just a pretty house. A few yards from the front of the house is its attractive garden which is level and laid to lawn and has a lovely little stone patio. Its unusual feature is the granite steps which lead down to the River Mardle. Well below the level of the garden, these steps used to be used to do the washing and is ideal for a paddle these days. Right next to the garden, within the stone walled area, is a parking space for one car. Richard adds: “The great thing about the hamlet of Coombe is that you can live in an idyllic rural setting, yet be close to facilities.

Scoriton, with its Methodist chapel and public house (temporarily closed) is not much more than five minutes walk way. The village of Holne, with its parish church, medieval public house/restaurant and shop and tearooms, is only about a mile away. Within seven minutes you are in the small town of Buckfastleigh and on the A38 dual carriageway which will wizz you to Plymouth or Exeter in just over half an hour. “The little bit extra with 3 Runnaford Cottages is the old village pump. Together with its granite trough, this is located in a stone niche outside of the front of the property and is a delightful, little feature.” The second rural property is the delightfully-named Sweet Coppin
Cottage in Bickington.

Located in quiet Lemonford Lane in Bickington village, this semi-detached cottage is, in fact, a barn conversion. Full of character, it has an abundance of timbers and exposed beams and is well laid out to provide comfortable living accommodation. One of the features of Sweet Coppin, according to Richard, is its lack of Velux windows. All the rooms have wood, casement windows and the internal doors are traditional, stained ledge and brace, with heating and cooking through propane gas. Sweet Coppin Cottage has a large garden for its size which is also level and
mainly laid to lawn for easy maintenance. On one side is a high stone wall and lots of colourful flowers and shrubs surround the boundaries. South facing, the main rooms in the house and the garden receive the full benefit of the sun. The accommodation features a comfortable sitting room with beamed ceiling and other exposed beams. There is also a cloak/shower room downstairs and a wellproportioned kitchen with separate breakfast room off. On the first floor are two large double bedrooms, both over 16ft long, and a bathroom and WC.

Richard Copus Estates
(01626 335344) are asking
£199,950 for 3 Runnaford
Cottages and £237,500 for
Sweet Coppin Cottage.