Castle Road, Wootton, OX20

A gorgeous detached stone cottage hidden away behind its own pretty garden. Two vaulted double bedrooms, large living room with bay window and fireplace, kitchen plus small utility, summer house with power, and driveway parking. NO CHAIN.

Historically Wootton was the main settlement between two small rivers, the Glyme and the Dorn, which flow into the lake in Blenheim Park. Over time it became a village and parish including what is now part of Woodstock, known as Old Woodstock, in the south. The village has a primary school feeding to the well-regarded Marlborough School in Woodstock for secondary education; there is a village shop, a public house and a delightful church. Wootton is a thriving and popular village, a measure of which is that few properties here come up for sale. Branchflowers has easy and immediate access to open country: a footpath behind the house leads to a local nature reserve owned and maintained by the village.

Driving up past the lovely church, as the road curves right there's a gap between the houses and a parking space. That is the only indication that there might be a house behind. But once through the gate, the prettiest of detached cottages greets you. Janie's Cottage (we are still trying to discover the origin of the name) is an exceptionally cute house overlooking its own pretty garden, with a summer house at the end of the garden. For a fairly compact cottage, the proportions are perfect with two double bedrooms plus a really great sitting room with a fireplace. With large windows it's much lighter inside than most cottages, which helps to maximise the feeling of space. There is some updating to be done for modern tastes but the reward will be an incredibly secluded and peaceful house in an idyllic setting.

The stepping stone path brings you to a front door under a sheltered open porch. Once inside, the hall leads off to three rooms. On the right, the kitchen is well equipped with a range of timber-fronted units that stretch round three sides, topped off with a long run of work surfaces. The wide front window brings in masses of natural light as well as the pretty view across the garden. A modern double oven and hob are fitted, alongside a slimline dishwasher, and next door a walk-in pantry/utility is plumbed for a washing machine and dryer. Keep left and you reach the living room. It's a lovely, bright space with roof timbers overhead giving it good character. The Inglenook fireplace at the end of the room is also equipped with a modern wood burner, a cozy feature for winter. On the left the bay window floods the room with light as well as providing a delightful view over the garden. At present, the under stairs space is open, but this could be enclosed to offer huge storage if desired.

Head up the stairs and halfway up there's a large double-fronted cupboard overhead, taking advantage of the stairwell height, a clever addition. At the top, the first of two bedrooms is lovely and bright, with a vaulted ceiling. It's a very good size, a generous double with that same pretty view of the garden, and there is a wardrobe fitted. Further down the corridor, another bedroom is squarer and, if anything, even brighter as it adds a roof light to the other window. Bookshelves and a wardrobe are fitted along one wall, and pleasingly the old roof truss timbers are exposed overhead. Serving the pair, the bathroom is neutral with tiling round the bath, which also has a thermostatic shower, and an airing cupboard is also fitted.

Outside, the entrance is past the off road parking, which is gravelled and offers a wide space for one vehicle - note the lane adjacent has no parking restrictions. Behind, the garden is accessed via a gate to the left side. Entering, the scene is idyllic, with stepping stones running across the lawn to a terrace by the house, flanked by very full and varied borders containing all manner of trees, shrubs and flowers ranged round a lawn. The Summer house at the near end is a decent size, and hence could be a very useful home office if needed. It's a delightful and peaceful spot, with lovely light in the afternoons as it is West-facing.

Mains water, electric heating & waterWest Oxfordshire DCCouncil tax band E?2,489-73 p.a. 2022/23Freehold