Converted village properties with charm, character and individuality

They are both worthy of a place on the front page, two wonderful homes, handsome to look at from the outside and beautifully presented internally.

And they are both situated in popular, well-served villages with their own community atmospheres yet handy for commuting routes and within striking distance of York.

The first of this pretty pair is Hayloft Cottage, a stone-built barn conversion in Northcarr, a small and select courtyard development in the centre of Terrington... “enjoying a picturesque village location in an area of outstanding beauty” as marketing agents R M English tell us.

Certainly there are fine rural views across open countryside – and this is a house that has super gardens from which to enjoy those views.

But let us come to the gardens later. We will first begin with a tour of the house.

There is a lot to admire here, beginning with an entrance hallway (with cloakroom off) which leads to a superb living room providing a fine example of how to blend space with comfort and character.

It is a large area, running to more than 22ft in length, yet manages to present a cosy feel, not least because of the warming cast iron stove which sits on a raised hearth. There are exposed beams overhead and solid wood flooring underfoot – all lit up by windows to two sides and patio doors opening onto a courtyard seating area.

Retracing our steps we come to a smartly laid out and well-equipped kitchen with high gloss wall and base units, including an integrated oven and separate electric hob, with contrasting wood work surfaces.

From the kitchen you step down into a garden room, with exposed beam and truss ceiling and with French doors opening onto another seating area – the sort of spot that makes you long for Spring and sunshine to arrive so you can enjoy it to the full.

That, however, is not quite all for the ground floor as there is also a spacious dining conservatory, a brilliantly light and bright area patiently waiting for the weather to change (although, in this instance, it also appears a cheerful spot from which to shelter from the winter blues).

Contemporary comforts mix with traditional touches on the first floor, too, where you will find a master bedroom with en-suite, two single bedrooms and a house bathroom.

And now, shuck off your slippers and step into some shoes and we will venture outside… The gardens are a particularly attractive feature of Hayloft Cottage with a front courtyard garden which boasts a spread of established small trees and shrubs and with the front of the house woven with trained clematis.

The rear garden is a treat, with a flagged terrace running along the back of the house and looking down to lawns and flower borders and bounded by hawthorn hedging – and with those country views to admire.

A super home, completed by a garage and plenty of parking space for visitors, it is offered by R M English and could be yours if you offer in excess of £299,950.

Terrington is situated 15 miles north east of York, ten miles each from Easingwold and Malton, four miles from Sheriff Hutton - and has a good range of local amenities of its own including a primary school, prep school, village shop and a soon-to-be-reopened village pub.

Leaving Terrington we next motor out to the other side of York and to Wheldrake, another sought after spot with very much its own village identity yet a short skip from the A64 and York city centre.

Here, in Main Street, we find the delightfully-named The Farthings, another home bursting with character and charm.

This is also a converted property, a former chapel dating back to the mid-1800s which has been considerably extended and improved over the years since it said goodbye to its last congregation.

One glance at the imposing double-fronted façade, sitting behind wrought iron gates and a herring bone brick driveway, lets you know that this is an impressive home.

In fact it has an extremely attractive frontage with not just the driveway but a walled, flagged area to one side with raised flower beds, shrubbery and garden features.

Once through the front door you step into a hallway with good-sized rooms to left and right. The first of these is a sprawling, spacious lounge (more than 26ft in length) and a feature period-style fireplace at its heart and with window to the front.

On the other side is a smart dining room, again with a feature fireplace and window to the front.

You then find a warm and welcoming breakfast kitchen with wood panelling and tiled floor and a well fitted range of units.

From the kitchen you can walk through to a utility room and then to a large storage area (just waiting to be converted into a pantry, in our view).

Now, up to the first floor where you’ll find a master bedroom with an excellent range of built-in furniture including wardrobes and drawers and running into an en-suite bathroom.

There are three further good-sized bedrooms to this floor, along with a house bathroom.

And next comes a real highlight… up on the second floor there is a fantastic fourth bedroom which has been skilfully laid out to provide a home office/ entertainment room.

We loved it here – it’s a room of real charm with exposed beams and trusses and supports and with solid wood flooring, lit by a window to the rear and a Velux above. Home office, snug, den, whatever you want to call it, this is a great get away from it all spot.

It is, perhaps, indicative of the house as a whole, an interesting, different and individual home with lots of fascinating features.

“It really is a home to be lived in,” says the agents R M English.

“The quirkiness has its own special appeal and there are lots of nooks and crannies throughout.”

That interest continues into the final area to be explored – an appealing side courtyard garden with flagged seating area and raised rockery and a south-facing aspect.

Definitely one for those in search of something with its own kind of character, The Farthings is offered at a guide price of £399,500.

At a glance...

Hayloft Cottage, Terrington, a barn conversion, has two reception rooms and a dining conservatory, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Gardens to front and rear and with countryside views. Price, offers over £299,950.

The Farthings, Wheldrake, a converted chapel, has two reception rooms, five bedrooms (one equipped as a home office/den) and two bathrooms. Gardens to front and side. Price £399,500.

In both instances contact R M English. Tel: 01904 697900.