We also operate in the following areas - click on any area for further details:-

South East of England
Berkshire
Buckinghamshire
East Sussex
Hampshire
Hertfordshire
Kent
Surrey
West Sussex

South West of England
Avon
Cornwall
Devon
Dorset 
Sandbanks
Hampshire
The New Forest
Isle of Wight
Somerset
Wiltshire

Central southern England and the Midlands
Gloucestershire
Herefordshire
Oxfordshire
Warwickshire
Worcestershire

Jersey in the Channel Islands

MAIN STREETS/AREAS IN BRISTOL: Avon Grove
Bristol
Cadbury Camp Lane
Chelvey Batch
Clifton
Clifton Down
Coombe Down
Cornwallis Crescent
Cote House Lane
Harris Lane
Old Sneed Park
Sandy Lane
Sneyd Park
Stoke Bishop
Stoke Park Road
The Ridgeway
Upper Littleton
Westbury-On-Trym

MAIN TOWNS/AREAS IN NORTH SOMERSET:
Axbridge
Axminster
Banwell
Bath
Blackdown Hills
Bridgwater
Butleigh
Castle Cary
Chard
Cheddar
Cheddar Gorge
Chew Valley
Clevedon
Crewkerne
Dulverton
Exmoor
Frome
Glastonbury
Hatch Beauchamp
Hinton St. George
Ilminster
Langport
Mendip Hills
Milbourne Port
Millfield
Quantock Hills
Sedgemoor
Shepton Mallet
Somerton
South Petherton
Taunton
Wedmore
Wells
Weston-Super-Mare
Wincanton
Winscombe
Yeovil

Sands Home Search are property search & relocation agents who specialise in finding and acquiring prime country houses & estates, farm & equestrian property and waterside homes throughout BRISTOL, the UK, London and Cape Town South Africa for retained private & corporate clients.

For further information about our service use the menu at the top of this page.

About the area of Avon, Bristol, Bath & North Somerset

click on relevant link below to view further information on...

Country, Equestrian, Farm & Waterside property for sale in Bristol, Bath & North Somerset

Property prices of prime properties in Bristol, Bath & North Somerset

Private & Public schools in Bristol, Bath & North Somerset

The leading Country, Farm & Equestrian Estate Agents in Bristol, Bath & North Somerset


MAIN STREETS/AREAS IN BRISTOL: Avon Grove, Bristol, Cadbury Camp Lane, Chelvey Batch, Clifton, Clifton Down, Coombe Down, Cornwallis Crescent, Cote House Lane, Harris Lane, Old Sneed Park, Sandy Lane, Sneyd Park, Stoke Bishop, Stoke Park Road, The Ridgeway, Upper Littleton, Westbury-On-Trym

MAIN TOWNS/AREAS IN NORTH SOMERSET: Axbridge, Axminster, Banwell, Bath, Blackdown Hills, Bridgwater, Butleigh, Castle Cary, Chard, Cheddar, Cheddar Gorge, Chew Valley, Clevedon, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Exmoor, Frome, Glastonbury, Hatch Beauchamp, Hinton St. George, Ilminster, Langport, Mendip Hills, Milbourne Port, Millfield, Quantock Hills, Sedgemoor, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, South Petherton, Taunton, Wedmore, Wells, Weston-Super-Mare, Wincanton, Winscombe, Yeovil.

Somerset is one of the largest counties in Southern England and the changes to the scenery can be quite dramatic. In general, the county is one of well-wooded undulating countryside and consists of a flat basin surrounded on three sides by hills and on the fourth side by the Bristol Channel.

To the north-east are the Mendip Hills which are dissected by deep narrow valleys such as Cheddar Gorge which provide dramatic scenery. To the north-west is Exmoor and the Quantock Hills. The Blackdown Hills are to the south and to the east of the basin is the marshy area of Sedgemoor.

The principal rivers in the county are the Exe and the Parrett, the latter flowing through a flat reedy area drained for cultivation and known as the Somerset Levels.

The north of the county includes an area formerly known as Avon but which now has been returned to Bath and North East Somerset.

Transport to the area is reasonable with trains from Taunton to the west of the county taking approximately 100 minutes to Paddington and the fast line from Bath taking only 90 minutes. The journey from Yeovil Junction takes approximately 135 minutes to London Waterloo as it is affected by single track to the west of Salisbury.

The A303 is the main trunk road running through the county and it is mostly dual carriageway. Taunton is about a 3-hour drive to London, while Wincanton to the east is less than 2 1/2 hours. The further north or south from the A303, however, increases travel times due to busy 'A' roads and small lanes.

The M5 services the west of the county linking it to the Midlands and the North, while Bath and North East Somerset are close to the M4.

The more popular areas of the county are centred around the hills. Centres such as Shepton Mallet and Yeovil, however, are fairly second rate due to industry and urbanisation; the Somerset Levels are not so popular because of the flat landscape and the proximity of RNAS Yeovilton which is a busy airbase.

Somerset is very much a county for second homeowners or for those who work locally and, as such, property prices have kept relatively low in the more rural areas.

Closer to Bath and Bristol, however, a mini market has emerged making for higher prices in the better parts of the cities and the surrounding villages. Tourism is quite prolific but fairly spread and much less than in the Cotswolds, though summer traffic heading on to Cornwall and Devon can make for crowded roads in the summer.

Although improved connections to London have sparked interest in the local property market, Somerset remains thoroughly rural. The Chew Valley and Wells are the most popular areas to live in.

The improvement of the A303 has made the county much more accessible from London, and sparked interest in the country house market. Since the demise of the modern, and unpopular, county of Avon, the city of Bath is now once again part of Somerset, although its housing market is still largely independent from the rest of the county.

Somerset has a long coastline along the Bristol Channel, from Devon to the mouthof the River Avon, but the only natural harbour is at Watchet.

The county's varied landscape ranges from rolling valleys and hills to the crags of Cheddar Gorge and the wilderness of Exmoor to the west.

Agriculture is the main industry, but tourism also thrives, particularly round Glastonbury and in the coastal towns of Minehead and Weston-super-Mare.

Typically, houses are built of stone, including the soft-coloured Blue Lias limestone of the Somerset Levelsand the golden-yellow Ham stone in the south, with clay-tiled roofs.

The Chew Valley and the cathedral city of Wells, the smallest city in England, are among the best places in the county to live, together with Butleigh, which is close to Millfield School, and Castle Cary. Prices have risen in recent years, but they are cheaper towards the coast.

Transport links

Train: Paddington to Taunton 1hr 50min; Paddington to Yeovil, two hours; Paddington to Bath, 1hr 25min.

Car: Taunton is 148 miles from London and Wincanton 117 miles, via the M3 and A303. Bath is 110 miles, via the M4.

Public schools

Bruton School for Girls, Bruton (01749 812277). Girls only, age range 8-18, day and boarding. www.brutonschool.co.uk/

Clifton College, Bristol (0117 973 9187). Co-educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.cliftoncollegeuk.com/

Downside School, Stratton-on-the-Fosse (01761 235100). Boys only, age range 9-18, day and boarding. www.downsideabbey.co.uk/

King's School, Bruton (01749 813326). Boys aged 13-18 (co-educational sixth form), day and boarding. www.kingsbruton.org.uk/

Millfield School, Street (01458 442291). Co-educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding. www.millfield.somerset.sch.uk/

King's College, Taunton (01823 328210). Co-educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding. www.kings-taunton.co.uk/

Queen's College, Taunton (01823 272559). Co-educational, age range 8-18, day and boarding. www.queenscollege.org.uk/

Taunton School (01823 349223). Co-educational, age range 12-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.tauntonschool.co.uk/

The Royal High School (01225 313877). Girls only, age range 4-18, day. www.gdst.net/royalhighbath/

Wells Cathedral School (01749 672117). Co-educational, age range 11-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.wells-cathedral-school.com/

Leisure

Golfcourses: Lansdown, Bath (01225 425007); Bristol & Clifton (01275 393474); Yeovil (01935 75949); Burnham & Berrow, Burnham-on-Sea (01278 783137).

Yacht clubs: Burnham-on-Sea Yacht Club, Minehead Sailing Club.

Hunts: the Exmoor, the Taunton Vale, the West Somerset.

Staghounds: the Quantock, the Devon and Somerset.

Fishing: rivers Parrett and Axe, Chew Valley Lake, Blagdon Lake.

THE BEST SOMERSET COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)

Ven House, Milbourne Port (sublime Georgian house, Grade I, 34 acres): £6.5m

Hatch Court, Hatch Beauchamp (Grade I listed, 109 acres): £5.5m

Dinder House, near Wells (Regency House, river frontage, 21.6 acres): £2.25m


Country Life


HIGHEST VALUE STREETS IN BRISTOL

1 The Ridgeway, Bristol BS10 £1,144,615
2 Avon Grove, Bristol BS9 £858,208
3 Chelvey Batch, Bristol BS48 £857,036
4 Old Sneed Park, Bristol BS9 £844,277
5 Stoke Park Road, Bristol BS9 £836,376
6 Cadbury Camp Lane, Bristol BS20 £829,300
7 Upper Littleton, Bristol BS40 £804,145
8 Cote House Lane, Bristol BS9 £773,719
9 Sandy Lane, Bristol BS8 £742,952
10 Harris Lane, Bristol BS8 £722,072

HIGHEST VALUE AREAS IN BRISTOL

1 BS40 (Bristol) £317,553
2 BS9 (Bristol) £305,036
3 BS8 (Bristol) £302,678
4 BS6 (Bristol) £285,314
5 BS41 (Bristol) £270,846
6 BS48 (Bristol) £243,715
7 BS36 (Bristol) £238,849
8 BS39 (Bristol) £222,588
9 BS35 (Bristol) £214,170
10 BS49 (Bristol) £214,137

If you require impartial advice on acquiring a prime property, please contact PRIME PROPERTY SEARCH AGENTS, Sands Home Search on

FOR UK PROPERTY SEARCH ASSISTANCE

From the UK: 01425 462 549
From overseas:
+44 1425 462 549

If your UK property search is urgent and you would like to speak to one of our Property Search Directors, please contact us

From the UK: 01425 462 549
From overseas: +44 1425 462 549

Or click here to email

FOR CAPE TOWN PROPERTY
SEARCH ASSISTANCE

South Africa: 076 222 7518
From overseas:
+27 76 222 7518

Or click here to email


Thank you for your interest in our company.  

FOR BRISTOL & UK PROPERTY SEARCH ASSISTANCE

Within the UK:
01425 462 549
or if calling from outside the UK:
+44 1425 462 549

If your UK property search is urgent and you would like to speak to one of our Property Search Directors, please contact
From the UK: 01425 462 549
From overseas:
+44 1425 462 549
Or click here to email



FOR CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA PROPERTY SEARCH
ASSISTANCE

Within South Africa:
076 222 7518
or if calling from outside S.Africa:
+27 76 222 7518

Contact : Shaun Ascough
click here to email