FOR SALE: Private & Confidentially available Country, Equestrian, Farm & Waterside property for sale in Devon. Sands Home Search has access to many of the most desirable properties which often never reach the open market. We are independent buying consultants specialising in finding and acquiring prime country houses & estates, farm & equestrian property and waterside homes for retained private & corporate clients. Using our extensive network of contacts, including the leading selling agents, Solicitors, Surveyors, Private Client/Wealth Management companies and private property owners, we are often first to hear about property which may soon be available for sale. Our ability to get advance information, means our clients often get to view prime property well ahead of competing buyers. Last year, 60% of properties acquired for our clients were sourced 'off-market', meaning that the majority of our clients purchased properties which they could not have found without our assistance. We are also able to directly contact owners of all prime property to proactively encourage property owners to consider confidentially selling their property(s) to our buying clients. .. Meaning that we leave no stone unturned in finding the best properties to meet our clients specific requirements. If you require impartial advice and assistance in acquiring a prime Devon property, please contact us in confidence. Sands Home Search - Country Houses & Estates - 01425 462 549 Or directly contact one of our Buying Department Directors in confidence. Directors - Maxine Fox (07967 219 714), Sarah Lane (07929 900 431) or Shaun Ascough (07776 232 353).

PRIME PROPERTY SELLERS CONTACT US TO CONFIDENTIALLY FEATURE YOUR PRIME COUNTRY, EQUESTRIAN, FARM OR WATERSIDE PROPERTY FOR SALE HERE. For further details please click here to complete an online enquiry form.

Please contact one of Directors to find out how you could benefit from the Sands Home Search service. Maxine Fox, Director Mobile : 07967 219 714 Email: m.fox@sandshomesearch.com Shaun Ascough, Director Mobile : 07776 232 353 Email: s.ascough@sandshomesearch.com or click here to complete an online enquiry form.

About the County of Devon
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold in Devon recently, scroll down to the bottom of this page)

Devon is packed full of attractive sea resorts.

In North Devon these include Woolacombe, Bude, Ilfracombe, Westward Ho! and Minehead.

In South Devon you are again spoilt for choice with Lyme Regis, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torbay, Salcombe and Dartmouth . Further inland you will find the Dartmoor National Park and exciting local communities in towns such as Tiverton, Honiton and Barnstable.

If watersports are your life, there are many areas just suited to making this easy and pleasurable – whether your interests are in sailing, windsurfing or fishing. There are numerous moorings for your boat/watercraft, sailing clubs, watersports tuition.

If watersports are your life, there are many areas just suited to making this easy and pleasurable – whether your interests are in sailing, windsurfing or fishing. There are numerous moorings for your boat/watercraft, sailing clubs and watersports tuition.

Devon has some excellent road links to London through the much improved A303 and M5.

This area offers a mix of breath-taking coastline, classic English inland landscapes, cosmopolitan and market towns as well as quaint chocolate box villages.

The coastal area ranges from dramatic cliffs to the numerous safe sandy beaches for which this area is famous. Inland you will find rolling downlands, hidden valleys and woodland.

The houses that command the highest premiums in Devon are close to Exeter, while the north of the county is less developed and less easily accessible from London, hence prices are lower.

Together with neighbouring Cornwall, Devon has the mildest climate in England; it is also the only other county to boast both an Atlantic and a Channel coast. No part of Devon is further than 25 miles from the sea, boosting the tourist industry.

The county's other main source of income is agriculture, in particular dairy farming, favoured by the high rainfall and long grass-growing season.

Exmoor and Dartmoor attract many visitors, and Dartmoor especially is a popular place to live. Yet the houses that command the highest premiums in Devon are close to Exeter on the south coast, particularly along the Exe estuary and further east to Sidmouth. Also popular is the South Hams, round Dartmouth, Salcombe and Totnes.

The north of the county is less developed and less easily accessible from London, hence prices are lower. Houses are typically built of stone with slate roofs; Devon longhouses of stone or cob are particularly in demand.

Major towns

Plymouth, Paignton, Torquay, Exeter, Exmouth, Dartmouth, Sidmouth, Newton Abbot, Barnstaple, Salcombe, Ilfracombe.

Transport links

Train: Paddington to Plymouth three hours, £51.10 for a Saver return. Paddington to Exeter two hours, Saver return £47.20.Plane: Gatwick to Plymouth 1hr 5min direct, from £99 return (including a Saturday night stay) with British Airways.Car: Plymouth is 221 miles from central London, via the M4, M5 and A38; Exeter is 174 miles, via the M4 and M5.

Public schools

West Buckland School, Barnstaple (01598 760281). Co-educational, age range 11-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.westbuckland.devon.sch.uk

Shebbear College, Beaworthy (01409 281228). Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.shebbearcollege.co.uk

Grenville College, Bideford (01237 472212). Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.grenville.devon.sch.uk

Bramdean Grammar School, Exeter (01392 273387). Co- educational, age range 11-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.bramdeanschool.co.uk

Exeter School (01392 273679). Co- educational, age range 7-18, day. www.exeterschool.devon.sch.uk

The Maynard School, Exeter (01392 273417). Girls only, ages 7-18, day. www.maynard.co.uk

Plymouth College (01752 203300). Co- educational, age range 7-18, day and boarding. www.plymouthcollege.com

Kelly College, Tavistock (01822 612010). Co-educational, age range 11-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory school. www.kellycollege.com

Blundell's School, Tiverton (01884 252543). Co-educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding. www.blundells.org

Leisure

Golf courses: Saunton, Braunton (01271 812436). Royal North Devon, Westward Ho! (01237 473824).

Hunts: the Tiverton, the Dartmoor, the South Devon, the Spooners and West Dartmoor, the East Devon, the Stevenstone, the Lamerton, the Eggesford, the Dulverton East, the Dulverton West and the Tetcott.

Staghounds: the Tiverton, the Devon and Somerset.

Yacht clubs: the North Devon Yacht Club, the Brixham Yacht Club, the Royal Dart Yacht Club, the Royal Western Yacht Club of England, the Island Cruising Club at Salcombe and the Royal Torbay Yacht Club.

Fishing: rivers Exe, Otter, Teign, Taw and Torridge.

THE BEST DEVON COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)

Endsleigh Estate, near Tavistock ('bijou' country estate): £3.25m

Gurrow Point, Dartmouth (contemporary 7 bed house, frontage to River Dart, 78.5 acres): £3m

Morebath Manor, Bampton (Grade II, 9 beds, 21 acres): £2m


Country Life - June 2005