LEAT HOUSE - Savills

SituationThe pretty coastal hamlet of Port Gaverne is spectacularlysited on the rugged stretch of North Cornwall coastline thatruns between the Camel Estuary at Rock right the way up tothe Devon/Cornwall border at Bude. Port Gaverne wasoriginally developed in the nineteenth century as a slate, coaland limestone handling port where shipbuilding would alsohave taken place. Vestiges of this industry remain, but mainlytoday the village consists of a small and picturesque collectionof cottages and houses with the majority of the largeimpressive Victorian industrial buildings having long sincebeen converted into residential accommodation. At low tidethere is a small, sheltered, sandy beach with an abundance ofrock pools which is probably one of the safest beaches inNorth Cornwall.Set just a short distance from Port Isaac, Port Gaverne is anideal location for those looking to be near to the ‘hustle andbustle’ yet far enough away to not be disturbed by it.Port Isaac is today nationally renowned for its associationwith the television series 'Doc Martin'. In years gone by it wasa busy fishing port and from the Middle Ages to the mid 19thcentury it was an active harbour where cargoes like stone,coal, timber and pottery were loaded and unloaded. Fishingand fish-processing were also very important and today thereare still fishermen working from the harbour althoughtourism plays an increasingly important role. Most of the oldvillage of Port Isaac consists of picturesque 18th and 19thcentury cottages, many of which have been officially listeddue to their architectural and historic importance, locatedwithin narrow alleys and streets that wind down the steephillside toward the harbour at the bottom.DescriptionOnce two cottages, Leat House has been sympatheticallyaltered to provide one good sized family cottage, providingthe ambience for relaxed seaside living. Spectacularly placedin the centre of the hamlet of Port Gaverne and givinguninterrupted views of the beach, bay, sea and shelteredrugged cliffs from the garden, main sitting room and masterbedroom, Leat House affords well maintainedaccommodation to a high standard and provides flexible andeasy living accommodation, close to the facilities of Port Isaacand beyond, but in a tranquil setting away from the ‘hurlyburly’.The cottage has a wealth of period features includingimpressive slate flagged floors, cream louvred shutters to allwindows, some exposed stone walls and two large andattractive working fireplaces. The principal sitting room hasa large window bay to the side with impressive views, idealfor locating binoculars or a telescope on the semi circularwindow seat below. All four bedrooms are good sizeddoubles, served by two bathrooms, and with the masterbedroom having a ‘Juliet’ balcony served by double glazeddoors with magnificent views.Well decorated throughout in blue and cream, airy and light,the theme is nautical and reflects the easy going lifestyle ofthis pretty hamlet. Set in pretty gardens with ample parkingand a good sized single garage and located on a quiet ‘nothrough’ lane, Leat House is ideal as a holiday home or forquiet retirement living.OutsideThe pretty garden enjoys spectacular views over PortGaverne Beach, and is mostly laid to lawn with stone wallboundaries and mature shrubs and low hedges. There is abroad slate terrace to the front of the house providing arelaxed outdoor dining/barbecue area and a good sized reargarden with gravelled parking area beyond the cottage, upthe lane.