Live the island dream

Living on an island is a dream of many, but you don’t have to jet off to foreign climes or live in some windswept estuary or coastal region to realise it. For Pond Cottage at Wilton, between Marlborough and Hungerford, stands beside the village pond and the number of springs in the vicinity means it occupies an island all on its own, maybe one of the smallest privately owned islands you’ll find.

The cottage occupies a truly idyllic position with an approach across its own bridge to a large west facing garden bounded by the pond. Wilton itself is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just to the south of Savernake Forest. Nearby Great Bedwyn offers a direct rail link to London plus a good range of local facilities while Wilton itself has a village pub. Schooling is available both in Great Bedwyn and neighbouring East Grafton.

Inside Pond Cottage, there are generous reception areas with a great deal of inherent character enhanced by exposed timbers and open fireplaces. There is a hand built kitchen open to the breakfast area creating a large living space and many of the bedrooms have custom built cupboards and storage.

Pond Cottage is a picturesque thatched house thought to date from the 17th century but with recent two storey extensions at either end. The property provides well planned accommodation with a very welcoming feel.

The front door opens into a dining hall / sitting room where one of three sets of stairs rises to the first floor and the second and third bedrooms in the centre of the cottage. At the rear of the dining hall is a bathroom which is complemented by a further ground floor shower room / cloakroom.

From the dining hall, a door opens into a large drawing room occupying one end of the house and from this a turning staircase goes up to the ample master bedroom above. There is also a door into the garden.

In the other direction, the dining hall has a door into the kitchen / breakfast room, a huge living space with units arranged around three sides at one end and a further island unit with wine rack dividing the cooking and eating areas. There is also a range set into the heavily beamed fireplace recess and the cottage kitchen effect is completed by a flagstone floor.

In the adjacent lobby, there are doors to the utility and shower room plus the third set of stairs, rising to a small landing between the fourth and fifth bedrooms.

Pond Cottage is approached from the lane through a five bar gate leading to a gravelled parking area for several vehicles adjacent to the village pond and there’s also a timber clad garage.

A bridge gives access to a paved terrace in front of the cottage while a bark pathway flanked by lawn and the southern boundary of the pond gives access to a seating area and extensive lawns edged by well stocked borders. A picket gate opens to large expansive lawned area with mature weeping willows. To the rear is a gravelled path with post and rail fencing alongside the stream.

Guide price for Pond Cottage is £750,000. For more details, email marlborough@dnproperty.co.uk.