Luxurious 4BR barn built of the mellow local Purbeck stone (lot id: 4409)

California Barn is a mid 19 th century four-bedroom property that has been converted to luxury holiday home. Comfortably furnished with many original works of art. Perfectly suited to a break out of season with the impressive scenery and wildlife.

The property provides accommodation for up to 12 people plus it is equipped with cots . The large open plan ground floor includes a fully fitted contemporary kitchen, dining and lounge areas. Also on the ground floor is a bedroom and shower room both of which are wheelchair accessible.

Two further bedrooms and bathroom lie on the first floor as the family room is with double bed, single bed and bunk beds plus another room with double and single bed. Both bedrooms are large enough to accommodate further guest beds.

There is also an underfloor heating, a wood burning stove and double glazing making the barn perfectly suited to a break out of season, often when the scenery and wildlife are equally impressive.

In early summer the fields are a mass of meadow flowers and deer, badgers, foxes and buzzards are regular visitors along with the resident horses and neighbours organic Dorset Downs sheep and Hereford cows. The Barn has a south facing patio and garden and visitors have direct access to paths to the cliffs only 2 fields away.

Swanage with its blue flag beach, cafes, shops and family entertainment is a mile downhill.

The adjoining property can also be hired either individually or in association with the barn as extra accommodation which can also be used as a studio/workshop for meetings, exhibitions, family gatherings, corporate events, tutoring activities or parties.

The studio includes a small kitchen, shower room with WC and sleeping accommodation for 2 to 4 on a raised mezzanine area. The large living area is big enough to accommodate guest beds and also to accommodate some of those staying if they prefered the mezzanine sleeping area.

From summer 2009, the studio will be available for rent as an independant additional unit, with its own decked patio with sea views and access to a shared Japanese garden.

A victorian Shepherds Hut nearby is also available for hire as additional accommodation for those staying in the barn or studio. It has a double bed which is best suited to those under 6 foot tall although there is a normal length mattress but there are small beams just above the matress retsricting sleeping length. Those staying in the shepherds hut will share bathroom and kitchen facilities with their fellow guests in the barn or studio.

Popular attractions nearby include the steam railway, Corfe Castle, Studlands beautiful beach, Lulworth with its cove and castle, Thomas Hardy’s cottage, Lawrence of Arabia’s cottage and memorial, Monkey world, Bovington Tank museum and for those needing ‘retail therapy’ the shopping centres of Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester and Weymouth are all within striking distance.

Swanage is the host for several annual festivals including The Blues festival in March, Purbeck and Dorset Art weeks in may/June, the Jazz Festival in July, Swanage Carnival in July/August, the folk festival in September, Film festival in October and Blues /roots festival in October. Local organisation and venues have other smaller events such as beer and cider festivals such as The greyhound, Corfe, The Bankes Arms, Studland, The Square and Compass, and Worth Matravers. Durlston Country Park regularly organises events related to the heritage and wildlife of the Park and adjoining coast.

Visitors to Purbeck are well catered for when it comes to activities and places to visit. It lies at the eastern end of the Jurassic Heritage coast. The barn lies only fields away from Durlston country park recently designated a national nature reserve and allocated heritage lottery grants to develop a major visitor centre in the castle.

The National Trust acquired large areas of Purbeck from the Bankes estate, including the impressive ruins of Corfe Castle and the much visited sandy beach, chalk cliffs and heathland at Studland. Walkers and climbers have easy access to the coast which also accommodates hang gliders and paragliders from the higher slopes.

Water sports are particularly popular off the Purbeck coast, including sailing and power boats, waterskiing, windsurfing, board surfing, fishing and diving. The internationally renowned sailing centre of Poole harbour and the Solent lie not far away and Britains successful bid for Olympics in 2012 will include the sailing events to be held at Weymouth further along the coast.

Swanage and Purbeck has a micro climate and has some of the highest sun hours and average temperatures in the country. Its coastline is recognised as nationally important for its wildlife and marine species and the geology is equally important and impressive with visitors coming from around the world to study its fossils.
Its attractive landscape and scenery has resulted in its regular use for film and television locations