The Byre, Quernmore, Lancaster LA2 9LZ

There is much to recommend the discerning purchaser to The Byre; as a modern country home it wins on many levels and offers an enviable lifestyle package for couples and families alike.

The location and outlook is absolutely rural, it’s in the Lune Valley and the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and yet you are on the M6 or into the heart of the vibrant city of Lancaster within a few miles.

Dating back around 180 years, this detached stone barn was converted in 2007 to a high standard, since that time it has been meticulously maintained and is presented ready for sale in good order.

With an east/west orientation, it is bright, sunny and the rooms are all of a really good size, you will not be short of either light or space.

Outside is possibly the unique selling point, not only does the garden offer maximum enjoyment for minimum upkeep, there are also adjacent fields, the total plot coming in at around 4.2 acres. To top it all, there is plentiful parking as well as a double
garage.

Impressed? We were. Between us and the vendor, we’ll tell you more….

"I was initially attracted by the outstanding view, the peace and quiet of the country setting and the exceptional access to the motorway, which put the beautiful scenery and walks of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales within easy reach.
We’re moving to be near family. If we could pick this home up and move it, we would. We love the house, the garden and the setting; it’s been a very special place to live.”

Location
The Byre offers balance – the tranquility, green open spaces and wildlife of a country location with the advantages of easy access to Lancaster.

To the east lies the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an area of sprawling heather moorland and to the north runs the broad sweep of the Lune Valley, an attractive stretch of countryside with undulating hills and pastureland at the heart of which is the meandering River Lune.

The university city of Lancaster is thriving and offers a full range of commercial and recreational facilities including cuisine from around the world, a great shopping experience, a choice of theatres and cinemas and a growing cultural and music scene. There are also two universities and both private and NHS hospitals.

The Lune Valley is a haven for food lovers with well regarded pubs and restaurants positioned in the villages all along the main A683 as it proceeds north east towards the Cumbrian market town of Kirkby Lonsdale. A popular destination in its own right,
Kirkby Lonsdale offers more refreshment opportunities as well as a bustling main street of largely independent retailers.

"We’ve loved the convenience of having a city almost on our doorstep. It’s a quiet and peaceful country setting, but within 10 or 15 minutes we can be in Lancaster, or on the coast at Morecambe and in 30 to 40 minutes we can be in the Lake District.”

Step inside
Barn conversions sometimes mean small windows and dark spaces, not so here where light has been prioritised. The front elevation faces directly east, the gable ends due south and north and the rear elevation looks west. The sun moves around the house over the course of the day; shining into the sitting room, dining kitchen and two first floor bedrooms first thing in the morning. The large terrace gets the best of the sun all day and by evening it’s still on the orchard.

Internally, there’s a mix of the traditional and contemporary here, employed to great success to give an overall modern feel. Skirting boards, architraves and the staircase are all stained pine. Ground floor internal doors have a sleek and contemporary oak finish, there are plentiful downlighters, many of the sockets and switches have a chrome finish and the overall décor uses restful and neutral tones. Several of the rooms have exposed roofing timbers to maintain the rustic authenticity of the property. There’s hardwearing Karndean flooring in the dining kitchen, house bathroom and ensuite shower room. The distinctive part glazed front door opens to the hall with staircase rising and fitted storage cabinets. Two large rooms front the barn to the east, the sitting room and the dining kitchen, both with sloping ceilings rising high towards the roof apex. The sitting room used to house the tractors and the kitchen the cattle; long gone are those days, both rooms are now fully equipped for 21st century life. In any event, the views would have been wasted on the cows, the outlook from both rooms is something rather special, out across the garden and field to the woodland in the distance. The sitting room has an oak floor with boards laid on the diagonal to great effect and has a contemporary multi fuel stove inset with an oak mantle. The ceiling height makes it the perfect choice for siting the Christmas tree!

The sociable dining kitchen is fitted with sleek and stylish Siematic units offering extensive storage; cabinet doors are cream high gloss and worktops are black, cream and tan granite. Appliances comprise NEFF induction hob, double ovens (one being a combination microwave) and dishwasher. Miele appliances comprise the cooker hood, a larder fridge and tall freezer. To keep everything looking neat and tidy, there is a concealed sectional bin ready for your recycling. The division between cooking and eating is punctuated with an island unit which has an oak breakfast bar attached and has space for four stools. The utility room is a practical space with the boiler living here and a second sink unit. There’s plumbing for a washing machine and space for a second drinks fridge or condenser drier.

The bedroom layout offers flexibility with two bedrooms on the ground floor and two on the first. Both ground floor bedrooms are generous doubles and have fitted furniture. One has an ensuite shower room, the other makes use of the house bathroom which makes an interesting feature of one of the old barn doors and has a shower over the bath.

The staircase has an attractive and solid square cut balustrade. On the half landing there is a former barn door which now makes an attractive feature window. The first floor landing is roomy and light; off here you’ll find a tank room which is good for drying.

There are two double bedrooms on the first floor; both have ceilings rising to the apex of the roof and extensive provision of fitted furniture. In both rooms the morning sun floods in from the conservation style skylights and there are additional windows either to the north, west or south. One room has an ensuite shower room, the other a bathroom with a shower over the bath.

"The dining kitchen is our favourite space indoors – it’s such a great place to entertain when we have friends and family over; it’s a sociable place to cook, chat and eat. We also enjoy sitting here and watching the wildlife, we’ve spotted rabbits and hares, grouse and pheasant and we often see a wide range of wild birds. In summer, with the sliding doors open, the kitchen extends out to the terrace where we have the bbq and garden furniture set up – it really makes the house feel connected to the garden and those fantastic views. The bedroom arrangement really worked for us as it meant that elderly relatives could come and stay with ease which was an important consideration. It also means that if friends with younger children stay, they can be downstairs and we can be upstairs. From a noise point of view, we find that this works for everyone! We never close the curtains; we’re just not overlooked. The layout of the four properties means that we each have our privacy but there is the security of knowing there are neighbours around.”

Step outside
The garden has been purposefully designed to be low maintenance with a large seating terrace, big lawns and just shrubs in the way of planting. Therefore it’s mainly mowing and occasional pruning that’s needed which leaves plenty of time for sitting
back and enjoying life or getting out and about.

The sandstone flagged terrace is gently curved against the lawn where three steps set into a low retaining wall lead to the upper garden and fields beyond. There are two cooking apple trees and a plum tree, so you’re all set for crumble making season.
If you did fancy growing your own then there is a greenhouse, raised bed, thriving rhubarb patch and a shed for tool storage.

There’s more than enough space for easy parking and turning, the owners have managed to accommodate seven to eight cars with ease.

The detached double garage has an electric door, power, light and the width happily accommodates shelving along one wall as well as two cars. Block built and stone faced under a slated roof, it complements the converted barn well.

There are outside lights, power points and two water taps.

When it comes to the land, the neighbours have an informal agreement to use the land for their alpacas, but you may have other plans – nurturing a few rare breeds yourself, keeping hens or just letting children and dogs burn off excess energy. It
has a great amenity value with a variety of options. Vehicular access to the land is through the garden.

"This house has given us all the facilities we’ve needed to convene our disparately located family here over the years. With the spacious sleeping accommodation, flowing living spaces and a fantastic garden, we’ve hosted many celebrations that have created very special memories. Whilst we chose not to keep animals, having the fields to look out on was important to us as it enabled us to preserve the quality of our view. Now, our neighbours next door use the land for their alpacas. It suits us because the alpacas keep the grass down and are an absolute joy to watch, they have such personalities. Our children have enjoyed the interaction; feeding them and watching their babies, the cria, being born and taking their first steps. The seating terrace is lovely. Sitting there it’s so wonderfully quiet; it’s just us and the birdsong, it’s like we’re in our own little world. Our favourite time of year here is probably the autumn. We’re looking straight out over the fields to the woodland and the changing colours of the leaves on the trees as the season progresses is lovely.”

Directions
what3words: ///warblers.fuels.reserves

Use Sat Nav LA2 9LZ with reference to the directions below:
Exit the M6 at J34 and head towards Kirkby Lonsdale on the A683. Upon entering the large village of Caton, turn first right onto Quernmore Road, it’s signposted Quernmore/Forest of Bowland. Follow this road as it leads out of the village and you’ll shortly go round a sharp bend to the right at the entrance to Gresgarth Hall. Continue past the small lodge house and then the working farm, both on the left. The Byre is part of the next cluster of properties on the left. The converted farmstead has two entrances, take the second drive; it’s shared with the former farmhouse and has an electric gate. As an owner you would be able to telephone ahead and the gates will be open when you arrive, no need for a gate code or fob. Drive straight ahead and there’s plenty of
parking space by the garage.

Services
Mains electricity.
Private water from a borehole shared between the four properties in this development.
Drainage to a private
Klargester located within the grounds.
Oil fired central heating.
CCTV cameras operated through the SANCE app.
Security alarm.

Council Tax Band G
Tenure - Freehold

Please note
The field has planning consent for agricultural land, not garden.
There is no upward chain with this sale.

Internet Speed
Full fibre broadband provided by B4RN (Broadband for the Rural North) www.B4RN. org.uk.
All B4RN customers receive gigabit (1,000Mbps) speed.

On The Road
M6 J34 3.5 miles
Lancaster 3.8 miles
Kirkby Lonsdale 14 miles
Preston 24.9 miles
Windermere 30.6 miles
Manchester 59.3 miles
Manchester airport 66.4 miles
Liverpool airport 72 miles
The above journey distances are for approximate guidance only and have been sourced from the fastest route on the AA website from the property postcode.

Schools
Primary
Caton St Paul’s CoE Primary School
Quernmore CoE Voluntary Controlled Primary School

Secondary
There is a choice of schools in Lancaster including the Royal Grammar Schools

Local Leisure Activities
For little ones there is a playground in the village, Caton Fell View Play Area
Open gardens during the summer at Gresgarth Hall
Williamson Park, Lancaster with open air theatre during the summer
3-1-5 Health Club (Lancaster)
The Dukes and the Lancaster Grand Theatre (Lancaster)
The Dukes and Vue cinemas (Lancaster)
Golf courses at Lancaster, Casterton and Kirkby Lonsdale

Places to Eat
The Fenwick Arms, Claughton
The Lunesdale Arms, Tunstall
The Highwayman, Burrow
The Royal Hotel, Avanti, Sun Inn and No.9, all in Kirkby Lonsdale
The Sun Hotel, The Quarterhouse, Quite Simply French and Now or Never by Journey Social, all in Lancaster

Great Walks Nearby
There’s a private right for the four properties to walk into the woodland opposite. Further afield, the Yorkshire Three Peaks (Ingleborough, Pen-y-Ghent and Whernside) are only a short drive away. There are 214 Wainwright Lakeland Fells to conquer and the hills of the western side of the Forest of Bowland attract walkers from Lancaster, including Clougha Pike, Grit Fell, Ward’s Stone and Wolfhole Crag.