Wiltshire/Dorset villages...........help please!

phoebe1989seb

Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or views on villages around the Wiltshire/Dorset borders please?

We are potentially looking at villages such as Fovant, The Donheads, Mere, Zeals, Ludwell, Tisbury etc, but don't know the area at all being originally from Hampshire and currently residing in Essex. Having previously bought in an area we didn't know just 'cos we fell in love with the house (and later regretted it) we don't want to fall into that trap again!

We don't need schools, but would like a village with some amenities........shop, pub etc and good walks nearby. Transport issues are not a problem as will most likely be working from home although it would be good to be in relatively close proximity to a larger town for retail fixes!

If anyone has any knowledge or views on what any of the above are like I would be most grateful

Many thanks xxx

lostinrates

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Hi there,

Just wondering if anyone has any advice or views on villages around the Wiltshire/Dorset borders please?

We are potentially looking at villages such as Fovant, The Donheads, Mere, Zeals, Ludwell, Tisbury etc, but don't know the area at all being originally from Hampshire and currently residing in Essex. Having previously bought in an area we didn't know just 'cos we ell in love with the house (and later regretted it) we don't want to fall into that trap again!

We don't need schools, but would like a village with some amenities........shop, pub etc and good walks nearby. Transport issues are not a problem as will most likely be working from home although it would be good to be in relatively close proximity to a larger town for retail fixes!

If anyone has any knowledge or views on what any of the above are like I would be most grateful

Many thanks xxx

I know this area reasonably well....just left the area last year. Its a beautful area. Pubs etc you might need to get int a car for,most villages only have one or two...if any now. The difference in feel in these villages listed is tremendous and how much each suits you will be very personal. I like Mere, for example (good fish and chip shop) but wouldn't live there, but would live near Tisbury. The train station in Tisbury changes the atmosphere a lot.

what you mean by ''retail'' and near is a bit tricky to guage. I used to go north to Bristol and Bath, west to Clarkes village for more serious shopping, or into London. Many people would be happy with Yeovil, dorchester, salisbury etc. The areas you seem to be looking at have easy access to the A303 for getting to biggish places in country-quick time. Worth noting coming from east to wards home on a friday afternoon/evening can be wretched at this time of year for the same reason...but will be an issue anwhere nearish a main artery. If not doing that often it might never affect you!

I love those areas and miss them. They have a truly rural community feel ..well, did as I kne them in anycase.

phoebe1989seb

Thanks lostinrates - it's good to hear the opinion of someone who has lived in the area

Retail-wise, the smaller towns would be fine and Bath etc are not far away for a more serious shop. Our son will be moving to London so we will obviously get to visit him and combine the trip with some shopping!

We've been through both Mere and Tisbury quite recently and have to agree with your comments. We have seen a couple of properties, each of which have fors and againsts - as is always the case you're always going to have to compromise on something I guess - but cannot decide whether it's better to go for the prettier village (but with a very basic post office) or a less attractive location but with a very good, well-stocked shop, more akin to a deli

As someone who doesn't drive, the village with the decent shop seems more appealing (OH isn't bothered as he can easily drive to Waitrose!) but the prettier village is tugging at my heartstrings.

That said, the house in the prettier village is a bit of an ugly duckling.............decisions, decisions!

Thanks again for your views, they are most appreciated! xxx

lostinrates

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

As someone who doesn't drive, the village with the decent shop seems more appealing (OH isn't bothered as he can easily drive to Waitrose!) but the prettier village is tugging at my heartstrings.

Actually, the driving issue is important. DH HAD to learn to drive when he moved ut there with me. Public transport isn't great and the winter before last I picked dh up fro Gillingham and the taxis has given up...I spent the evening running people home in the Landrover..(ere felt miles away at the 10 miles an hour I was force to at some places!)

My mother, living in a rural area atm near there with no car, is spending a fortune in taxis and still feels frustrated.

where I am now in Wiltshire its a different story,much better bus routes (though people still complain) and larger towns closer....if less picturesque. I'd be seriously considering proximity to the larger villages in your shoes, unless your DH is a willing chauffeur!

phoebe1989seb

lostinrates wrote: »

Actually, the driving issue is important. DH HAD to learn to drive when he moved ut there with me. Public transport isn't great and the winter before last I picked dh up fro Gillingham and the taxis has given up...I spent the evening running people home in the Landrover..(ere felt miles away at the 10 miles an hour I was force to at some places!)

My mother, living in a rural area atm near there with no car, is spending a fortune in taxis and still feels frustrated.

where I am now in Wiltshire its a different story,much better bus routes (though people still complain) and larger towns closer....if less picturesque. I'd be seriously considering proximity to the larger villages in your shoes, unless your DH is a willing chauffeur!

Thanks lostinrates - not driving is definitely a pain but I have no inclination to learn so will just have to soldier on........I quite understand what you are saying regarding the difficulties that ensue from not driving though, particularly in bad weather. That said, OH is a keen chauffeur and is happy to ferry me wherever, so I really just need to feel there is at least one local shop that I can pop out to if need be. Where we live at the moment there is nothing at all and I do feel like a victim of cabin fever sometimes so even being able to get out to one shop would be an improvement!

Does anyone else have any views or experiences of any of the specific villages I've mentioned please? If so I would love to hear those views

Many thanks xxx

phoebe1989seb

Ok, so I've narrowed my short list down to two houses -

Number one has 3 beds plus an attic room, needs loads of work and is grade 2 listed. It's in a village with a post office which also sells a few provisions. The village is very sweet with pretty houses and a green, church etc. The main downside is that the rear garden, which is largish, has some outbuildings belonging to the next door pub. These are used for storage and the windows are bricked up. They are also listed and have previously been used as a skittle alley. There is ORP for one car only, which is ok as we only have one car but our son will visit a lot and the only other parking is on street.

House number two is a smaller 3 bed and is an unfinished project. However, it is marketed as a 6 bed even though two beds are in the attic and described in the details as 'may not be used as bedrooms'. The further bedroom is downstairs on the back of the kitchen and would be better employed as a breakfast room. On the plus side it isn't listed so there are less hoops to jump through to get the house as we would want it. It has a larger garden which has none of the issues of house number one as well as plenty of ORP. There is an excellent shop in the village but the location is not so attractive and the road is busier. However, it is more attractive from the outside.

We have discussed making offers on both to the respective agents -

number one is on for £280,000 and we have been told they would accept in the region of £245,000 as they are very keen to sell due to a marriage breakdown, whilst number two is on for £265,000 and apparently they won't accept less than £250,000, despite it previously failing to sell at auction with a guide of £230,000.

We will not need to get a mortgage for this purchase.

Any other advise would be most appreciated please

harrup

as to property # 1)

wondering how much noise you would get from the next door pub and how intrusive you would find this

ditto cooking smells from pub when you are sitting in the garden

village/post office shop is a nice thing to have - but just to let you know.....there are several villages near me which used to feature one of those which have closed down over the last few years. If having close-by shopping amenities is important to you, don't let a single village PO be the determinant. May well not exist in a few years.

I personally LOVE the look of listed buildings...but wouln't want to own one - way too much kerfuffle ( if not impossible) when it comes to changing things the way YOU want them.

as to property #2)

If you are concerned about the road noise...it was me, I would hang out in my car with the windows open and observe. Pick busy times such as "rush hour" ( school out & people coming home from work). Evaluate how intrusive the noise is, how many boy racers are driving through, etc.

Also, try this later at night ( say 10 pm). Road noise not bothering you at 4 pm may well drive you bonkers when you want to go to sleep. Interestingly with me it's the opposite - I have a road very nearby and any road noise doesn't remotely bother me at night/early morning. But it does diminish my enjoyment of sitting in the garden during the day.

Find out which time the sun leaves the garden/ how much sun the garden gets.

A big garden is a fab feature IF you adore gardening. Do you? Or would you want/need regular help to maintain it.

Plentiful ORP is invaluable IMO. As are less hoops to jump through to get the house EXACTLY the way you'd love it! I'd INFINITELY prefer an unfinished house than one who has been finished but to a standard I'd detest and with decor/fittings I abhor.

HTH

phoebe1989seb

Thanks for all you comments/advice Harrup. I have answered your points in blue below.

harrup wrote: »

as to property # 1)

wondering how much noise you would get from the next door pub and how intrusive you would find this Fortunately the main part of the garden is well away from the rear (kitchen) area of the pub, but to be honest, we hadn't even considered that!

ditto cooking smells from pub when you are sitting in the garden ditto, but OH assures me the pub kitchen is situated at the furthest point from the house.

village/post office shop is a nice thing to have - but just to let you know.....there are several villages near me which used to feature one of those which have closed down over the last few years. If having close-by shopping amenities is important to you, don't let a single village PO be the determinant. May well not exist in a few years. House number one post office I could well believe this may happen - it seems like it's already being run down. House number 2, the shop/post office has only recently been taken over by a couple who seem determined to reinvent the village shop by stocking everything from locally baked specialist breads to more exotic comestibles - think they are there to stay as the place seemed very popular when we visited!

I personally LOVE the look of listed buildings...but wouln't want to own one - way too much kerfuffle ( if not impossible) when it comes to changing things the way YOU want them. Yes, old buildings and their renovations don't bother us - we've done many projects over the years, transforming wrecks to their former glory, but we've never taken on a listed building and this does scare me (but not OH) a little :(

as to property #2)

If you are concerned about the road noise...it was me, I would hang out in my car with the windows open and observe. Pick busy times such as "rush hour" ( school out & people coming home from work). Evaluate how intrusive the noise is, how many boy racers are driving through, etc. Unfortunately both houses are some 200 miles from where we currently live, so this is not really an option

Also, try this later at night ( say 10 pm). Road noise not bothering you at 4 pm may well drive you bonkers when you want to go to sleep. Interestingly with me it's the opposite - I have a road very nearby and any road noise doesn't remotely bother me at night/early morning. But it does diminish my enjoyment of sitting in the garden during the day. ditto

Find out which time the sun leaves the garden/ how much sun the garden gets. Both garden are pretty large and south-facing so I would guess they get quite a good amount of sun throughout the day.

A big garden is a fab feature IF you adore gardening. Do you? Or would you want/need regular help to maintain it. Yep, we both love gardening and particularly wanted something we could get our teeth into.

Plentiful ORP is invaluable IMO. As are less hoops to jump through to get the house EXACTLY the way you'd love it! I'd INFINITELY prefer an unfinished house than one who has been finished but to a standard I'd detest and with decor/fittings I abhor. Even house number 1 is a project - nothing done for 20 years or so by the looks of things - but as you rightly say, not having to jump through hoops to get agreement on something quite basic would be more advantageous. That said, it is larger to start off with so most changes would be internal minor cosmetic ones.

HTH

AAS

I know this area well. Have you looked at Shaftesbury it's a pretty small town with enough shops etc... so it wouldn't matter if you don't drive? Tisbury is good for the train and it's pretty around there but it's not very exciting! There's not a lot in fovant. There are lots of nice villages around there but it can be annoying to live so far from a town. Are there any specific villages you like?

We live opposite a village pub - you will get people standing outside chatting at 11pm and hear car doors being slammed but other than that it's not really any problem.

Also I agree with the comments about the A303 - anywhere between Mere and AMesbury is a nightmare on Friday & Sunday evening!

harrup

"wondering how much noise you would get from the next door pub and how intrusive you would find this Fortunately the main part of the garden is well away from the rear (kitchen) area of the pub, but to be honest, we hadn't even considered that!

ditto cooking smells from pub when you are sitting in the garden ditto, but OH assures me the pub kitchen is situated at the furthest point from the house."

As to the latter, let me tell you that cooking smells ( in particular fat from the deep fat fryer!) can have an astounding travelling distance !

For instance, there is a pretty property for sale just up the road from us (http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29671772.html if you want a surrepticious peep). Located right adjacent to a lovely pub. I found it odd that this property didn't sell quickly UNTIL I walked up the road the other evening. You could smell the pub's fryer halfway down the road! Not a terrible imposition once in a blue moon, I suppose, but being exposed to strong cooking/frying odours every single day ...hmmm.

Plus, as AAS said, you will have to be prepared to put up with car doors slamming and eavesdropping on the pub's patrons on balmy summer nights. Mind you, the latter could be fun! '

What a pity that you are so far away at present. Do you perhaps have any friends in the intended new location who could do a bit of detective work for you? Or

phoebe1989seb

Hi AAS,

Thanks for your comments

We did go to have a look around Shaftesbury and agree it seems very nice with a good selection of smaller interesting shops etc. Trouble is OH really wants to be in as rural a setting as possible and till now we've almost always gone with my choices (the last of which went disastrously wrong) so this time I've agreed to compromise on my need for retail therapy!

I'm perfectly happy to do the whole village thing as long as I'm not totally cut off from civilisation and I can get out to at least one shop if need be!

Pub-wise - the pub has a car park which lies to the rear of the house's garden (which is quite long) so I guess there wouldn't be too much trouble from noise when customers go home at night.

Villages we've looked at on Rightmove include Fovant, Zeals, the Donheads, Ludwell etc.