Three Dales cottages to do-up

I'm taking you to the Yorkshire Dales today. That place of TV vets and sheep farmers and undulating landscapes. 

And a sort of Russian Doll set of houses, going up from one to three bedrooms (debatable on the three) and with similarly escalating levels of work to do. 

Let's start with our largest 'doll', this three-bedroom detached house in the village of Carthorpe, around five miles from the town of Bedale and a mile or so from the A1. Carthorpe itself is pretty tiny - a pub, a chapel, a community hall and a weekly visit from a post office van. 

Some work has clearly begun on renovating Ashlea House and I very much sympathise with whoever has been spending their weekends with that temporary kitchen and jerry-rigged bath. There are few things more wonderful than reaching the point in a big renovation project when you've got a proper working hot shower. 

The house currently has two reception rooms, kitchen and utility space downstairs, with two entrances - a front door straight into the living room and a more sensible side door into a hall. Upstairs are three bedrooms, one of which has the bath in it and potential to subdivide to create a bathroom.

Outside is the front garden, a lovely enclosed yard and a side drive/lane leading to a separate outbuilding/garage that you won't want to keep.

On the market through agents J. R. Hopper at offers over £250k - more pictures on their site here and on Rightmove here.

Out next doll, is this supremely sweet two-bedroom end of terrace in Garsdale which, strictly speaking, isn't in the Yorkshire Dales having been snaffled by Cumbria in 1974.

Garsdale is more a location than a village; a collection of farms and houses scattered around the spectacular hills and fells, around eight miles from Hawes. Garsdale has its own train station, thanks to the hard work of elderly railway activists and one heartrendingly loyal dog, Ruswarp.

The house at 1 North View has two reception rooms, kitchen, and separate loo downstairs, two bedrooms and bathroom (yay!) upstairs. 

It's on the dated rather than derelict side of the renovation coin, but the dated is its cute factor. There's a garage and off-road parking but no garden (not that you need one, given the views). Interestingly, its modernised if duller next-door neighbour is also up for sale, so potential for two homes into one? 

Both are being sold via 'modern method of auction' with a guide price of £110k. I hate the modern auction thing personally, possibly the worst thing estate agents have introduced into the renovation market. It secures a bigger, faster payoff for agents but chucks even costs and risk at the buyers. Talk to them about what it would take to simply accept a sensible offer instead.

On the market through J.R Hopper more details, video and pictures on their site here, and on Rightmove here.

And, finally our smallest (yet priciest) doll - this one-bedroom cottage in the very pretty village of Hebden, a walkable two miles from Grassington and 11 from Skipton.

Pinfold Cottage is just 42 sqm, with two rooms downstairs - a large living/everything room and a tiny kitchen, and a bedroom and good-size bathroom upstairs.

Outside (and across a cute little lane) is a parking area, garden (abutting the beck), and stone-built store.

On the market at a fraction under £260K (recently reduced) through Wilman and Lodge. Details and more pictures on their website here and on Rightmove here.

Three churches to do-up, under £130K

I've often written about buying redundant churches and, indeed, interviewed some of you who have redeveloped an ex-church into a home. Coming across this Cumbrian gem today prompted me to return to the subject.

First the good bits. 

It is beautiful. And historic (but only Grade II listed - a bonus for church redevelopers). It already has a favourable nod from the local council towards residential redevelopment. It's in a gorgeous location in the ancient North Pennine village of Croglin, about 12 miles from Carlisle. It's packed with original, nineteenth century fixtures and features.
Here's a taste of all of that.

The church is currently three big rooms plus entrance hall, around 95 square metre. A long nave plus chancel and a separate vestry. There's a high roof and the potential to create a second floor within it (and outline plans that suggest that) but you're unlikely to get permission to extend. Maybe add a bit of something at the back, but can't see the council agreeing to one of those Grand Designs glass boxes. 

Here's the less good bits. It's a cash-only sale. It needs an unknown amount of work. It's only a nod so far from Westmoreland and Furness Council on residential use, you'll want to talk to them yourself.

You'll also need to be happy living with a graveyard - your neighbours aren't going anywhere. There's also the possibility that a handful more could join them (one patch is potential future burial space).  

However, a garden space has been earmarked and, to be fair, as long as you work out who'll be cutting the grass around the graves its not the biggest hassle you'll have to deal with. 

The Church of St John the Baptist is on the market with a guide price of £100k (cash), through PFK. More details, video and pictures on their website here and on Rightmove here.

And, if all of that sounds too lightweight for your development ambitions, I offer you the stone majesty of the Church of St Giles in the village of Darlton. OMFL!! (sorry, ML). 

Almost double the size of St John's in Croglin, it already has planning permission for residential redevelopment (see here) and a more central location that may make access for trucks and works easier.

There are restrictions - you'll have to pay to carefully relocate the gate above, and covenants you'll need to check (they can restrict reselling). It's also Grade II* listed which puts more responsibility on you to protect parts of it, and there is a protected graveyard, including three ancient tombs you're expected to renovate. But, it is a very, very beautiful space.

On the market through Brown & Co with a guide price of £75k. Details and more images here.

If churches are your thing, here's my reminder of the redundant church buildings lists to keep an eye on:
Church of England property list

Church of Scotland property list

And, from the latter list, the very sweet Fisherton Church in Ayr is on the market at offers over £125k. Well-maintained, plumbing, services and sea views. Even has its own carpark. Link here and PDF here.

Boats for living on (the sequel)

Many years ago, 12 to be exact, I wrote a post about buying and doing up boats to live on. I was reminded of that on my lunchtime walk, standing for a while with a group of old chaps to watch the lifeboat being hauled onto the beach. Out of water, lifeboats move like seals.

I went back to the links I'd used in that post from 2013 and, while some of the sites have gone, most are still around - which was nice to see. There are lots of boats out there, lots and lots, so I limited myself to a top price of £40k (pocket-money for you £2million-ers... ; ) and ignored anything already done up.

I'm going to start here, with this 1960s, partly-renovated former trawler. Currently berthed in a marina in Plymouth, the owners have done a fair bit of work to prep it but there's a lot more to do. 

It's basically two 'rooms' at present - the cockpit, and the saloon/galley/anything else space shown below. The issue will be whether you could repurpose the large hull to create a bedroom and bathroom, if your goal is to spend more than occasional weekends in the marina.

But at offers on just £10k, it's well worth exploring. On the market through Boatshed (Plymouth), more information and pictures through the agent, and on Apollo Duck here. 

Also in the 25/26ft bracket is this chunky and cute narrowboat. Much, much less work to do, but also three times the price and you'd need to get it to where you want it.

Saloon/galley, plus separate toilet, shower, and a bedroom with a fitted double bed base. Details are pretty limited and don't include why it isn't in the water - could just be a storage issue at the yard? Also, I think all boats should have a name.

On the market at £37,750 through Nationwide Narrowboat Sales, more here.

And, if you really know your boats, this beautiful part-renovation of a classic 1948 Morgan Giles needs someone to finish the job and get it back to sea and under sail (top pic and below).

Designed by F.C. Morgan Giles, it was bought as wreck in 2010, the hull has been rebuilt, the bulkhead, decks and roofing replaced and the interior started. There's an engine and mast waiting to be fitted and electrics to do. Easy-peasy for the right buyer ; )

On the market through Wooden Ships at just £6500. Details and more pictures here.

Just to wrap up, couple of other sites I'd recommend if the idea of moving from land to water appeals.

Have a look at the New and Used Boat Company's secondhand section - they're not just another aggregator so useful on the advice front too. Apollo Duck is an aggregator but one that's been around for decades and carry a good mix of private and trade sales. A good option for registering interest in particular locations or types of boats (basically Rightmove for boats). And, if narrow boats are your thing (or could be), have a look at the Historic Narrowboat Club for information and guidance on what to look for.

Sea is calm this evening, hopefully the lifeboat can stay at home.

Two houses with snow potential

I've woken up to snow today. Well, snow-ish - mostly pavements like glass covered by a white dusting that fools you with its prettiness. 

Anyway, now me and the hound are back from our slip-sliding walk and are hunkered down with treats and the fire, I thought I'd find a couple of wrecks for you today in locations that do proper snow.

And I'm going to start here, top of the tree price-wise to properties I'd usually choose, and more tired than a wreck, but absolutely beautiful.

Ingleside House is in the borders town of Hawick. It's a mixture of Arts and Crafts princess palace with 1950s housewife decor. The challenge for whoever takes it on will - hopefully - be how much of both you decide to keep.

On the ground floor are three reception rooms, kitchen with walk-in pantry, large utility room, boot room and wine store. There's a gorgeous entrance hall and a downstairs loo.

It's that plaque left on the stairs ('Queen of the garden') that gets me. And yes, her gardens are still beautiful.

On the first floor are five bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a further bedroom on the second floor and an enormous games/playroom - possibly big enough for one of Sir Rod's trains sets. 

The house has lovely wrap-around gardens, garage, brick outbuildings, a summer house and large greenhouse. It sits in a quiet area of Hawick - the largest of the border towns, with everything a pretty and popular tourist town has to offer.

On the market at offers over £460k through Bannerman Burke. More details, pictures and video on the agent's site here and on Rightmove here.

My second pick (top picture and below) is this part-finished renovation project sitting in the grounds of a Scottish estate.

Keeper's Cottage on the Cambusmore Estate, Sutherland, has planning permission, architect drawings and a fair bit of work already done to update it. To be honest, I'm puzzled why you'd get this far and then drop it onto the market at under £160k?

Planning was applied for in 2023 and approved February last year to remove that wooden extension and replace it with a fancy brick and render and big windows build. 

It doesn't look like that work has started and don't know what the status/issues are with the current plastered extension or whether you'd be able to just work with what's there. You'll need to ask questions because there'll be a deadline on starting the approved works.

The current owner isn't Cambusmore Estate's owners and may live 600 miles away, so perhaps plans for renovating a holiday home/let just proved too difficult at that distance? Or perhaps the agent's instruction that "no further land is available" indicates Cambusmore's owners' control over future development? 

Anyway, a big enough garden space for most of us and the location is absolutely breathtaking. 

Downstairs are two reception rooms, kitchen, separate utility room and loo, plus that large lounge extension and a downstairs shower room and store. Upstairs are three bedrooms and a bathroom.

It currently shares a septic tank with the Big House; you'd need to install your own. Access looks ok the estate is on the A9 and given it's a visitor destination with its own holiday lets, access around the estate should also be good, if needing negotiation for your trades and trucks. 

On the market at offers over £155k through Paul Coutts agency. Details, more pictures and videos on the agent's site here and on Rightmove here.

The snow has gone while I've worked on this, replaced by a biting wind the east coast excels at. My 'to-do' garden is looking even wetter and scruffier without its icing-sugar coating. The gnome is the gnome.