Location, location, location! A wonderful opportunity to embrace the dream of life here in Lake District and escape to this quintessential Lakeland former farmstead. A charismatic house and detached barn embracing a phenomenally private rural setting in grounds of c.1.84 acres and commanding fabulous southerly aspect with unspoiled, panoramic views of the Duddon Estuary and the wider surrounding fells and hills. You can walk, run or cycle straight from the door with a network of lanes and footpaths giving access to the major peaks and Wainwright fells of the central Lakes. Rising behind the house is Stickle Pike, it’s where you’ll find Stickle Tarn (perfect for wild swimming if you like a dip in nature). Truly a landmark property, you may have even spotted Hare Hall (maybe without realising) as the house is visible in the far distance, a mere white dot on the landscape, when driving along the A5092 towards Broughton Mills. The house itself offers a porch, boot room, generous double fronted reception room, kitchen, library area, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. A detached barn provides a first-floor apartment of open plan bedroom/sitting/dining kitchen and a bathroom and on the ground floor, a workshop, laundry and fuel storage barn. There are delightfully informal gardens around the house, an unexpected formal knot garden, a multitude of seating areas, ample parking and direct access to the Stickle Pike and from there many of the high fells of the central Lake District – if you love walking, Hare Hall as a prime position! It’s an absolute gem; what a privileged invitation to be the next custodians of this superb period property and write the next chapter of its history. Location If you are seeking total immersion in the great outdoors, then this is quite possibly the perfect location for you. Getting there is as much about the journey as the destination, from the M6, the roads become progressively narrower and quieter, undulating and winding, the scenery becomes gradually less populated, more dramatic with high fells dominating the skyline. As the miles clock up, it’s possible to feel yourself relaxing as the unspoilt fields and fells, virtually unchanged over the centuries, envelope you and welcome you in. Hare Hall is the ideal setting for retirement, working from home or spending valuable time off; life here exists in its own little bubble, a world away from the hum of traffic, glare of street lights (the nights are fabulously starry!), and noise of any neighbours (providing you don’t count the sheep!). Secluded and private, but not isolated, within the western fringes of the National Park, it is nestled in the peaceful and enchantingly named Lickle Valley. Broughton Mills comprises a scattered hamlet of cottages and farmsteads, all served by a well-supported family run characterful pub, The Blacksmiths Arms, a village hall and a church. The parish magazine is a ready source of local information and the social calendar as this is an active and welcoming rural community with an annual highlight being the Millom & Broughton Agricultural Show held each August. Far from the madding crowds, Hare Hall is exceptionally well placed for all this famous UNESCO World Heritage Site has to offer residents and holiday makers alike. The beauty of this lessor known valley is that life here is quiet and tranquil, without the crowds and traffic often associated with the honey pot resorts in the central Lake District. From here you can explore the majestic high fells straight from the garden gate. The mountains, valleys and footpaths providing never ending options for exploration, but all with the joy of returning home to your own fire side and bed every evening. If you do decide to venture out to see the sights or are entertaining visiting guests then destinations such as Coniston, Hawkshead, Bowness on Windermere and Ambleside are within easy reach for day trips. For everyday needs, the nearest town is Broughton in Furness. Many local events centre on this charming historic town with its Georgian cobbled market square and impressive central obelisk. Broughton has a range of shops, including a fabulous butcher’s shop, traditional bakery, Post Office as well as cafes and pubs, doctors’ and vets’ surgeries and a fuel garage. Slightly further afield, there’s a good range of shops and amenities in the delightful Cumbrian market town of Ulverston with Booths, M&S Food and Aldi supermarkets all present. If working from home isn’t for you then Hare Hall is surprisingly accessible for commuting to Ulverston, Barrow and the central Lake District. Step inside If you like period features, nooks and crannies then you’ll appreciate all that this former farmhouse has to offer; flag floors, a salt/spice cupboard, the slate shelves of the former larder (now incorporated into the sitting room and useful for books), exposed woodwork (ceiling beams, roof trusses and window lintels) and reassuringly thick walls. Believed to date back to the early 1700s, a substantial two storey extension was added in 1982, a seamless addition, the only clue being a two foot thick inner wall between the kitchen and the sitting room. The present owners had been living in New Zealand for over twenty years and were looking to ‘move back home’. Hare Hall was tired and in need of care and attention, but it suited their brief of a period home in the heart of the Lakes with open access to great walking country. Regrettably, they now find themselves in a situation where they need to be closer to family further south and so with heavy hearts they are putting their beloved Hare Hall on the market, but they leave confident that it is in far better order than when they took it on and are sure in the knowledge that the new owners will benefit from all that they have done. In their brief time here they have been busy, the most sizeable elements of their Hare Hall renovations being: Internally, a newly installed oil central heating boiler, hot water storage tank, oil fired Aga, renewal of the majority of the plumbing and a number of replacement period style cast iron radiators, particle and UV filters for the private water supply, heritage style PVC windows (flush casement with attractive monkey tail handles), staircase refurbishment (including a reclaimed 1700s balustrade, a deep oak rail and elm finials on the newel posts), renovation of handcrafted solid pine kitchen cabinets and extra units added, joiner made bespoke landing bookcases, brass look toggle light switches on oak plinths, heritage style heated towel rail and selective new bathroom taps, decoration throughout, new door latches in a period pewter style, and finally, but not exhaustively, all new plush carpets (fully washable, essential in a country home!), with good quality underlay, an absolute treat for the feet. Externally the work continued with an overhaul of the chimneys (stacks were pointed, flues capped and a new flue liner installed for the Aga), external elevations were painted with Sandex breathable paint (which seals the walls from moisture ingress and is said to make the interior warmer by several degrees). Sliding glazed doors were added to the workshop (with the old barn doors remaining on the exterior) to improve light and warmth. There are great views from Hare Hall, the barn opposite was built at a slight angle, thereby opening the aspect from the house itself. Views from a couple of bedrooms have a super view across the Lickle Valley towards the Duddon Estuary. Follow us as we take you round. There are three entry doors, a stable door straight into the kitchen, a front porch into the sitting room (lovely to keep open on a warm day and allow the breeze to waft through) and what is probably the main door for guests, on the side porch, as it opens into the boot room. The flagged kitchen has a welcoming farmhouse feel centered around the country living essential, an Aga, the pot sink provides a delightful view for those washing up. From the kitchen, there is a lovely long aspect through into the heavily beamed main reception room, the bottom half of a stable door keeps dogs on the flags and allows the warmth of the Aga to flow through. Quintessentially Lakeland, it exudes character and charm with a wood burning stove at the far end. It would originally have been a kitchen, pantry, parlour and hall, but as one large space it has ample room for both dining and relaxed seating; a super room for family life and when entertaining. Completing the ground floor is a bathroom with a heritage style suite and a flagged floor. The understairs area was opened to create an open feel and area for display, the stairwell itself is full of character with period features reinstated having been removed over the preceding decades. A window on the half landing looks out onto the fell, Herdwick sheep sometimes are to seen peering inside! The landing opens and includes a reading area with a bespoke wall of bookcases that have been hand crafted to neatly fit in the undereaves area. There’s further storage here providing an airing cupboard and wardrobe. The light and airy principal bedroom has a ceiling open to the roof’s apex and enjoys a triple aspect, the view from the bed is particularly delightful with French windows opening to the garden. The main bathroom is packed with character, a roll top bath taking centre stage, a heritage style wash basin and a high-level flush loo from The Albion Bath Company. The second bedroom has a cracking view across the Lickle Valley and open access to hanging space created in the under eaves ...
