Ancient woodland encircles this four-bedroom country cottage and its tranquil grounds of approximately two plus acres*. The stone-built home offers a unique prospect: occupants can become stewards of the environment and live off the grid - a private solar farm within a paddock grants the opportunity to embrace this renewable energy source. *Awaiting verification of the full land value, but believed to be in excess of the 2 acres quoted.
Sallow Vallets
Ancient woodland encircles this four-bedroom country cottage and its tranquil grounds of approximately 2.4 acres. The stone-built home offers a unique prospect: occupants can become stewards of the environment and live off the grid - a solar farm within a paddock grants the opportunity to embrace this renewable energy source.
Seller's Insight:
Forty years ago, we relocated our family to the enchanting Forest of Dean, and quickly fell in love with this fascinating house in its picturesque location in the middle of the woods - surrounded by trees yet close enough to civilisation. The children thoroughly enjoyed growing up with all the outside space and to be able to generate as much noise as they desired, or on a snowy day in the winter to go tobogganing in the woods – our goats even joined us at times!
Being able to go straight out into the woods for long walks or cycle rides is wonderful. And the sight and smell of the bluebells just outside our gate in the spring is delightful. Parties in the garden in summer are great. No neighbours to disturb with our music being played through the outside speakers, and there is plenty of space to put up tents or bring camper vans for those staying overnight.
Today, our grandchildren love to visit and play games of badminton or football – and are saddened by our impending move. These days our grownup friends enjoy a more leisurely game of croquet or Kubb when they come to visit!
What can be better than going to sleep to the sound of an owl hooting or waking to the sound of the dawn chorus, then looking out the window to see deer grazing in the woods? Being off grid encouraged us to develop a solar-powered electricity system. We had our first set of solar panels back in the early 90s, and since then, solar technology has significantly advanced, as has our array of panels. Presently, our system efficiently provides electricity for two-thirds of the year through solar power alone, with the generator operating for only two to three hours daily during winter's shortest days.
An off-grid opportunity:
Sallow Vallets Lodge is set in a wholly serene spot. The home presents an unusual opportunity; to reduce your carbon footprint, return to the beauty of the world and live a sustainable lifestyle. While the cottage does not have mains electricity, it does have its own array of solar panels within an enclosed paddock (circa 1.8 acres of the total 2.4 acre plot) - these provide renewable power and self-sufficiency for eight months of the year. There is a plant room that accommodates chargers, inverters, and a battery. Within the home, there are tablets - housed under the staircase - which operate as a control centre. During the winter months, a diesel generator supplements the shortfall in solar power, and this is accommodated within a stone outbuilding.
The home at a glance:
Sallow Vallets was originally constructed in 1811 and served as a forester's lodge. The main entrance leads into a dual aspect orangery, which frames a view over the glorious garden. The space carries a tiled floor and a carved plaque on the stone wall - above the home's original front door - to commemorate the property's inception. This leads into the first reception room; a handsome space that may ideally serve as a formal dining room due to its proximity to the kitchen. A door to the right leads into a sitting room, which carries a wood-burning stove and a window overlooking a barbeque terrace within the garden. Plenty of light pours into the kitchen - an area which exhibits the solar farm. This includes base and-wall mounted units with reconstituted granite worktops as well as a breakfast bar. In addition, there is room for a cooker and a fridge freezer plus space and plumbing for a dishwasher. A door in the far corner leads through into a substantially sized utility room which presents a wealth of storage space. There is space and plumbing for a washing machine and a tumble dryer and plumbing in situ for an additional sink. The ground floor of the property also includes a dual-aspect double bedroom, which presents a good set-up for multi-generational living. The room is positioned near a shower room - complete with a corner shower, WC and a basin. Within this zone of the home, there is a door presenting an alternative entrance, allowing for additional independence.
The top floor of the property houses three more double bedrooms. Of these, the master is a beautifully bright, dual-aspect space which enjoys an elevated view over the solar farm and the woodland beyond. There is also a wealth of built-in storage that stretches across one side of the room and this is equipped with pull-out hanging rails and drawer space. The family bathroom on this level of the property contains a clawfoot bath, a corner shower, a basin and a WC.
The Great Outdoors:
Outside, Sallow Vallets Lodge boasts a south-facing garden, which is fully enclosed, and a wooden gate presents an entrance into the forest - giving access to thousands of acres of hikes or bike rides through the wilderness. A patio terrace wraps around the orangery and there is a brick-built barbeque within this zone. As the cottage boasts total privacy; occupants can play music enthusiastically - through the fitted outside speakers - without fear of upsetting any nearby residents.
On the opposing side of the home, the solar panels are contained within a fenced-off field, but there is ample space within this paddock to also establish chicken coops, beehives or a kitchen garden - but it is worth noting that there are already some raised beds around the east side of the home. In terms of parking, there is a large gated turning circle - planted with a variety of vibrant blooms - and this gives ample space to park and manoeuvre several vehicles at once.
Location:
Sallow Vallets Lodge is set on the northwest edge of the Royal Forest of Dean - an area which offers 24,000 acres of magnificent countryside, award-winning picnic sites, family cycle routes and gorgeous walks, as well as a huge selection of outdoor pursuits.
The country home is set in a wondrously private spot without any immediate neighbours. It is situated on the perimeter of the peaceful village of Lydbrook which offers a wealth of local amenities including a primary school - rated as 'Good' by Ofsted - plus a post office, convenience store, health centre and three reputable pubs. The village offers lovely walks and, as it is set within the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lydbrook is a popular spot for tourists, particularly during the summer months. Various companies offer a broad range of river pursuits – such as canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding - which showcase the spectacular River Wye.
General Services:
Mains water. Mains gas central heating. Private drainage. Off-grid electricity via solar panels and a diesel generator. Satellite internet provider (Starlink). There is also the potential to reinstate the original rainwater system. Please speak to the sales team for more information.
Local authority:
Forest of Dean District Council. Tax band D. Tenure Freehold
Directions:
From Ross-on-Wye, take the B4234 following the River Wye past Walford and Bishopswood. At the junction just after River Wye Lodge at Lower Lydbrook, turn left and journey up the hill through the village to the crossroads. Turn right and the left-hand turn-off to Sallow Vallets Lodge is a quarter of a mile up the hill and along a forest track.
What3Words: jiggle.overtime.snuggled
Distances:
Coleford 4 miles • Monmouth 10 miles • Ross-on-Wye 10 miles • Gloucester 17 miles • Chepstow
17 miles • Cheltenham 25 miles• (All distances are approximate)
Agent's note: The exact plot size is an estimate and needs to be verified by solicitors.
Due to the electricity being off-grid, supply is limited at any given time. Please speak to the sales team for more information ahead of booking a viewing.
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