... a mile from Yarcombe, Sheafhayne is a superbly positioned, Grade II*, Elizabethan manor house, likened by the Sunday Times to ‘a full-sized game of Cluedo’. Originally a medieval hall house and the shooting lodge of Sir Francis Drake's Yarcombe estate which has been in the same family for 400 years and has 2,500 acres of farmland (beef and dairy cattle) through which flows the River Yarty (trout fishing available). You are welcome to visit the farm. This is East Devon at its best.

From the large and beautiful garden, the lawn fades - with the aid of a ha-ha - into countryside. A wild garden/orchard with mown paths is at the end of a pergola walk with wisteria and a perfectly placed seat; nearby, a stream (unfenced). On the other side of the huge lawn (croquet) is a shallow rill (unfenced). Huge games room (air hockey, table tennis, table football) in the garden. In front of the house is a flagstoned and paved terrace with sundial and, through a stone arch with wrought iron gate, a sunken garden, very sheltered and peaceful. The entrance to the house is from a formal courtyard with fine views over the estate. The house has been extensively refurbished carefully and well, and the beams, Tudor panelling, flagstones, mullioned windows, old oak floorboards and doors are wonderful. It has tremendous character.

Big stone entrance porch and heavy ribbed oak door leads to flagstoned, panelled hall with huge, medieval, walk-in ornamental fireplace, beams and window seat (this room is as big as most people's living rooms). Off it, the oak-panelled, oak-floored drawing room with open fire, four windows, CD player. Billiard room - another huge, long room with four large windows, William Morris - designed wallpaper, seats, massive fireplace (woodburner) and a full-sized billiard table. Off this, a small hall, shower-room (suite), and a double bedroom (zip-linked 6’ bed) with lovely views across the countryside. The dining room (banqueting room) has finely carved Hamstone ornamental fireplace, piano (tuned) and dining table seating 24. Next door is the fitted kitchen/breakfast room, with four door Aga plus electric cooker (double oven) and ceramic hob, big island in the middle, breakfast table with window seats, two dishwashers, microwave, two fridges, big freezer; beyond, a small children's playroom and a proper old-fashioned larder/wine store and former butler’s pantry, laundry room (washing machine, tumble drier), downstairs loo, and back door to stables and enclosed back grassed courtyard (good for young children: toys, sandpit, barbecue).

Four staircases (from billiard room, hall, back scullery, and one steep boxed-off spiral) of varying importance lead to ten more bedrooms, five bathrooms (suites, two with separate showers), four shower-rooms (suites); all the bedrooms are en suite except two which share one large shower-room (suite). Some of the rooms have interconnecting doors; however, all can be bolted and individually accessed. Some have lovely panelling, others exceptional views; some, very wide floorboards; most have Hamstone or cast iron fireplaces (ornamental); three have clothes hanging space on the landing. ‘Alexandra’s’ (above the drawing room) has a 5' four-poster bed - which is 7’ long! There are a further 4 double bedrooms (all 5’ beds) and 4 twin rooms (with linkable beds to make 6’ doubles). ‘The Playroom’ has four single beds or a double.

2 TVs/DVD/video. Logs included. Professional catering and ready meals available. Maid service by arrangement. Cautionary Deposit £300. Floor plan available. Pub, 1½ miles.