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St Mary's Wood, Devon - About 3 ¾ acres, £35,000
The setting of St Mary's Wood is perfect for escaping from the busy world to your own personal retreat with the added benefit of being conveniently located to explore the ancient landscapes of Dartmoor. This fine woodland has formed an integral part of the history of the local village of Ashbury and part of the old estate of Ashbury Manor.
The entrance-way to St Mary's Wood is approached via impressive ancient stone gate posts and stone bridge with a build date of 1830 marked above the arch. These features have been recently re-discovered and form part of the original features of the Ashbury Manor. You can see the craftsmanship in the stone work on the right hand side of the bridge which must have been a showpiece entrance created by the owners of the estate.
As you follow the track along to St Mary's Wood you follow a Ha-Ha wall on your left hand side. Reaching the end of this wall you enter a meadow and looking up the hill to the left you will see the historic St Mary's Church which overlooks the woodland. It is still in use today on special occasions such as Easter and Christmas. There is no electricity in the church and speaking to a local farmer the church is aglow with candle light for these gatherings!
The main entrance track leading to St Mary's Wood has historical interest, apparently being the original drive to the great Ashbury Manor, which sadly no longer exists. There are many local legends as to why the manor was destroyed. Another piece of local history is that in 1912 a William Dennis, born in the village in 1886, died in the Titanic disaster.
The entrance to St Mary's Wood can be found by the car parking area which is convenient for those who wish to drive to their own woodland. The woodland slopes down from its western boundary to the river Lew, the centre of which forms its eastern boundary. Going through the entrance, a good track meanders down, and in the spring through, a carpet of bluebells and wild garlic (or ransoms as they are also known). St Mary's Wood is simply glorious in the spring with an outstanding display of bluebells as seen in some of the photographs. Keep an eye out while you walk down for a pair of Great spotted woodpeckers that have historically used the woodland. The woodland has a mixture of mature ash, oak and beech trees with a good variety of ground flora. If you are quiet you may see one of the roe deer that frequent the wood. Badgers are also resident; you may be lucky enough to see them frolicking together and digging up bluebell roots on a summer's evening if you sit patiently, up wind near one of their holes. There are many footprints of small mammals in the mud on the edges of the river, see if you can spot any of these tracks. A great project to do with kids is to make plaster moulds of any of these animal tracks to paint! This woodland is ideal for those who wish to encourage biodiversity and conservation or engage in small forestry projects.
Be sure to carry on down through the woodland to discover the easterly boundary of the woodland, which is the centre of the River Lew. Whilst by the river close your eyes and enjoy the sound of the birdsong and the tranquil sound of the river as it gently flows over the rocks, a great place to unwind and forget modern day life. A better picnic spot would be hard to find!
Near Ashbury you will find a well-known golf course and a few miles away the town of Okehampton which has an excellent range of shops, cafes, pubs and takeaways. If you are looking for a place to lunch or stay when at the wood, the local Highwayman Inn is an unusual treat!
The purchasers of the woodland will be asked to enter into a covenant to ensure the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of adjoining woodlands and meadows.
- Price: £35,000 Freehold
- Location: Ashbury, Near Okehampton, Devon
- Size: About 3 ¾ acres for sale
View of St Mary's Wood with snow covered Dartmoor in the background
Bluebells in the spring
The River Lew flows along the boundary
Track within the woodland for sale
St Mary's Wood in the snow
A beautiful woodland for family forestry
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Boundaries:
All boundaries are indicated in bright green.
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How to find this woodland
You are welcome to visit this wood by yourself - please take these sales details with you, and do remember to check that it is still available. If you have seen the woodland and wish to be accompanied on a second more detailed visit please contact our local manager.
Local manager
Stuart Brooking
01392 436229 or 07801 789215
stuart@woodlands.co.uk
Read more about Stuart.
Location
OS Landranger: OS No 191
Grid ref: SX 510 980
Nearest post code: EX20 3PE
Maps
- See our map of the area below.
- See our detailed map below.
- See Ordnance Survey map of the area from Bing maps
- See aerial photos of the area from Google maps
Directions
Leave the A30 at the Sourton Cross Junction, and take the A386 towards Bideford. At the first roundabout (Fowley Cross) take the 1st exit onto the A3079 signposted towards Halwill, Holsworthy, Bude. Continue on this road for about 1.5 miles and take the first right turn, sign posted towards Ashbury. Continue straight on this road for 3 miles until you pass the road sign at Kennel Bridge cross and see the 'Woodlands for sale' sign on your right hand side. Carefully park outside the entrance. The owner will be given a key to the padlock on the gate.
Climb carefully over the gate and walk up the left hand track. Follow this track all the way until you reach a meadow. Continue along the track, keeping the stock fence to your left until you come to an opening to a parking area on the right hand side prior to the track going downhill. Turn right into the parking area where you will find the main entrance to the wood, signed St Mary's Wood on a ride stop just on your right. Ensure you follow the track down through the woodland to enjoy the beautiful riverside walk.
Satnav/GPS note: the postcode EX20 3PE is for the point shown by the red dot on the location map.
Boundaries:
All boundaries are indicated in bright green.
Email updates for this region
Our regional managers are often out working in our woodlands, so if you email an offer and want to be sure it has been received, please phone our manager on his or her mobile phone. The first offer at the stated price which is accepted, whether by phone or email, has priority.
All woodlands are sold at a fixed price, and include free membership of the Small Woods Association and the Royal Forestry Society, as well as £300 towards paying for a course (or courses) to help with managing and enjoying your woodland.
These particulars are for guidance only and, though believed to be correct, do not form part of any contract. Woodland Investment Management Ltd hereby give notice under section 21 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 of their interest in the land being sold.
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