Detached house for sale in Larus Lea, Charmouth, Devon DT6

This immaculately finished seaside house has terrific views over Lyme Bay on the Jurassic Coast. Vast expanses of glazing and an elevated position afford uninterrupted views out towards the sea from its large south-facing balcony. Laid out over two storeys, the house has an internal footprint of over 2,200 sq ft, with four en suite bedrooms, excellent storage, and a spacious rear garden. There is also a field across the private road to the front of the house which may be available by separate negotiation. The house is brilliantly placed to enjoy the surrounding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and nearby beaches, including at Charmouth, which is just a ten-minute walk away.

The Tour

A glazed door opens to an entrance hall laid with flint black porcelain tile. Rhythmically arranged timber panels add a tactility to one side, concealing cloakroom storage.

Internally, the open-plan reception area and kitchen ring with light from immense glazing across the south-facing, sea-oriented wall and oak flooring underfoot flows to the balcony terrace, bridging the divide between indoors and out. The main living space is a generously proportioned area that lends well to versatile contemporary living; framed by a pitched ceiling, the room has an airy, almost sculptural feel. A dark wood-burning fire with a dramatic flue contrasts with the surrounding white walls and provides a warming focal point during the cooler months.

On the opposite side of the room is the kitchen, delineated from the rest of the space by a large kitchen island beneath pendant lighting. Formed of sleek black cabinetry by Schuller, the kitchen has integrated appliances by Miele, AEG, and Bora, and there is also a Quooker hot tap.

Ascending to the upper level, a bright ensuite bedroom lies off a half landing. The main bedroom suite is also in this section of the house and has breathtaking views over the sea; fittingly appointed in a tidal blue, the room has plenty of concealed storage, and its en suite bathroom houses a walk-in shower.

The two other bedrooms also have en suites and follow similarly serene colour palettes. There is also a designated study area on the ground floor, with plenty of shelving and access to the south facing terrace.

Additionally, there is a garage which gives access to extensive storage below the ground floor.

Outdoor Space

Merging the interior and exterior spaces, the open-plan reception room backs onto a particularly generous terrace with space for a dining table and outdoor seating. South-facing, the spot is brilliantly placed for relaxing in the sun against the backdrop of a particularly lovely stretch of the Jurassic Coast and Portland on the horizon.

The outside spaces have been carefully designed with ease of maintenance in mind, while providing colour and interest throughout the seasons. Sunny and sheltered seating areas have been well-placed across the terrace and gardens for taking in the views, screened by a line of pleached hornbeams. A lawn is bounded by a low walls, and Blue Lias form the stone steps, tieing in with the material palette across the house. There is also a large driveway with space for multiple cars.

The Area

The house lies idyllically close to The Jurassic Coast, a hugely diverse and beautiful landscape underpinned by incredible geology of global importance. In 2001 it was designated as a unesco World Heritage Site for the outstanding value of its rocks, fossils and landforms. It remains England’s only natural World Heritage Site. The Jurassic Coast begins at Orcombe Point in Exmouth, Devon, and continues for 95 miles to Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage, Dorset.

The area is renowned for local food producers and independently-run cafés and restaurants. River Cottage is a ten-minute drive away and English Oak Vineyard is reachable in around 20 minutes. Trill Farm Garden is a community of local organic market gardeners delivering a weekly box of fresh vegetables and In My Back Yard delivers food from various nearby producers. The Seaside Boarding House, a popular spot with local residents for its incredible views of the sea from its terrace, is a 20-minute drive along the coast into West Dorset.

Lyme Regis can be reached in around five minutes by car, with a great selection of independent shops, including Lyme Book Shop, a stellar fishmonger near the harbour, Papa Luca Vintage and Ryder and Hope. There is also a museum and a theatre for music, theatre, comedy and National Theatre Live screenings; it is also host to the Lyme Regis Film Society. Tom’s Lyme Regis is a restaurant on the seafront specialising in local produce and is great for a morning coffee with a sea view. Lilac’s wine bar and restaurant offers excellent food, and for pizza, there is Poco’s, which has an upstairs terrace overlooking the beach.

The handsome market town of Bridport is around ten minutes' drive away. The town has gained a reputation as the gateway to the Jurassic Coast, with West Bay beach within walking distance of Bridport’s bustling centre. Here, dramatic golden cliffs rise above the fine shingle strand and views along Chesil beach and Portland island are quite spectacular. There is much to do in Bridport; in addition to plenty of locally stocked grocers, cafés, pubs and a post office, the town is thriving with independent antique sellers and specialist bookshops, as well as an impressive Art-Deco Cinema (Electric Palace) that is still family run. Many of these amenities are located on South Street, which is transformed twice weekly for the historic Bridport market. The Bridport Art Centre is on the doorstep, presenting a year-round programme of visual arts, theatre, dance, comedy, music, spoken word and films and screenings. A local Waitrose is a convenient in-town amenity.

There are some excellent schools in the area, including Woodroffe School, which has recently been rated as "Good" by Ofsted, and Colyton Grammar School, one of the country’s top state schools.

Axminster Station is just over five miles away with a direct service to London Waterloo which runs in just over two and a half hours.

Council Tax Band: G