A landmark country estate with 24 acres, cottages and exceptional lifestyle scope

Some houses are easy to describe.

Bealy Court is not one of them.

Set within approximately 24 acres of rolling North Devon countryside, close to Chulmleigh, this is a substantial Grade II listed Georgian country house with scale, history and rare opportunity in equal measure.

The main house extends to around 5,200 sq ft and offers seven bedrooms, generous reception space and the presence you would expect from a country residence of this age and standing. But Bealy Court is far more than the house alone.

Beyond the front door, the estate unfolds.

There is a courtyard of nine former holiday cottages, converted from traditional stone barns and ranging from one to three bedrooms. There are two lakes stocked with carp, woodland, pasture, an indoor swimming pool, games room, tennis court, outbuildings, former stables, piggeries, parking and a substantial detached timber pole barn with possible future potential, subject to the necessary consents.

It is part private home, part country estate, part lifestyle business.

And that is where the real interest begins.

Bealy Court has never been a bland country house. Years ago, it was featured in Devon Life for its bold interiors, vivid colour, antique furniture, African pictures, black painted floors, fishing lakes, Dartmoor views and rooms filled with character gathered over time.

That sense of personality still runs through the place.

The value here is not only in the acreage, buildings or commercial possibilities. It is in the atmosphere. The privacy. The water. The land. The feeling that this is a proper estate with depth, texture and story.

The main house gives Bealy Court its heart. It has the space for family life, guests, entertaining, working from home or multi-generational living. The cottages add a clear commercial angle. The holiday business is understood to have been closed for several years, and the cottages would now benefit from upgrading, but the structure of the opportunity remains clear.

With investment, presentation and the right approach, Bealy Court could once again become a substantial rural accommodation business. It could suit holiday letting, exclusive-use stays, retreats, wellbeing breaks, creative courses, corporate away-days, educational visits or specialist residential use, subject to the necessary permissions and compliance.

The leisure facilities add another layer. The indoor pool, games room, changing areas, tennis court and grounds create far more than just accommodation. They give the estate flexibility, whether for private enjoyment, guest use or a broader rural hospitality concept.

The land is a major part of the appeal. Around 24 acres include pasture, woodland, wildlife-rich areas, two lakes and open Devon countryside. There is room for horses, guests, family, business or simply space to breathe.

The detached barn is another point of interest. It is understood to need significant attention, but may offer future scope for equestrian use, storage, workshop space, leisure, events, ancillary estate use or redevelopment, subject to planning, listed-building consent and all other required approvals.

Bealy Court is not for a passive buyer looking for a polished, turnkey estate.

That is exactly the point.

There is work to do. The cottages need fresh energy. Parts of the estate need investment. Any buyer will need vision, patience and proper funds. But the ingredients that matter most are already here: a Georgian house, cottages, land, lakes, leisure facilities, outbuildings, privacy and history.

For the right buyer, Bealy Court could become a remarkable family home, a country estate with income, a revived holiday cottage business, a rural retreat, a wellness destination, an equestrian base or a longer-term project with significant future potential.

Bealy Court is a rare North Devon lifestyle estate with substance, flexibility and backstory. A place for someone who wants more than a house and is ready to take something special and make it work again.

A key part of Bealy Court is its attractive courtyard of nine stone-built holiday cottages, converted from a range of south-facing 19th century barns and set within the wider rural estate.

The cottages are arranged around a traditional courtyard and have been designed for holiday use, with a flexible mix of one, two and three bedroom accommodation, private terraces, equipped kitchens and comfortable living spaces. Many retain character features including exposed timbers, vaulted ceilings and wood-burning stoves, giving the accommodation a warm, authentic Devon feel.

The cottage complex offers strong lifestyle and income potential. The accommodation works well for couples, families and larger groups, with each cottage having its own identity and practical layout. The wider setting adds further appeal, with gardens, a croquet lawn, ample parking and far-reaching countryside views.

Alongside the cottages is an excellent leisure and entertaining complex, positioned close to the courtyard and designed to enhance the guest experience. This includes an indoor swimming pool with glazed doors opening onto south and west-facing terraces, a games room with a full-sized antique billiards table and pool table, changing rooms, laundry, plant room and useful storage.

It gives the estate a proper hospitality focus and creates clear scope for family gatherings, guest entertainment, retreats or a more developed lifestyle business, subject to any required consents.

Together, the cottages and entertaining facilities provide a substantial commercial and lifestyle element, either as an established holiday letting business, a complementary use alongside the main house, or a flexible multi-generational arrangement.

Roundhouse, sleeps 2

A charming one bedroom cottage with an open-plan living, kitchen and dining space, opening through French doors to a private terrace and garden. The double bedroom has an en suite bathroom, making this an ideal cottage for couples or short rural breaks.

Duck, sleeps 2

A characterful reverse level cottage, with the en suite double bedroom arranged on the ground floor and the open-plan kitchen, living and dining area above. This layout gives the living space a more elevated feel and works well for couples looking for a compact, self-contained retreat.

Blueberry, sleeps 4

A two bedroom cottage with an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area, plus French doors leading out to a private terrace. Both double bedrooms are arranged on the first floor and each has its own en suite, making this a strong option for two couples or a small family.

Strawberry, sleeps 6

A larger cottage arranged over two floors, with kitchen and dining space on the ground floor opening to a private terrace. There is also a twin bedroom and family bathroom at ground level, while the first floor provides a living room with vaulted ceilings, two further bedrooms and a WC. A useful family-sized cottage with flexible sleeping arrangements.

Orange Tree, sleeps 6

A spacious three bedroom cottage with the kitchen and dining room on the ground floor, opening onto a private terrace. The ground floor includes a double bedroom with en suite shower room and a twin bedroom with en suite shower room. Upstairs, there is a living room with wood burner, a further twin bedroom and a bathroom. This is one of the strongest family or group cottages within the collection.

Apple, sleeps 4

A well-balanced two bedroom cottage with an L-shaped kitchen and dining room on the ground floor, opening through French doors to the private terrace. There is a double bedroom with en suite shower room on the ground floor, while the first floor includes a dual-aspect living room with large feature windows overlooking the courtyard, a further double bedroom and a family bathroom.

Lemon, sleeps 4

A two bedroom cottage with a double-aspect kitchen and dining room on the ground floor, opening to a private terrace. The ground floor also includes a double bedroom with en suite bathroom, while the first floor provides the living room and a twin bedroom with en suite bathroom. A practical cottage for families or guests who want separated bedroom spaces.

Plum, sleeps 6

A substantial cottage with an L-shaped open-plan kitchen and a large double-aspect living and dining room, with French doors leading to a private terrace. The ground floor includes a separate WC and twin bedroom with en suite bathroom. Upstairs, there is a master bedroom with en suite shower room, a further double bedroom, a twin bedroom and a family bathroom. This is one of the most flexible cottages for larger families or groups.

Lime, sleeps 4

An reverse level cottage with two ground-floor bedrooms, including an en suite double bedroom and a twin bedroom with en suite shower room and French doors to the terrace. The first floor provides an open-plan kitchen and living room with a feature window, giving the main living space a bright, elevated feel.

The nine cottages at Bealy Court offer a clear opportunity to re-establish a substantial rural holiday letting business, subject to an element of refurbishment, recommissioning, compliance and the buyer’s own management approach.

For broad guidance only, and assuming the cottages were upgraded, well presented and professionally marketed, there may be potential to achieve gross holiday letting income in the region of £210,000 per annum.

This is based on an assumed average annual occupancy of around 45% across the cottage complex, allowing for stronger peak-season demand, softer shoulder-season bookings and reduced off-season occupancy. The business is understood not to have traded for some time, so this figure should not be treated as existing income, a forecast, valuation, warranty or representation. The figure is gross only and excludes all operating costs, including management, cleaning, laundry, utilities, insurance, repairs, compliance, pool running costs, staffing, platform fees, any business rates, VAT, tax, finance costs and capital expenditure.

Any future holiday letting, commercial use, residential conversion, leisure use or redevelopment will be subject to all necessary consents. Any purchaser must rely on their own enquiries and professional advice regarding income potential, lawful use, planning, licensing, tax, VAT, insurance, safety compliance, services, drainage, title and all other statutory or regulatory matters.

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Tenure: Freehold.

Local Authority: North Devon Council.

Council Tax: Main House is Band G. The former holiday cottage element may be subject to business rates depending on future use.

Services: Mains water and electricity are understood to be connected. The main house is understood to have oil-fired central heating. Private drainage and heating details for the holiday cottages are to be confirmed.

EPC: The property is understood to be exempt from requiring an EPC due to its listed status. Buyers should satisfy themselves on this point through their solicitor or relevant professional adviser.

Fixtures and Fittings: The holiday cottages were previously furnished and any contents, equipment, pool plant, machinery or business items will be confirmed by separate inventory.

Set quietly within the heart of rural North Devon, the Chulmleigh area offers a way of life that feels increasingly rare. It is peaceful, unspoilt and deeply connected to the surrounding countryside, yet still well placed for the coast, South Molton, Barnstaple, Exeter, Tiverton Parkway, the M5 and the wider South West.

This is the softer, quieter side of North Devon. Rolling farmland, wooded valleys, river walks, traditional villages and open skies shape daily life here. It is an area for those who want space, privacy and a stronger sense of place, without feeling remote or disconnected.

Chulmleigh itself is a well-regarded small town with a strong community, historic character, local facilities and a practical position between the coast and the main transport routes south. It offers everyday amenities, schooling, shops, local services and a traditional rural town atmosphere, while nearby villages and hamlets provide the appeal of country living, with lanes, footpaths, farmland and valley views forming part of the everyday backdrop.

One of the great strengths of this part of North Devon is its balance. Head north and the landscape opens towards some of the South West’s best-known beaches, including Saunton Sands, Croyde, Putsborough, Woolacombe, Instow and Westward Ho!. Surfing, swimming, golf, coastal walks and long beach days are all within reach, but you return home to somewhere calmer, greener and less exposed to the seasonal pace of the coast.

Travel south and east and the area connects well towards Crediton, Exeter, Tiverton Parkway and the M5. For buyers relocating from further afield, or those who still need occasional access to London, Bristol, the Midlands or Exeter, this position matters. It gives the Chulmleigh area the feeling of being properly rural, but not cut off.

The wider North Devon landscape adds further depth. Exmoor National Park lies to the north east, with its moorland, wooded combes, river valleys and far-reaching views. The Tarka Trail, the Taw and Torridge valleys and the area’s network of lanes and footpaths make walking, cycling and time outdoors part of normal life rather than something saved for holidays.

This is an area that suits buyers looking for more than a property. It appeals to those who want breathing room, a quieter rhythm, a real community and immediate access to countryside, while keeping the beaches, market towns and transport links within practical reach.

North Devon’s appeal is often described through its coastline, and rightly so, but the inland villages around Chulmleigh reveal another side of the region. Less obvious, less crowded and often more rewarding, they offer a grounded, rural quality of life with the coast in one direction and strong connections south in the other.

For many buyers, that combination is the point. Space, countryside, community, coastal access and practical links, all without giving up the privacy and peace that make this part of North Devon so special.

Despite its rural setting, the property is well placed for both local amenities and wider travel connections. Chulmleigh is around 4 miles away, South Molton is around 10 miles away, and the A361 North Devon Link Road can be reached at Moortown Cross, approximately 7.5 miles away. From there, the route connects east towards Tiverton, Tiverton Parkway and the M5, and west towards South Molton, Barnstaple and the North Devon coast.

Tiverton Parkway is around 27 miles away by car, providing direct mainline rail services to London Paddington, with the fastest services taking just under two hours. Exeter is around 26 miles away, offering city-centre shopping, dining, theatres, hospitals, university facilities and wider rail connections. Exeter Airport is around 31 miles away, giving access to UK and European destinations without the longer drive to Bristol.

Road connections are practical for this part of rural Devon. The A361 North Devon Link Road gives access to M5 Junction 27, Tiverton Parkway and the wider motorway network, while routes north and west connect towards Barnstaple, South Molton, Exmoor and the coast.

For schooling, the area offers a strong mix of local and independent options. Chulmleigh provides local schooling and everyday facilities, while Blundell’s School at Tiverton is around 20 miles away. West Buckland School, one of North Devon’s best-known independent schools, is around 19 miles away, suitable for both day pupils and weekly boarders.

Key destinations and connections. A summary.

All mileages and journey times are approximate, taken by car from EX18 7EG. Journey times can vary depending on route, traffic, weather and seasonal conditions.

Chulmleigh, 4 miles, approx. 10 minutes

A traditional small North Devon town with local facilities, schooling, shops, services and a strong community feel.

South Molton, 10 miles, approx. 20 minutes

A well-served market town with shops, supermarkets, schools, a livestock market, weekly pannier market and good access towards Exmoor.

A361 North Devon Link Road, Moortown Cross, 7.5 miles, approx. 15 minutes

The key east to west road link across North Devon, connecting towards South Molton, Barnstaple, Tiverton, the M5 and the wider region.

Tiverton Parkway Railway Station, 27 miles, approx. 40 to 45 minutes

Mainline rail services to London Paddington, with fastest services often just under two hours, plus connections towards Bristol, Exeter and the Midlands.

M5 Junction 27, approx. 27 miles, approx. 40 to 45 minutes

Practical motorway access for travel north and south, with Tiverton Parkway nearby.

Exeter City Centre, 26 miles, approx. 40 to 45 minutes

Cathedral city with shopping, restaurants, theatres, university facilities, hospitals and national rail connections.

Exeter Airport, approx. 31 miles, approx. 50 to 55 minutes

Convenient regional airport with UK and European routes.

Blundell’s School, Tiverton, approx. 20 miles, approx. 35 to 40 minutes

One of the South West’s best-known independent schools.

West Buckland School, approx. 19 miles, approx. 30 to 35 minutes

Renowned independent day and boarding school on the edge of Exmoor and within practical reach of the Chulmleigh area.

Taunton, approx. 40 miles, approx. 60 minutes

Regional centre with hospitals, shopping, county amenities and mainline rail services.

Saunton Sands and Croyde, approx. 31 to 33 miles, approx. 55 to 65 minutes

Golden sands, Atlantic surf, coastal walks, beach clubs, cafés and Saunton’s championship golf links.

Woolacombe, approx. 33 miles, approx. 55 to 60 minutes

One of North Devon’s best-known beaches, with wide sands, surf, coastal walks and easy access to Mortehoe.

Westward Ho! and Instow, approx. 28 to 32 miles, approx. 50 to 60 minutes

Estuary walks, long sands, coastal dining and family-friendly beach days within reach.

South Devon coast, approx. 45 to 50 miles, approx. 70 to 75 minutes

Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torbay and the South Devon coast are realistic day-trip options via Exeter.

Golf and country pursuits, nearby and within reach

Chulmleigh has its own local golf course, with further golf at Libbaton, Tiverton and Saunton. Riding, walking, cycling and country pursuits are part of the surrounding rural landscape, with Exmoor and the North Devon coast both within practical reach.

Any references to business potential, holiday letting, retreat use, events, equestrian use, redevelopment, alternative uses or future planning potential are subject to all necessary planning, listed-building, regulatory, licensing, title, lender and commercial consents. Buyers must satisfy themselves on the planning position, lawful use, title, services, compliance, condition, trading history, taxation, business viability, finance position and any future use they may wish to pursue.

The seller may reserve the right to include an uplift or overage provision in relation to the detached barn only, should future planning consent, change of use or enhanced development value be achieved. Any uplift, overage, lotting or title structure will be subject to negotiation and solicitor approval.

By Design North Devon & Exmoor, for themselves and for the vendors of this property, give notice that:

Particulars: These details are provided as a general outline for intending purchasers and do not constitute, nor form part of, any offer or contract.

Descriptions: All descriptions, dimensions, references to condition, necessary permissions, and other details are given in good faith and believed to be correct. Purchasers must not rely on them as statements of fact and should verify accuracy by inspection or otherwise.

Warranty: No person employed by By Design North Devon & Exmoor has authority to make or give any representation or warranty in relation to this property.

Measurements: All measurements are approximate. Floor plans are for illustrative identification only and may not be to scale.

Photography: Photographs are provided for general information only and should not be assumed to include any items shown. Images are not materially altered but may be enhanced for marketing purposes (e.g. skies, twilight effects, digital staging).

Services: Services, systems, and appliances have not been tested and no guarantee of condition or functionality is given. Purchasers should satisfy themselves as to suitability and working order.

Due Diligence: Buyers are responsible for verifying matters such as flood risk, private drainage compliance, planning consents, covenants, and all other property-related details before viewing or incurring expense.

Availability: Properties may be withdrawn or sold at any time. Buyers should confirm availability and up-to-date information prior to viewing.

Money Laundering Regulations: In compliance with the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended), all purchasers must provide proof of identity, address, source, and proof of funds before any sale can be agreed. By Design North Devon & Exmoor use Credas, an FCA-regulated provider, to complete these checks. A fee of £50 excluding VAT per buyer applies. A secure link will be issued. The property status cannot be changed to Sold Subject to Contract or a Memorandum of Sale produced until all checks are satisfactorily completed.