Dawn Evans loves horses and dogs and being in the open air so she wanted a house where she could combine all three.

She'd been looking for a suitable place for some time and when she came across The Pow at Great Orton, out in the countryside yet less than 10 minutes' drive from Carlisle, she knew her search was over.

There was a house but, more importantly, there was land where she could create equestrian facilities.

"There are three acres and they now have a stable block, all-weather school, paddock and woodland area," Dawn said. "It was just a field when I got here – the house did exist though.

"I loved the fact that the land on which I built the stables and so forth was very close to the house. I could look out of the window and see the horses – I wanted them that close.

"I had been looking for some time for a place like this so when it came along and it was so close to town, I thought this was the right house for me."

Dawn had just retired from Walkers Funeral Directors when she bought The Pow three years ago. The cottage was then single storey but she has transformed it to a stunning two-storey home. Now, for family reasons, she is having to sell.

"I've put a whole second floor in the house, taken one empty flat wall out and put in bifolding doors and glass on the second floor," she said. "I've installed a bedroom and bathroom upstairs.

"I've also done a fair bit of work on the gardens. I had to create a pond as I had fish at my other house and they were coming here with me so I've built a wildlife corner and had the driveway done drive with setts.

"It is now a nice cosy home, built of sandstone and clay dabbing. It has the new additions and a conservatory."

On the ground floor The Pow has a lovely large dining lounge which is full of light and additionally warmed by a multi-fuel stove, a kitchen, utility, sun room and conservatory.

The master bedroom suite is next to the conservatory and a second bedroom and the bathroom complete the ground-floor layout.

On the second floor is a bedroom with feature beams, exposed brickwork, sloping ceilings, roof lights and an open-plan en-suite area.

The paved driveway provides ample parking and the enclosed private cottage garden has established borders, trees and lawn with a shed and the pond.

"I like to lie in my bedroom and watch the pond," Dawn said. "I once woke up early and there was a tawny owl in the tree watching me.

"There are so many birds here including tawny and barn owls in the garden and a heron, which I don’t want because of the fish in the pond. Badgers and foxes come visiting, we really do have the full works.

"The garden is south-facing with lovely views right over Skiddaw. It’s very manageable and I love being out and about in the outside.

"In the house my favourite place would be sitting on the couch watching the horses, I can see everything from there. I have two riding horses and two little Shetlands and for pleasure we go to Greenlands, the equestrian centre at Wreay, for a bit of dressage and showjumping."

Although the house and land is perfect for someone with horses, the facilities could easily be converted to other uses. "A lot of people now do dog agility so the ménage could be used as an agility area for dogs or for exercise," said Dawn, "but really I think it’s ideal for someone who just loves the outdoors.

"It’s such a lovely idyllic place to live. We have squirrels, trees, everything around us, it’s never quiet because there is always wildlife doing something.

"The roads are quiet around here and the wonderful farmers next door don’t mind me and the dogs walking through their fields when they’re empty. However, the roads are so quiet that we tend to walk there, just wandering aimlessly."

The Pow, Great Orton, is for sale at £395,000 from PFK Estate Agents. For more details see here .