Stonehouse Farm is a traditional and charming Cumbrian farmhouse, comprehensively updated and reconfigured to a safe and private family home alongside an attached converted barn with great potential.

This property, which has its own entrance, could be ideal for a long-term or holiday let. Alternatively, a home-based or bed and breakfast business could be run from here.

Sue and John Heyworth moved to Stonehouse Farm almost four decades ago looking for a traditional farmhouse with a large garden.

Sue said: “We wanted a family home with space and a safe environment for children and pets. This was ideal as we’re surrounded by countryside. To the front the house has an open aspect with views to Skiddaw and the surrounding fells and at the back we can see Criffel and the Scottish hills.

“The gardens are also very attractive with specimen trees, fruit trees, shrubs, beech hedges, lawns, flowerbeds, a vegetable garden plus an abundance of climbing roses, clematis and pretty herbaceous borders.”

Stonehouse Farm dates from the 1840s and has an entrance hall with the original front door and sandstone flooring. The versatile accommodation includes a 28ft L-shaped lounge with two fireplaces, original built-in cupboards and drawers and oak beams.

The dining kitchen has a range of hand-built wall and floor units, dishwasher, hob and double oven. The floor is tiled and there are also attractive beams. A west-facing conservatory has beautiful sunset views.

The ground floor of the main house is completed by a utility room and inner hallway with doors to a shower room and into the barn conversion.

The impressive staircase with mahogany stair rail and matching mahogany snake newel post rises to the landing where a feature window provides views over the back garden.

The master bedroom has an original fireplace and built-in wardrobes and the other two double bedrooms have either an original fireplace or fitted storage. The five-piece family bathroom is fully tiled with Amtico flooring.

The two-storey annexe has dining lounge, well-fitted kitchen, study, utility room, two bedrooms and a shower room.

The Heyworths have made many improvements to Stonehouse Farm in the past 36 years.

“Almost all the interior was completely refurbished and we knocked down walls to remodel the downstairs of the main house, as well as converting the former hay barn to a second property with an intermediate door,” Sue said.

“There’s a bespoke kitchen, new oil central heating system, double glazing tilt-and-turn windows, a bespoke new bathroom, a complete new shower room in what was a dairy, and refurbishment of all the bedrooms, to name just a few of the improvements.

“Externally the house has had a complete new slate roof and the garden was transformed. The patio at the front is a great place to have morning coffee on a nice day but the main patio at the back is my favourite. It has beautiful sunsets and is ideal for entertaining as it is private with no immediate neighbours.”

She is sad to be moving and will miss the peaceful surroundings and privacy but needs to downsize now that her daughters have moved out, saying: "The house deserves to have a family who can enjoy everything it has to offer."

Stonehouse Farm, Scales, is for sale at £540,000 from PFK Estate Agents. For more details see here .