Kingscote Park House - sleeps 19 guests in 9 bedrooms

About

As you walk along the path from the parking area to the front of Kingscote Park House be prepared for your senses to be amazed! The path winds passed and under tall, mature trees, through a small oriental garden to the front of the House where you'll turn to face a beautiful, handsome property, with a wide, arched doorway, five tall windows (alluding to the high ceilings inside) and an exquisite terrace. This outer view of the House belies the even greater beauty inside where there's enough space for 19 guests to comfortably spend a lifetime - whatever the season. From every direction, the house looks out across formal gardens, parkland, courtyards or water features, some 28 acres of beautifully tended land where no chemicals have been used for 25 years. The current owner/custodian of the Matara Estate has dedicated much of the last 25 years to convert the 28 acres that surround the House from grassland to the beautiful gardens and parklands seen today. Half of the land has been set aside for rewilding and the creation of four major habitats where deciduous plants and wildlife are thriving and teeming with fauna and flora. To date, the staff at Matara have planted over 1,500 trees in the parkland. A private tour can be arranged - just ask the caretaker on your arrival. Inside, the House is at once spacious, elegant, cosy and unique, with stunning artwork on the walls and beautiful rugs on the floors. Its seven king-size bedrooms, one twin and one family room are all individually furnished, and named, and lead off a landing long and wide enough for a king. From the Wurlitzer juke box to the Regency balcony, from the opulent bathrooms to the homely kitchen, and from the striking sun room to the remarkable library and sitting room, guests will feel transported to another world as soon as they step inside. Ground Floor Throughout the ground floor (excepting the Kitchen and Informal Dining Room which has stone flagstones) the floors are carpeted with sisal and beautiful Asian or Middle Eastern rugs. Entrance Hall: Step through the beautiful arched doorway into the magnificent hallway, with a view along the entire length of the house to the Sun Room. A beautiful polished wooden floor is made cosy with thick rugs. Bedroom 9 - Garland Room: Tucked away, to the side of the main entrance, is the Garland Room, so-called because of the beautiful full-length floral curtains forming a garland around the window. Furnished with a king-size bed with bedside tables and reading lamps, dressing table, armchair and full-length mirror. The decorative stone fireplace features two scallop shells, which form part of the Kingscote family crest and coat of arms. Formal Dining Room: Just off the entrance hall is the dual-aspect Formal Dining Room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the parkland. Furnished with a long, double-width table to comfortably seat 19 guests, an antique sideboard and a large open fireplace with an impressively big mirror reflecting the light back into the room. Sitting Room: A cosy and inviting room with wide, Regency windows, providing a wonderful view out to the parkland. Sumptuously furnished with a four-seater sofa, three plump armchairs, a large footstool-table, plenty of reading lights and an open fire - the ideal place to curl up with a book or play a game. The Sun Room: At the end of the hallway is the delightful Sun Room, with its primrose-yellow walls adding to the light and bright feel of this area. Two high-back armchairs provide the perfect seating to retreat with a good book chosen from the House library or enjoy a gentle breeze coming through the French windows which open out from the Sun Room to a patio and formal private garden. The Library: Tucked away at the far end of the House, just off the Sun Room, is the fabulous Library with a wall of shelves chock-full of books covering many genres, topics and tales. In the cupboards below the books are plenty of family games to keep everyone amused and behind a large corner cupboard is a TV. The Library has a large open fireplace and is furnished with a three-seater sofa, an armchair and a long window seat with lots of lovely cushions. Second Hallway/Passageway: Off the main hallway is a wide passageway that leads to the oldest part of Kingscote House, evidenced by the original stone flooring. Head down three stone steps to the Kitchen, Informal Dining Room, Cloakroom, Utility Room, and a flight of stairs that leads to Bedroom 6-The Wisteria Room and a large Shower Room. (At the end of the passageway is a locked door behind which is the Matara office). Look out for the original Wurlitzer juke box in the passageway just outside the Kitchen. The Kitchen: As you step into the kitchen, you'll instantly feel the change in history, with the lower ceiling providing the evidence that you're in the original part of the house, which dates back to the 13th Century. This beautifully cosy farmhouse kitchen with its rich yellow