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Best Villages: 8 of the most picturesque villages in England and Scotland

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There is plenty to consider when moving to a village. Are there nearby transport links? Can you walk into a village centre that meets your day-to-day needs (aka a good coffee shop and a friendly pub)? Is there a pavement from your cottage to push a buggy along? This is all very practical. Sometimes the look and spirit of a village are so captivating that they propel your decision to move. If you’re ready for rural life and only the most charming and idyllic village will do, here are eight of the best from Strutt & Parker

Lower & Upper Oddington

Gloucestershire

In the heart of the most exclusive part of the Cotswolds – between the gold-plated Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh, Chipping Norton, and Burford – is the coupling of two villages.

Lower and Upper Oddington, in the valley of the River Evenlode, are less than a mile apart. They flow into each other and very much come as a pair. With traditional stone cottages draped in wisteria, and a 12th century church down a peaceful lane, this beautiful couple has purchasers waiting for years to buy. However, many see beyond its beauty. They want to be part of the tight-knit community and to walk to the two much-cherished pubs – the Horse & Groom and The Fox (part of the Daylesford empire).

A rather short but rather dreamy pub crawl. Daylesford Organic farm shop is within striking distance too. The village hall is at the centre of life here. Popular conventions include a community Christmas breakfast of porridge and whisky, followed by a full English. As well as the period Cotswoldian housing stock, there are fine examples of contemporary architecture.

When a home comes up for sale, regardless of the undulations of the wider housing market, there is a swell of interest from inside the Oddingtons and much farther afield. Simon Merton, head of office Moreton-in-Marsh.

Gullane

East Lothian

Idyllic scenery and good food certainly complement each other – and they’re becoming more commonplace as celebrity chefs increasingly turn picture-perfect villages into gourmet destinations. These tend to be places where local produce and the landscape are a bottomless source of inspiration.

Gullane on the East Lothian coast – a 40-minute drive from Edinburgh – is one such village. Michelin-star chef Tom Kitchin landed there in 2018 and runs the Bonnie Badger with his wife Michaela, and with his four boys in tow. They also host foraging workshops. Gullane revolves around sport as much as food. There is a child's golf course in the middle of the village and many sports days and fayres. The three adult golf courses sit on Gullane Hill – including The Renaissance Club which has hosted the Open.

Windsurfers and kitesurfers come from far and wide to tackle the waters off the curving bay of Gullane Bents, while Yellowcraig Beach is popular with families thanks to its BBQ area and play park. David Law, Head of office Edinburgh.

Hodnet

Shropshire

It sounds cliche, but the ancient village of Hodnet really does offer the best of both worlds. For those commuting several days a week, it is less than 15 miles to Telford and the county town of Shrewsbury. The train from Telford to Birmingham takes, on average, 49 minutes. There is also a direct train from Shrewsbury to Birmingham. Those magical 15 miles plunge you into the heart of the Shropshire countryside - a paradise for walkers, cyclists, and little explorers.

The Grade I listed St Luke's Church looks out over a charming mix of monochrome timber-framed cottages and red brick Georgian houses, with new build homes on the outskirts of the rural village. Hodnet has more than its fair share of historic buildings. There's Hodnet Hall which started out life as a Norman Castle and sits in 60 acres of parkland, little hills, and wooded valleys. While to the north of the village are the gardens of Wollerton Old Hall, which are also open to the public and surround a Grade II Listed 16th century hall.

These gardens provide a pocket of curated beauty within the wider, wilder Shropshire landscape. For those who would rather be inside, the cosy and elegantly decorated Bear Inn has been recently refurbished.

The team create recipes from produce grown in its walled garden at Hodnet Hall and serve it up in front of a roaring fire in the bar or in the wood-panelled dining room.

The village attracts a mixture of households of all ages and presents good value for money in property terms. Alastair Summerfield, head of office Shrewsbury.

Wherwell

Hampshire

Between Andover and Winchester, you’ll find the village of Wherwell, sitting on its own island in the middle of the meandering River Test and at the top of the Chilbolton Cow Common Site of Scientific Special Interest (SSSI). Yes, it's all a bit Swallows and Amazons for children in these parts, with fords to paddle in and many a rickety bridge to play pooh sticks from.

Fishing is big in this part of Britain owing to the clear chalk streams and plentiful supply of trout. Wherwell Estate comprises 2,000 acres of barley fields and ancient woodland, with plenty of quiet spots to fish. While the river is central to Wherwell's identity, there is more to life in this bustling, family-focused village.

There's the cricket club, founded in the 1800s, and the White Lion Inn – which is under new management and being refurbished. Cookery and foraging courses are on offer at the Black Chalk Vineyard, along with wine tasting events and art fairs. Every Friday the bar is open until late and local street food is served.

The village has a primary school and Andover is only a 10-minute drive away – the train service is direct and an hour into London Waterloo. Lindsay Johnn, head of office Winchester.

Flushing

Cornwall

Sitting on the north side of the Penryn River estuary and facing Falmouth, is the little fishing village of Flushing.

Connected to the tourist and sailing hub of Falmouth by an all-year-around ferry service, residents here have the convenience of the town and its rail links but can retreat back across the water to the peaceful village.

Pastel-colour homes line the harbour wall and the charming narrow streets. There are two much-loved, well-established pubs (the Royal Standard and The Waterside) and the newer Harbour House restaurant with its in-house bakery. This modern take on a traditional Cornish pub means the drinks menu has a local cider listed alongside a smoked negroni.

Flushing has a village school and children growing up here can hit the small beach after school, splash in the surrounding creeks and learn how to sail – sailing is key here and the water is teaming with activity.

Fisherman cottages can be found on the back streets, while larger, grander Georgian houses have views over the estuary and Falmouth – with the most sought-after streets being St Peter's Road and Trefusis Road. Alex Taylor, head of Cornwall residential.

Shotesham St Mary and Shotesham All Saints

Norfolk

Five miles to the south of Norwich and on the right side of the city to access the train station easily, are the villages of Shotesham St Mary and Shotesham All Saints, named after both its churches.

St Mary is remote and sits dramatically on top of a hill next to its ruinous twin, which is now more silhouette than structure. The villages are almost seen as one and are nestled in a fascinating part of rural Norfolk. One of its major selling points – aside from its bucolic charms – is the closest knit and active community. There is a walking club, yoga, Pilates and a bowls club. The Globe Pub is a popular haunt, and films are shown as Shotesham Trinity Hall. Shotesham Estate has 250-acres of woodland and was the first major work by the architect Sir John Soane.

Focused on farming and conservation, it is also an important amenity for the villagers with 'Paw Park' – an enclosed and safe place to walk and train dogs. There's a kids' camp-out in the grounds during the summer, fun runs, organised walks and more Pilates.

There are some beautiful period properties in the village. Four-bedroom detached cottages tend to go for between £700,000 and £850,000, but they are interspersed with late 20th century houses and bungalows sitting in large plots. Will Mullan, Senior Associate Director Norwich.

 

Pennan

Aberdeenshire

Pennan is a strip of whitewashed, gabled-ended cottages at the foot of craggy but green mountainous terrain. The properties run along, and are protected by, the curve of the harbour wall. In the summer, residents enjoy the lapping waters of the Moray Firth – home to bottlenose dolphins and grey and common seals. In the warmer months, basking sharks and minke whales also come to feed.

Come winter and the dramatic landscape comes alive as storms roll in off the North Sea. The 'Jewel of Morayshire' has another claim to fame beyond its striking appearance and situation. The small village featured in the cult classic Local Hero (filmed in the '80s). Film buffs from across the world come to make a call in the red phone box (a reference to the movie) which has been listed since 1989.

On a practical level, the village is an hour's drive north of Aberdeen and has a pub, The Pennan Inn, a small hotel, a coffee shack (Coastal Cuppie) and a village hall. The location appeals to artists of course, with resident photographer Fiona, running Focal Hero Gallery and an honesty shop.

There's a summer dance at the hall which sits under the red sandstone cliff, a Christmas wreath workshop and craft fayres. Millshore Pottery is a short walk away and there is a chapel on the hill.

Of course, few homes come up for sale in this micro market, but there is more property available in Fraserburgh – the nearest town and Scotland's main shellfish port. Hamish Spencer-Nairn, head of office Perth.

Chilham

Kent

Very well situated off the A28 between Canterbury (renowned for its independent secondary and grammar schools) and Ashford (with a fast train to London) is the historic village of Chilham.

In Kent's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), incomers are drawn to the aesthetics of the place with its medieval central square surrounded by properties of the same period. Bustling is an overused word to describe village centres, but this one is genuinely bustling with two pubs, a new wine bar (Tudor Peacock), two tearooms, a primary school, train station (with a slower but direct service into the capital) and a sports centre, with a football pitch and tennis courts.

This is wine country and Chilham is the home of Domaine Evremond, the English sparkling wine off-shoot of the Taittinger brand. Chilham Castle is an important part of the community and is an equestrian hub.

The 300-acre estate (with its Grade I listed Jacobean house) holds cross-country events and horse trials, as well as blues evenings by the lake and, of course, more wine tasting. House prices here reflect its location and commutability. Although it is popular with families moving out of London, much of the housing activity is generated by existing residents upsizing or downsizing in the village in order to stay put. Edward Church, head of office Canterbury.