Property description

PROPERTY DESCRIPTION Property Description



A charming period 3 bedroom semi-detached cottage with spectacular views over Cowes Harbour and The Solent from almost every room. The property was once a coastguard boathouse and dates from the second half of the 19th century. It has recently been sympathetically extended to provide modern amenities to augment this period harbour-side home.



The property has been established as a popular & successful, furnished holiday rental over the last 4 years: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/cowes/298761 occupancy has been around 30 weeks per annum with much repeated business.



The property enjoys views of the ever changing activities of Cowes Harbour along Cowes waterfront to the Royal Yacht Squadron, (the starting point for many sailing events). In the distance across the water to the Hampshire coast, Calshot & Southampton Water. The property has witnessed many historical events over the years from gracious yachts, early flying boats and hovercraft and royal arrivals and departures. Nowadays you can watch all the shipping into Southampton including most evenings a cruise liner or two.



Description and situation



The Watch House is a Grade II Listed Victorian semi-detached cottage constructed of brick elevations beneath a slate roof. It is situated on the seafront at East Cowes, a harbour town in the north of the Isle of Wight. The accommodation is described in the photos and floor plans. It is set out on two storeys and comprises:



Ground floor



Hall - with staircase ascending to the first floor

Cloakroom - with W.C.

Sitting room - with sea views and stripped pine floors

Kitchen/ breakfast room - with large double glazed doors opening onto the paved terrace, fire place and fitted units.



First Floor



Bedroom 1- with sea & harbour views through feature sash windows, a decorative fire place & cupboard with shelves.

Bedroom 2 - with views along the esplanade and Solent. Decorative fireplace.

Bedroom 3 - a dual aspect room with harbour & sea views. French doors leading onto a balcony with panoramic views.

Family Bathroom - Bath, W.C and Wash Basin, Sea Views.



Outside



The property has a garden which extends behind a wall and around the building and includes a lawn and shrubs. There are glazed double doors from the kitchen/ breakfast room looking out onto the paved terrace which is ideal for dining

"al-fresco".



Services and heating



We are informed that the following mains services are connected to the property (subject to the conditions and stipulations of the relevant utility companies) electricity, gas, water and foul drainage. The heating system is provided by a gas-fired boiler via radiators.



The Isle of Wight



The Isle of Wight, situated off the South Coast of England, is becoming an ever-more popular location for permanent and second homes. Made popular by Queen Victoria, who had her maritime residence at Osborne, the Island is famous for sailing in the Solent; for Cowes Week; for its beautiful coastline including sandy beaches and The Needles; spectacular countryside and long sunshine hours. There are now many more facilities than once was the case, Sainsburys, Tesco, M&S and now Waitrose all now have a presence as have other national chains. Communication and transport links are excellent; regular car ferries connect with the national motorway network and fast catamarans have connections via Southampton and Portsmouth with direct trains to London Waterloo which can be reached within 2 hours of leaving the Island shore. Government-funded schools are numerous and independent schools thrive on the Island with some children attending prep and public schools on the mainland. Leisure opportunities abound - walking, riding, paragliding, hang-gliding, team sports, sailing, wind surfing and other water sports, rugby, football (Newport Football Club) cricket and golf clubs. Good transport links enable day trips to the shopping centres of West Quay, Southampton and Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth.



East Cowes



East Cowes is a coastal town on the north side of the island and has an excellent range of facilities and amenities including primary schools, marina, 9 hole golf course, shops, a new medical centre and Osborne House, the former marine residence of Queen Victoria. Recently there have been significant improvements in the town including a new Waitrose supermarket. There is easy access to the regular car and passenger ferry services direct to Southampton (55minutes) and a floating bridge ferry linking to the famous yachting town of Cowes. Both Cowes and East Cowes have extensive marina facilities. Bus services are available into the island's capital town of Newport and the coastal resort of Ryde.



West Cowes



Cowes is host to Cowes Week, one of the most famous sailing regattas in the world, the pinnacle of the racing calendar. This is followed by events such as Little Britain and the Powerboat Festival. The Round the Island Race, with over 1500 entries, is a spectacular sight in June and each week throughout the year there is activity on the water. There are many Yacht Clubs in Cowes including the Royal Yacht Squadron. Cowes town has a wide variety of shops and facilities. There is a medical centre, dentist and veterinary surgery in the town. There is a choice of primary schools, and a high school.