With spectacular panoramic views of glorious countryside, this substantial property is for sale with a detached cottage and more than two acres of garden, grounds and paddock.

It is sent in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is close to Allendale, where there is a wide range of facilities. It is also near to the ancient woodland of Allen Banks and Staward Gorge, a very popular area for families and walkers.

David and Carey Stuart moved to Staward Villa in 2013 with their daughters Leila and Frankie, now six and four respectively. They relocated from Manchester to be close to Allendale, where they both grew up.

Carey said: "We were attracted to this place by the views - they're amazing - and it's just a gorgeous old building as well, with high ceilings and lovely cornicing which you don't tend to get around Allendale. We think it was built around 1904 and originally it had something to do with the railway line as we're quite close to it."

The house has a reception hall with a large sitting room to one side and full-length dining kitchen on the other side. The spacious master bedroom has a dressing room and en-suite, there are two more large bedrooms and a family bathroom on the first floor and two double bedrooms with toilet and storage on the top floor.

There are charming original features including decorative plasterwork, picture and dado rails and a wide period staircase with an attractive stained-glass window on a half-landing. Many of the rooms have stunning views over the gardens and the open countryside beyond.

"We've knocked through the dining room and kitchen so it's all one and it's probably our favourite room now," Carey said. "We spend most of our time there now, it's a great family room."

Highlights include a solid oak floor and a range-style cooker set in an inglenook. Steps lead down from the dining room to a large conservatory overlooking the garden.

The master bedroom has dual-aspect windows with views of open farmland and the garden and the other two bedrooms can be reached from front or rear landings. The bedrooms on the second floor have Velux windows.

Outside the gardens have a raised terrace for entertaining, summerhouse, shed and outbuildings offering scope for development and the paddock. There is also an enclosed private courtyard, ample parking and a building which could be used as a barn or garage.

The cottage needs a lot of renovation but is very quaint and pretty, said Carey. Stone and brick built, it was the original farmhouse on the site and is two storey with two double bedrooms.

Carey said: "The outbuildings could be converted into anything. The former farmers had cattle so there's a long dairy with gorgeous stonework which would be an amazing conversion but we just haven't got the time to do it.

"The house looks out over the River Allen all the way down to Whitfield and we have lots of river walks or into Catton or Allendale, it's great for children, just gorgeous.

"It's such an amazing place to live, we just love it. When we're out in the garden in the summer with the kids running around, you don't see anyone or hear anyone, it's great.

"There's so much potential here with the barns and the cottage and if we had extra time it might be different. We'd love to do it but with two small children we have to consider the practicalities. But this is an opportunity for someone."

Staward Villa Farm, near Catton, is for sale at £600,000 from Finest Properties.