Shepherd's Hill, Buckhorn Weston, Gillingham, SP8
- Land size
- 6.3 acres
- Dwelling size
- 3221 sqft
- Bedrooms
- 6
- Bathrooms
- 3
Description
A Substantial Country Home with 6 acres of Land, Stabling and Far-Reaching Views. Offering 6 bedrooms, extensive outbuildings and a stable yard, the property provides exceptional flexibility for multi-generational living, equestrian use, smallholding interests or those seeking a lifestyle property in the heart of the Blackmore Vale.
A Rural Lifestyle Property with Over 6 Acres
Set on the rural edge of the sought-after village of Buckhorn Weston, Vespers Hollow is a substantial detached country home offering over 2,500 sq ft of versatile accommodation together with approximately 6.3 acres of pasture, gardens, woodland and equestrian facilities.
The property provides six bedrooms, three reception rooms and three bath or shower rooms, making it ideal for a large family, multi-generational living, a smallholding, equestrian use or potential bed and breakfast enterprise. There is scope to create a self-contained ground floor annexe, subject to the necessary consents, while the substantial double garage may also offer future conversion potential, subject to planning permission.
History
Buckhorn Weston occupies rolling countryside on the western edge of the former Royal Hunting Forest of Gillingham, close to the Dorset and Somerset border. Its origins date back to Saxon times when it was known as Bokere Waston, often interpreted locally as “the hamlet in the wilderness near the dyke”.
Recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Westone, the village contained 26 households, six ploughlands and 40 acres of meadow. The settlement suffered greatly during the Black Death of 1349. St John the Baptist Church dates principally from the 14th and 15th centuries, whilst the village's well-known Stapleton Arms reflects the influence of the Stapleton family, who became major local landowners in the 19th century.
Village & Local Area
Located within the heart of the Blackmore Vale, Buckhorn Weston is widely regarded as a welcoming and community-focused village. Residents enjoy church fêtes, harvest celebrations, village hall events and a variety of seasonal community activities.
The property occupies an elevated position on Shepherds Hill, approximately three miles west of Gillingham, enjoying attractive countryside views across the Dorset and Somerset border. The surrounding landscape combines rolling pastureland, gently undulating vale scenery and far-reaching rural vistas.
Accommodation
The property offers spacious and versatile accommodation arranged over two floors. The ground floor includes a generous dual-aspect sitting room with a feature fireplace and Jetmaster wood-burning stove, alongside a superb open-plan kitchen/dining room with an impressive double-height atrium, galleried landing and dramatic barn-style glazed window. The contemporary kitchen is well equipped with an Aga, integrated appliances and substantial island unit, while a bright garden room opens directly onto the grounds and productive fruit and vegetable areas. Two ground-floor bedrooms are complemented by a family bathroom, cloakroom and utility room. Upstairs, the galleried landing leads to a spacious principal bedroom with fitted wardrobes and dressing room, three further bedrooms, a study, family bathroom and separate shower room. Two of the bedrooms enjoy direct access onto a remarkable roof terrace, commanding far-reaching views across the surrounding countryside.
Buckhorn Weston offers a village church, community hall and the highly regarded Stapleton Arms public house. A wider range of shopping, schooling, leisure and healthcare facilities can be found in nearby Gillingham and Wincanton.
The A30 provides convenient access to the A303, connecting to the South West and London. Mainline railway services are available from Gillingham, Templecombe and Castle Cary, with Gillingham providing regular services to London Waterloo.
Directions
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A private driveway leads to a five-bar gate, substantial hardstanding area and detached double garage with power, lighting and loft storage.
The grounds have been thoughtfully arranged into a series of distinct areas, including productive vegetable gardens, patios, wildlife areas and a delightful valley garden incorporating a small stream. Current residents keep various poultry and ornamental birds, including peafowl and geese.
Beyond the formal gardens lie approximately 6.3 acres of gently sloping pastureland and woodland. The land has benefited from drainage improvements and is divided into four principal paddocks. Equestrian facilities include a stable block with tack room, feed store and workshop.
Map Location
Property details
- Tenure
- Freehold
- Council Tax Band
- TBC
- Date Posted
- 2026-09-30
Market Value Analysis
Compared with 111 Farms & Smallholdings listings in South West England (5+ acres).
Energy Performance Certificate
Energy Efficiency Rating
Based on UK Energy Performance Certificate standards (EU Directive 2002/91/EC)
View official EPC certificate ↗
Running costs are one side. Planning activity, flood history and ground risks for this location are in the full report.
Property Brochure
Seen the details? The full report adds the independent checks: planning activity, flood history, heritage and ground.
Utilities & Restrictions
Utilities
- Electricity
- Ask Agent
- Water
- Ask Agent
- Heating
- Ask Agent
- Broadband
- Ask Agent
- Sewerage
- Ask Agent
Rights & Restrictions
- Public Rights of Way
- Ask Agent
- Private Rights of Way
- Ask Agent
- Listed Property
- Ask Agent
- Restrictions
- Yes
Listed status, conservation areas and planning constraints for this location are in the full report.
Property Features
- Accessibility
- Ask Agent
- Parking
- Garage, Driveway
- Garden
- Garden
Beyond the particulars: planning activity, flood history, heritage and ground risks, checked for this exact spot.
Connectivity
Broadband
Fastest speed available at this postcode
1 Gbps
Gigabit full fibre
Suitable for
- 4K streaming on every screen
- Full-time home working
- Online gaming & big downloads
Mobile signal
Predicted 4G and 5G signal; indoor signal depends on building materials.
Ofcom Connected Nations postcode-level predictions. Speeds and signal are modelled, not measured, and vary between addresses and providers.
Signal is the easy part. Planning activity, flood history and protected designations here are in the full report.
Nearest Schools
Primary
- Wyke Primary School2.4 milesOfsted: Requires improvement
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Pupils
- 161
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Gillingham Primary School3.1 milesOfsted report card · Jan 2026
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Pupils
- 233
- Type
- Academy converter
- St George's Church of England School, Bourton3.2 milesOfsted: Good *
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Pupils
- 142
- Type
- Academy converter
- Faith
- Church of England
- Milton-on-Stour Church of England Primary School3.3 milesOfsted: Good
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Pupils
- 119
- Type
- Academy converter
- Faith
- Church of England
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull3.5 milesOfsted: Good
- Ages
- 2 to 11
- Pupils
- 82
- Type
- Academy converter
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
Secondary
- Gillingham School3.3 milesOfsted: Good
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Pupils
- 1,684
- Type
- Voluntary controlled school
- King Arthur's School4.2 milesOfsted: Requires improvement *
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Pupils
- 450
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sturminster Newton High School6.5 milesOfsted report card · Apr 2026
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Pupils
- 605
- Type
- Academy converter
- Shaftesbury School6.8 milesOfsted: Good
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Pupils
- 782
- Type
- Academy converter
- Faith
- Church of England
- Sexey's School7.7 milesOfsted: Good
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Pupils
- 633
- Type
- Academy converter
- Faith
- Church of England
* Latest graded judgement covers quality of education only; no overall grade was issued under the 2024-25 inspection framework.
Distances are straight-line from the advertised location. Source: the national school registers (DfE, Welsh Government, Scottish Government) and Ofsted.
Schools are just the start: sold prices nearby, planning activity and any flood history are in the full report.
Amenities
Supermarket
GP surgery
Pharmacy
Hospital
Green space
Straight-line distances from the advertised location. Sources: NHS records, Geolytix supermarket locations, OS Open Greenspace and the national trails registers.
The area stacks up? Now check the location itself: planning nearby, protected designations and past flooding.
Getting Around
Nearest station
Nearest bus stop
Typical drive times
Straight-line distances from the advertised location; drive times are typical free-flow times over OpenStreetMap road data, so allow more at peak. Public transport locations from DfT NaPTAN.
Easy to reach matters. So do planning activity, flood history and ground risks: all in the full report.
Flood Risk
Environment Agency open data, checked around the advertised map pin for the listed acreage. Long-term risk counts flood defences; the planning map's flood zones do not. The map pin for this listing marks the postcode area rather than the exact location, so these readings describe the surrounding area. Provided by LandSale, not the listing agent, and not part of the agent's particulars. Risk varies across a holding, so verify before committing.
Rivers and the sea
Planning map: Flood Zone 1.
Surface water
These bandings are the summary. Where this location sits on the flood maps, plus planning activity, heritage and ground risks, is in the full report.
Important notice: Information, maps and tags on this page are drawn from the advertising agent's marketing materials or generated automatically. LandSale has not verified them. Relying on these details is at your own risk, always carry out independent checks before committing to a purchase.
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1. Source of information
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2. Verification required
Prospective purchasers must verify critical matters, including but not limited to planning permission, title boundaries, public rights of way, environmental constraints, acreage, services, access and VAT status, through their own inspections, specialist surveys, legal advisers and the selling agent before relying on the information or entering into any contract.
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© LandSale | Version 1.3 - August 2026

Listing agent
Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Dorchester
45 High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UT
Contact Greenslade Taylor Hunt, Dorchester

45 High West Street, Dorchester, DT1 1UT
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