Properties of the week

Lancashire and Cumbria are two counties defined by their glorious landscapes and the homes within them

Cumbria, £900,000

The cliche ‘blank canvas’ is bandied about far too readily these days, but Westways near the Cumbrian town of Keswick is a perfect example. The current owners have updated and renovated the property with new fittings, floors and floor-to-ceiling windows, leaving the potential purchasers plenty of scope to decorate and finish the three-bedroom home however they please. What needs no finishing touches is its situation in the heart of the Lake District, with searing views across the hills, waters and meres of this UNESCO World Heritage site. Finest Properties (01434 622234)

Cumbria, £499,995

The soft-pink exterior of Derwent Bank is improved only by its generous dormer windows and the light-flooded living space the property provides. The lines between the inside and outside of this home are slightly blurred, with five bedrooms, four reception rooms and a games room being complemented by a garden room running the length of the property, from which it’s possible to appreciate the attractive planting and grounds, as well as the valleys and hills beyond. Although the property could do with some modernisation and renovation, you’ll struggle to find more private green space in the desirable gateway village of Great Broughton. Knight Frank (01896 807013)

Cumbria, £1 million

Driving along the lane that runs alongside Roe Beck, you could be forgiven for pausing to admire the Grade I-listed Thistlewood Tower, built by Norman knight Thomas de Beaulieu in the 14th century. You could be forgiven for pausing again as you approach the five-bedroom home of Beckfoot; the red-brick family home is worth admiring, as is the private bridge that you must cross to access it. Beckfoot dates from the 17th century and, as well as being altered in the 1800s, so, too, was it modernised and extended again by the recent owners, to create some 4,500sq ft of living space surrounded by running water and 20 acres of land. As well as a modern family home with all the trimmings the 21st century could require, a small annexe offers space for visitors and the nearby village of Highbridge offers plenty of amenities. Hayward Tod (01228 810300)

Lancashire, £795,000

Knuzden Hall is a fine example of a Georgian country house that has been restored and refurbished in recent years to create a comfortable and stylish home. Although the property is classically proportioned and listed Grade II, it provides a wealth of contemporary features, such as the living/kitchen/dining room, which boasts Corian surfaces, an integrated SMEG double oven and island. Ideally, the renovations on the principal bedroom have yet to be completed, allowing a new owner the chance to provide their own finishing touches. Three further bedrooms, a home office and a wine cellar and workshop are also squeezed under the slate roof. The gardens, which include an oak-beamed garden house and garage, amount to about one-third of an acre and the entire property sits equidistant between the towns of Accrington and Blackburn. Savills (01625 417450)