THERE'S little doubt that famed English naturalist Gilbert White would have been intimate with Hartley Mauditt, mentioned in the first paragraph of his most famous work.

Anyone visiting today’s Selborne is unlikely to be aware of the hamlet, now little more than a standalone Norman church and small clusters of buildings, one of them with The Oast House at Wick Hill Farm. Wick Hill has a direct footpath link, via the Hangers Way, with the centre of Selborne where White wrote The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, the first natural history book to be recognised as an English classic.

White observed that the soil on the slopes rising from Selborne towards Wick Hill was good for hops, explaining the two oasts that lend spectacular and eye-catching appeal to the property, now on the market through BCM Rural Property Specialists and Wilson Hill estate agents. The Grade-II listed structures form a major part of the owners’ living area of an inspired conversion that also offers extensive guest accommodation.

The Oast House, which also comes with a three bedroom bungalow that’s ideal for a farm manager’s residence and has a large agricultural storage barn in addition to two holiday lettings properties, and a barn with 10 loose boxes and a tack room, is set at the top of 80 acres of land with 67 acres of pasture and more than nine acres of woodland in addition to a large spring-fed fishing lake.

“Opportunities such as The Oast House rarely appear on the open market,” says Andrew Bays, of BCM in Winchester. “It is in one of the most stunning parts of southern England that is steeped in history.

“The views from the house and land are some of the finest in Hampshire and far-reaching in parts. It is a uniquely beautiful and tranquil location, ideal for anyone with countryside and nature interests.

“The land has level large grazing paddocks to the north of the farm and then slopes down in a southerly direction to more traditional paddocks with interspersed lakes. The steep wooded hangers with valley fields below lend themselves to game shooting; a quality shoot has operated over the land for many years in tandem with neighbours. The sporting rights are in hand.

“The current owner has diversified into a number of non-farming income streams and there is further potential for equestrian or polo while the lower land has been grazed for cattle, sheep, and horses. The spring-fed lakes provide fishing or holiday / leisure opportunities.

Guide price is £4 million. For more information, contact BCM Rural Property Specialists on 01962 763900.