A PICTURESQUE and unspoilt Lake District hill farm on the easterly slopes of the Duddon Valley is to be sold by public auction.

Rawfold Farm at Bank End, Broughton-in-Furness, will be offered in four lots at Victory Hall, Broughton, on Friday, April 13, at 2.30pm.

The agents, Michael CL Hodgson, describe the sale as "a unique and wonderful opportunity" of interest to local farmers, landowners, developers, builders and "those wanting a lifestyle change".

The farmstead is magnificently set between Duddon Bridge and Ulpha, with far-reaching views across the valley to the fells beyond, and the market town of Broughton just a few minutes' drive away.

Lot 1 comprises a classic period farmhouse with four bedrooms, as well as outbuildings and two small paddocks.

Lot 2 consists of three traditional stone-and-slate barns with planning consent for three dwellings, subject to local occupancy.

An "excellent block" of 31 acres of meadow and pasture makes up Lot 3; and Lot 4 extends to more than 66 acres of grazing and pasture land on the opposite side of the road to Ulpha.

The stone-and-slate four-bedroom farmhouse has "tremendous potential for refurbishment and modernisation", say the agents, with gardens, two small paddocks and panoramic views across the valley.

Exposed beams and stone-flagged floors set a characterful scene in the entrance hall, and there are traditional period features throughout. The dining room features a local stone fireplace and a window seat with fell views; and in the kitchen an oil-fired Rayburn is set in a large stone surround.

The sitting room's open fireplace has a wood and green slate surround, and there is a charming, original dairy with flagged floor and slate/stone shelves.

Outside, The Bothy would make an ideal entertaining space or games room, and is warmed by a wood-burning stove. There are several other outbuildings and two paddocks, which contain the holding tank for Rawfold Farm's private water supply.

Lot 2, a range of traditional farm buildings, has planning consent for conversion to three local-occupancy dwellings.

The large L-shaped, five-bay stone bank barn has permission for two homes. The first, in the northerly section, has been designed with an open-plan living/dining room/kitchen and four bedrooms, and would have superb northerly views across the valley. The second would also be open plan and offer three bedrooms.

Meanwhile, two detached barns have consent to be converted and linked into a third dwelling with an imaginative, architect-designed layout.

Lot 3, the 31 acres of pasture and meadow ground, is described as being "of significant interest to the

potential buyers of Lot 1 and 2" - as well as to local farmers and land owners.

Meanwhile, Lot 4 offers 66.88 acres of upland grazing and pasture land, over the road and to the east of Lots 1, 2 and 3, and includes Scroggs Wood with its mixture of broad-leaved trees.

www.michael-cl-hodgson.co.uk, tel 01539-721375.