4 bed detached house for sale

Ilsham Road, Torquay TQ1

Pear Tree House is a standout detached home in one of Torquay’s most desirable coastal locations, offering an impressive three-bedroom main residence, a spacious self-contained one-bedroom annexe, extensive parking, a garage and a beautifully landscaped garden of exceptional size and seclusion.

Set behind a characterful stone frontage, the property is approached over a broad block paved driveway providing ample parking for at least five vehicles, with space suitable for larger vehicles and potentially a boat. The house has an attractive, private feel from the outset, with a covered porch leading through a composite front door into a welcoming reception hallway.

The main house has been thoughtfully refurbished and improved by the current owners, blending quality contemporary finishes with warm natural materials and character detail. Solid oak flooring runs through much of the ground floor, complemented by solid oak window sills, stripped natural wood doors and carefully chosen designer light fittings, which the vendors intend to leave as part of the sale.

From the reception hallway, the main hall opens beautifully, with a large picture window drawing the eye towards the garden. There is useful under-stairs storage, along with a well-fitted cloakroom/WC positioned to the rear, complete with low-level WC, inset sink and towel radiator.

The formal lounge is an elegant and inviting reception room, with French doors opening directly onto a large sun terrace. This is a particularly appealing space in the warmer months, enjoying sunshine until approximately 6pm. A marble fireplace with an electric wood-effect burner creates a central focal point, while bespoke built-in cabinetry provides attractive storage and shelving.

The kitchen is a high-quality Shaker-style design with solid oak worktops and porcelain tiled flooring for a practical, durable finish. Integrated appliances include a dishwasher, microwave oven, fan-assisted oven, plate warmer, wine chiller and fridge freezer, along with a large stainless-steel inset bowl sink. To one side, a separate utility/laundry area continues the oak worktops and storage, with integrated washing machine and tumble dryer, plus side access leading through to the garden and driveway.

The kitchen flows into a superb secondary living space, arranged as a snug and study area, with a split fireplace creating an interesting feature between the two zones. The ground floor then opens into one of the true highlights of the home: A large, light-filled dining area with space for a substantial table and a highly sociable layout. Five-panel bi-folding doors open onto a large composite deck, while additional access leads onto a limestone terrace, linking the house beautifully with the garden. The room enjoys excellent natural light, giving the house a bright, warm and uplifting feel.

A further flexible ground floor space is currently used as a piano room and study, providing another useful area for home working, music, hobbies or quiet reading. The main house is served by Hive-controlled heating and a recently installed combination boiler, with the annexe operating on its own separate heating system.

Upstairs, a feature staircase leads to a bright landing, with natural light pouring in from the window above. There are three generous bedrooms, all continuing the sense of space and quality found throughout the home.

The principal bedroom enjoys a wonderful outlook across the beautifully sculpted and manicured garden. This outlook is a real feature of the property, with mature trees, established hedging and carefully planted borders creating a rare sense of privacy. The principal bedroom is served by a modern en-suite shower room with double-width shower enclosure, heated towel rail and inset sink.

Bedroom two is another excellent double room, also enjoying garden views and superb proportions. It has extensive built-in cabinetry, together with a useful walk-in wardrobe area, ideal for shoes, shirts, suits, coats and additional storage. This room also benefits from its own en-suite shower room with double-width shower enclosure, low-level WC, sink and towel radiator.

Bedroom three is a further large double bedroom, currently arranged as a bespoke dressing room by the present owners. This gives buyers flexibility, whether required as a bedroom, dressing room, nursery, hobby room or additional study.

The main bathroom is smartly presented and tiled for ease of maintenance, with a designer radiator, shower bath, low-level WC and inset sink. The upper floor has a continuation of the light, calm and spacious feel that defines the property as a whole.

Self-contained annexe

A major advantage of Pear Tree House is the detached, self-contained annexe, which sits on the same title and plot but has its own sense of separation. The current owners have used it as an ideal home for parents, although it could suit a variety of future uses, including multi-generational living, guest accommodation, work-from-home space or independent space for older children.

The annexe has its own access from the driveway, along with a private decked area framed by a beautiful acer. Internally, it is spacious in its own right, with a sunroom extension, comfortable lounge area with feature fireplace and electric stove, and French doors opening onto a wooden deck with steps down into the main garden.

The annexe kitchen/breakfast room has good storage, a breakfast bar/peninsula, built-in electric hob, double oven, fridge and sink. The double bedroom has space for a large bed, with built-in cupboards and overhead storage. This leads to a larger-than-average shower room with a generous walk-in shower enclosure, drencher shower, heated towel radiator and WC. The annexe has its own gas combination boiler, giving it true independence from the main house.

In front of the annexe, the garage is mainly used for storage and is fitted with power, lighting and a mezzanine storage level above. It has an up-and-over door, side access from the garden and useful appliances included within the sale, including washing machine, tumble dryer and chest freezer.

Words from the owners:

“When we first bought Pear Tree House in 2006, we were looking for a home that would work for our extended family, with a separate annexe for our parents to live in. We all lived locally in Torquay and sold our respective properties to make the move happen, so from the outset this was a very considered family purchase. My daughter also attended the local private school and went onto the grammar school so we have enjoyed every aspect of the location but now it’s time to downsize.

Over the years, the property has been completely refurbished to a high standard, with a contemporary finish while still retaining warmth and character. We have added solid oak flooring through much of the ground floor, solid oak window sills, quality fittings and a recently refurbished kitchen with solid oak worktops and built-in appliances. Both the main house and the annexe were fully rewired as part of the refurbishment, and both have their own gas combination boilers.

The annexe was just a shell when we first moved here, so we completely converted it into what is now known as the cottage. It has been a wonderful self-contained space for family, with its own entrance, kitchen, living area, bedroom, shower room and private deck overlooking the garden. It has given us the ability to live together as a family while still allowing everyone their own independence.

The garden has also been a real labour of love over the last 20 years. When we arrived, it needed a great deal of work, but we have gradually created what feels like a small oasis, with mature shrubs, established planting, a greenhouse, shed, decking, limestone terrace and a small patio area that catches the last of the evening sun in the summer. The garden enjoys sun from first thing in the morning until late afternoon, with parts of it enjoying sunshine well into the evening.

We have always maintained the property to a very high standard, repainting and keeping on top of the exterior, hedges, fencing and general upkeep every few years. The decking and terraces have been extended over time, the kitchen has been updated within the last two years, and the main house boiler is also around two years old with warranty remaining.

This has been a perfect family home for us for nearly 20 years. Sadly, my wife’s father passed away 15 years ago, and her mum passed away last year. Our daughter, now 27, has also bought her own home and moved out, so the house is now more space than we need. We feel the time is right to downsize and allow another family to enjoy everything Pear Tree House has to offer, especially the benefits of the annexe and the wonderful garden.

All contemporary ceiling lights and blinds are being included within the sale.”

Location

Pear Tree House occupies a superb position on Ilsham Road, one of Torquay’s most sought-after residential addresses, highly regarded for its access to the coastline, leafy walks, respected schools and the day-to-day convenience of nearby Wellswood. It is a location that works particularly well for buyers wanting a quieter, more established setting, without feeling removed from Torquay’s beaches, harbour, restaurants and wider amenities.

For coastal walks and outdoor lifestyle, the position is excellent. Anstey’s Cove is within easy reach and is one of Torquay’s most attractive tucked-away beaches, known for its sheltered shingle cove, wooded backdrop, café and year-round dog-friendly appeal. It connects beautifully with the South West Coast Path, allowing buyers to enjoy scenic walks towards Babbacombe, Walls Hill, Hope’s Nose and Meadfoot. Meadfoot Beach is another major local highlight, offering a more open coastal setting with beach huts, café, sea views and access towards Hesketh Crescent, Daddyhole Plain and Torquay’s harbourside. Meadfoot is described as one of the area’s better-known local beaches, with a mix of rock, stone and sandy sections.

Ilsham Valley and Ilsham Green are also close by, giving the area a strong green, leafy feel. These spaces are ideal for dog walking, children, daily strolls and access towards the coast, while the wider Wellswood and Warberries area provides a lovely mix of woodland pockets, quiet residential roads and established period homes. From the property, buyers can enjoy a lifestyle that combines garden privacy at home with immediate access to some of Torquay’s most beautiful natural surroundings.

Wellswood Village is a major selling point for this address. The village has a strong local identity and offers a useful range of independent shops and amenities, including cafés, restaurants, pub, convenience shopping, pharmacy, delicatessen-style stores and everyday services. It gives the area a village feel, which is particularly attractive for buyers relocating from outside the area who want to be close to the coast but still have practical amenities nearby.

Babbacombe is also within easy reach and offers another excellent lifestyle hub, with Babbacombe Downs, cafés, restaurants, the theatre, local shops and access down to Oddicombe Beach via the famous Babbacombe Cliff Railway. Babbacombe Downs is one of Torquay’s best-known clifftop green spaces, enjoying far-reaching sea views and a popular walking route. Oddicombe Beach below is a well-known beach with facilities including café, beach huts and water-based activities.

Torquay Harbour, Marina and town centre are also easily accessible, offering a wide selection of restaurants, bars, waterside cafés and leisure facilities. The harbourside is one of Torquay’s key lifestyle destinations, with the marina, Princess Theatre, Torre Abbey Sands and the seafront promenade all adding to the appeal for those who enjoy dining out, walking by the water or making the most of Torbay’s coastal setting.

Families are also well served. Ilsham Church of England Academy is positioned nearby on Ilsham Road, making this a particularly convenient address for primary schooling. The wider area also offers access to a range of primary and secondary options across Torquay, with the property well placed for Torquay Boys’ Grammar School and Torquay Girls’ Grammar School, both highly regarded selective schools within the town. Torquay Boys’ Grammar School and Torquay Girls’ Grammar School are both established 11–18 grammar schools, positioned close to one another in Shiphay.

For transport, the property is conveniently positioned for local bus routes connecting Wellswood, Babbacombe, St Marychurch, Torquay town centre and the harbour. Torquay railway station provides links across South Devon, including Newton Abbot, Exeter and beyond, while the A380 gives straightforward road access towards Newton Abbot, Exeter, the M5 and wider regional routes. This makes the location practical for local commuting, school runs, weekend travel and buyers relocating into the area who still need wider connectivity.

Overall, Ilsham Road offers one of the best combinations Torquay has to offer: A prestigious and established residential address, immediate access to beaches and coastal walks, nearby village amenities, well-regarded schooling and excellent links to Wellswood, Babbacombe, Meadfoot, Torquay Harbour and the wider English Riviera coastline. For buyers seeking a substantial home in a genuinely desirable coastal setting, Pear Tree House is exceptionally well placed.

Garden

The garden is, without question, one of the defining features of Pear Tree House. Beautifully landscaped and meticulously maintained, it is unusually large for the area and enjoys a high degree of privacy, with mature trees, sculpted hedging and established planting creating a peaceful, almost enclosed garden setting.

The main lawn is framed by a wonderful selection of trees and shrubs, including magnolia, yew, pittosporum, fir, apple, bay and palm trees. The sunny orientation allows the planting to thrive, while the overall layout offers several areas to sit, dine and enjoy the garden at different times of day.

From the house, the composite deck steps down between sculpted hedging, bay palms and a striking acer, with the limestone terrace creating an additional entertaining area. To the far corner of the garden, the owners have added a further patio which enjoys the sun until sunset. The rear view looking back towards the main house is particularly attractive, showing the scale and quality of the garden beautifully.

Practical features include double-gated access from the driveway, outside power, outside tap, a separate water meter for the garden, a storage shed, additional storage area and a greenhouse, which is also staying as part of the sale. The garden is also fitted with carefully positioned lighting, including coloured lights around the decking and white accent lighting through the garden, giving the outside space a lovely evening atmosphere.

Parking - Driveway

Parking - Garage