For property developers or people wanting to launch a tourism business, an interesting opportunity has arisen with the sale of an old farmhouse and adjacent outbuildings which already have planning permission for conversion to three separate houses.

The Victorian property, which would make a lovely family home in its own right, is in the rural village of Wiggonby, close to the popular tourist attraction of Watchtree Nature Reserve.

It has been in the ownership of the Todhunters, a farming family, for three generations but is now surplus to their requirements.

Steven Todhunter said: "It was built in the 1840s and my grandad bought it in the early 1900s. My dad John and I are the farmers now.

"My dad has been here all his life. He’s 76 and was born in Wiggonby House so he’s sad to see it go. But the house and outbuildings, which are next to the farm, are now redundant which is why we've decided to sell them off."

The Todhunters ran a dairy farm at Wiggonby until the foot-and-mouth outbreak, after which they switched to arable, which is now going along nicely, according to Steven.

He grew up in Wiggonby House, only moving out at the age of 36: "I lived there with my two brothers who married and left a long time ago. It was just me and my mam and dad at the finish so we decided to put it on the market but I'll miss it, it’s a lovely house."

He remembers his mother Joan producing traditional and tasty farmhouse meals from the old kitchen. Joan and John now live in a bungalow next to the farm and she's still turning out the hearty food from the modern kitchen.

Steven and his wife Carolyn live elsewhere in the village with their daughter Ellie. She's coming up to 15 months old and Carolyn looks after her full-time.

"Wiggonby House does need quite a bit of work doing to it," Steven said. "It requires modernising but it’s sound.

"When you drive through the village, you can see it's a traditional sandstone house with a lot of character and many features. Being my family home as I grew up, the house holds many happy memories for me."

Wiggonby House has original features such as decorative coving and cornices and high ceilings. There's a dining kitchen with oil-fired Aga and a sizeable pantry off and three reception rooms - a sitting room, dining room and lounge, all with open fires set in hearths.

On the first floor are five bedrooms, a store room and a bathroom with fully tiled walls and a separate shower enclosure.

Externally the outbuildings surround a traditional cobbled courtyard and there is also a utility room.

The south-facing front garden is laid to lawn with borders and has fantastic views over to Skiddaw. Opposite the house is an area of land stretching to almost an acre and a half, which is also for sale.

The village of Wiggonby is conveniently located for major roads. It has a primary school and there are a greater range of facilities, such as a secondary school, pubs, restaurants, shops and a train station, in nearby Wigton.

Steven said of Wiggonby House: "There’s a development opportunity here for three two-storey houses. Full planning permission is in place with the option of the land which would make a lovely pony paddock.

"It could be an opportunity to work from home by making the outbuildings into offices. We are close to the Lake District, the Solway coast and also next to Watchtree Nature Reserve so it could be made into holiday lets. It's versatile and would lend itself to quite a few business ideas.

"It’s just waiting for the right person to come along and pick up the challenge."

Wiggonby House, Wiggonby, near Wigton, is for sale at £450,000 from PFK Estate Agents, tel. 01228 558666.