Kitty Lawson feels right at home in her lovely modern house in Brampton to where she and husband Alan relocated from the slopes of Mount Etna in Sicily.

She says it's because northerners are more like the Dutch and she should know as she hails from Utrecht in Holland.

"Alan worked in London for many years, although he originates from the north east, and after five years in Sicily, we became homesick, believe it or not," Kitty said.

"He vaguely knew the area and this was actually the last house we looked at after searching round Northumberland and Cumbria.

"We were on the verge of giving up when we found Meadow View. We both knew as soon as we walked in the door that this was the house for us."

It's now wonder the Lawsons we bowled over as the presentation and specification of their home is superb. It is a sizeable detached property providing flexible family living with two reception rooms, four double bedroom, a lovely garden - thanks to Alan's green fingers and hard work - and glorious open views.

"We've been here for nine years and our son was here with us but left three years ago to work in Holland where he has close family ties," Alan said.

"Now that Kitty and I are both retired, and approaching our 70th birthdays, we have reluctantly come to the decision that the house is too big for us and we are looking to downsize.

"It has been a very happy home for us and because it was built in 2005 there was very little to do although we did re model the en-suite to the ground-floor bedroom."

Tindale Fell is a peaceful and welcoming rural hamlet just 10 minutes from the market town of Brampton where there is a wide range of amenities including shops, pubs and restaurants and a secondary school.

There is also a primary school at nearby Hallbankgate, in addition to a village shop and the Belted Will pub - "Very friendly and welcoming," according to Alan.

Meadow View, which is on a corner plot, is accessed through an entrance hall with convenient cloakroom and doors to the reception rooms and kitchen. The living room has stunning open views and a multi-fuel fire while the dining room/study has coving and wood flooring.

The breakfasting kitchen has a comprehensive range of wooden wall and floor units with complementary worktops and a tile-effect floor. Appliances are a one-and-a-half drainer unit, dishwasher, freezer and electric oven.

The utility room off the dining area has plumbing for a washer and fryer plus a pull-out larder cupboard.

The ground-floor layout is completed by an double bedroom with en-suite shower room.

Going upstairs, the remaining three double bedrooms lead off the landing which has access to the fully-insulated loft by way of a pull-down ladder.

One of the bedrooms has a fitted cupboard while another is a dormer-style space. They all share the four-piece family bathroom which has a separate shower cubicle.

Outside is driveway parking leading to a garage and a back garden with patio, lawns, borders and fencing.

Alan said: "I spend a good deal of time gardening and although it is not large, the garden is, even if I say so myself, pretty and nice to relax in in the summer.

"The house has beautiful views and numerous walks, close to the RSPB and Tindale Tarn ideal if you like the outdoors. "We will miss the views and the tranquillity but this home really needs another family and we need something smaller."

Meadow View, Tindale Fell, Brampton, is for sale at £260,000 H&H King Estate Agents. See here for more details.