Hillside is a gorgeous Victorian-style property with bags of style and space which retains period character blended with contemporary upgrades to create a delightful family home within a popular village yet accessible to major transport links.

With three reception rooms, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, manageable gardens, ample parking and a double garage, it is an impressive package sure to be of interest to a family looking for a spacious home in a village setting - the main attractions for current owners Keith and Gillian Martin.

"With three teenage children we were looking for somewhere which offered us more space and the house is ideally located in Dalston village," said Gillian, who works as a learning assistant.

"That was 12 years ago and we relocated from Carlisle. Keith knew the village as he attended Caldew School.

"Now the children have all left home to pursue their chosen careers and there is just Keith and me, plus Henry, our cocker spaniel."

Since moving into Hillside, which is on the southern fringe of Dalston, Gillian and Keith, a joiner, have reconfigured their living space to meet the demands of a modern-day family.

She explained: "We have remodelled the kitchen and utility room to maximise space and put in patio doors from the dining room to the rear garden.

"We have also installed woodburners in both the living room and in the sitting room, decorated throughout and concreted the yard to make it much easier and cleaner to go in and out of the house."

Now those new patio doors are in constant use as Gillian and Keith enjoy sitting out on the patio enjoying a cup of tea in the mornings. In fact, it's their favourite spot in the house - especially when the sun is shining.

There is also a second patio area in the gardens which wrap around Hillside and catch the sun all day, said Gillian, adding: "We have mature borders to the front and one side of the house.

"On the other side is the yard with parking for several cars and a walled vegetable plot with raised beds. To the rear there is an orchard area and a greenhouse, flowering and ornamental trees, a log store and a timber arbour. "

Period features inside Hillside including working shutters, ceiling cornices and roses in the lounge and sitting room which both also have bay windows and multi-fuel stoves, and the dining room has original ceiling meat hooks.

The dining kitchen has an extensive array of fitted wall and floor cabinets with a breakfast bar and dresser unit, exposed ceiling purlins and a feature sandstone walls.

The master bedroom has built-in wardrobes and an en-suite shower room and two of the remaining three double bedrooms enjoy a walk-in dressing room or wall-to-wall mirrored wardrobes.

The family bathroom has a four-piece suite including a curved shower cubicle, extractor fan and ceramic tiled floor.

"We believe the house dates back to Georgian times - around 1760s - and we have views of the surrounding countryside as far as Carrock Fell," Gillian said. "This rural living, but close to all the amenities of Dalston, is a big attraction.

"We're going to miss the view from the kitchen window as the seasons change throughout the year. but now the children have left home it's time for us to downsize.

"We want to remain in this area as we enjoy living here. Dalston has lots of activities to get involved with, including an annual festival with agricultural show in the summer.

"There is a primary and secondary school, two pubs, a church and good transport links,both buses and trains.

"There is a range of shops including a Coop, butcher, gift shop, fish and chip shop, hair and beauty salons, tea shop, newsagents, pharmacists, a post office, god walking and cycling and a recreation building and play park."

Hillside, Hawksdale, Dalston, is for sale at £399,950 from Cumbrian Properties. See here for full details.