Lathom, Ormskirk, L40 5TF

Few front doors in West Lancashire open onto a view quite like this one.

One of a row of red-brick former workers' cottages on the bank of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, 7 Canal Cottages looks straight across its garden to the water, with the towpath at the gate and mature trees lining the far bank.

Inside, around 810 sq ft of characterful accommodation includes an open-plan dining room and lounge with a wood-burning stove, a well-appointed kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom, with off-road parking to the rear.

The cottage wears its history well, its brickwork banded in cream and black chequer with stone heads above the windows.

A picket gate from the towpath opens into the front garden, where a lawn and rose borders surround a sandstone-flagged terrace enclosed by traditional hooped railings.

It is a place for the first coffee of the morning or a long summer supper, with the canal a few steps away and the swans drifting slowly past the gate.

The front door opens into the lounge/dining area (26’2 × 13’5), where a heavy timber beam spans the ceiling and a painted brick chimney breast with a small recessed alcove anchors one wall.

A window to the front frames the canal, and the staircase rises from the corner with a turned newel post and timber panelling beneath.

The dining area flows openly into the lounge area, which gathers naturally around its centrepiece: a wood-burning stove set within an exposed brick fireplace on a stone hearth, beneath a rough-hewn timber mantel.

On a winter's evening, with the stove lit and the canal dark beyond the windows, it is hard to picture anywhere cosier.

Dado rails, ledge-and-brace doors and brass switches carry the cottage character throughout, and a storage cupboard adds practicality.

The kitchen (14'6 x 6'4) is a well-planned galley with cream shaker-style units, including curved wall cabinets with lighting beneath, and solid oak worktops.

A one-and-a-half bowl ceramic sink with a traditional mixer tap sits beneath the window, metro tiling runs behind the worktops, and there is space for a range cooker beneath a chimney-style extractor.

A roof light and inset downlights keep the room bright, wide oak boards run underfoot, and a door gives access to the side. The combination boiler is housed in a cupboard.

The landing has loft access and leads to two bedrooms and the bathroom.

The principal bedroom (13'4 x 8'7) sits at the front of the cottage, with built-in wardrobes and a small-paned window looking out over the garden to the canal, the kind of view that makes waking up a pleasure.

At the rear, the second bedroom (13'6 x 7'9) is also a generous double.

The bathroom is a room of real character, finished in tumbled stone tiling with an exposed brick flue curving up through one corner.

It has both a bath, with a rainfall shower over and a glass screen, and a separate shower enclosure, alongside a vanity unit with basin, a traditional-style WC with ceramic lever, a chrome heated towel rail, a stone-tiled floor and a window to the side.

To the rear, an enclosed courtyard with gated access provides a practical space for bins and storage, and there is off-road parking behind the cottages.

The addition of a separate stable/store room is a great feature allowing for more storage located in the central courtyard just a short walk from the property.

Ring O' Bells Lane follows the Leeds and Liverpool Canal through the countryside of Lathom, where towpath walks and open farmland begin at the garden gate.

The canalside Ring O' Bells pub is close by, and the walk along the water towards Burscough is a local favourite in every season.

Burscough itself is a couple of miles away, with shops, cafés and restaurants and two railway stations serving Southport, Wigan, Manchester and Preston.

The market town of Ormskirk, with its Merseyrail link to Liverpool, is also within easy reach, as is the M58 for onward travel.

Tenure: We understand the property to be Freehold, however prospective purchasers should seek to obtain verification of this from their solicitor. Council Tax Band C.

Disclaimer   Every care has been taken with the preparation of these property details but they are for general guidance only and complete accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

If there is any point, which is of particular importance professional verification should be sought. These property details do not constitute a contract or part of a contract.

We are not qualified to verify tenure of property. Prospective purchasers should seek to obtain verification of tenure from their solicitor.

The mention of any appliances, fixtures or fittings does not imply they are in working order.

Photographs are reproduced for general information and it cannot be inferred that any item shown is included in the sale. All dimensions are approximate.