In recent years, an increasing number of country homes have opened their doors as wedding venues – and as a flourishing industry, it's easy to see why. Properties with historical significance, picturesque grounds, or unique architecture make for a beautiful backdrop and can create an atmosphere that can be hard to replicate elsewhere.

Take Priory Hall, for example. With its extensive gardens and glorious period features, it serves as the perfect setting for a fairytale wedding. We particularly love the vaulted main hall with its exposed timbers and minstrel gallery, providing the picture-perfect space for the wedding ceremony.

Sitting on the headland in North Devon is The Old Rectory, an attractive country house that was once the rectory to the village’s 11^th century church. Set in just over two acres, the home has been run as an incredibly successful boutique hotel, with bedrooms in the main house and two further cottages. Whilst there’s planning permission in place to bring the property back to residential use, a new owner could keep the business going should they wish. It’s situated in the Exmoor National Park, with Woody Bay less than two miles away, so an ideal spot for holidaymakers.

Holiday lets can be an excellent way to generate additional income, particularly if your property is in a lovely corner of the countryside, in a vibrant city, or by the coast. Those that come with separate accommodation, such as additional cottages or easily convertible outbuildings, can be especially profitable and enable you to separate yourself from guests. 

Consider Wood Farm, tucked away in the South Devon National Landscape and already running as an established and incredibly successful business. In turn-key condition throughout, the main house and cottages are set in eleven acres of rolling gardens and grounds. The impressive pool house is a particular highlight.   

Shenfield Mill may be the former home of singer-songwriter Kate Bush, but this home has now been immaculately refurbished by the current owners. Their work on the home included the addition of an unusual but very useful feature that offers a passive income. A private hydro electrical scheme, with a 3-metre diameter Archimedes screw, generates an average of 40kw per hour of electricity that not only powers the entire estate for self-sufficiency but also generates a significant annual income.

Running an equestrian centre is not just about the business, but also about creating a community where like-minded individuals can come together to bond over shared interests and showcase talent. The Grange Equestrian Centre is a nationally renowned and highly successful competition venue, where riders across the UK and world have visited to spectate and compete. As the largest indoor competition area in the Southwest, featuring paddocks, stables and a horse walker – Grange Farm is ideal someone who wants to step into the shoes of an already successful and highly profitable business.