PORLOCK Vale House has been snapped up for nearly £2million, by a man fulfilling a romantic promise to his wife.

THIRTY years ago wealth management specialist Mark Pendarves promised his wife Liz they would one day buy picturesque Porlock Vale House – tucked away on the Somerset coast where Exmoor meets the sea.

Now Mark has kept his promise, buying the enormous property - complete with extensive main house and equestrian facilities - off an asking price of £1.95m for the freehold - in a deal brokered by sector specialists Colliers International.

Hotels director Peter Brunt said: “Porlock Vale House is a truly wonderful property. Its main elements – the 16-bedroom main house, the two two-bedroom apartments and a three-bedroom cottage as well as the spacious owners’ accommodation and the associated equestrian facilities – are in a class of their own.”

“Overlooking the dramatic and unspoilt Somerset coast, Porlock Vale House has enormous potential for the new owners, who are seeking to combine a healthy business with a fabulous lifestyle.

“It’s been a successful self-catering complex for eight years or so and Mark and Liz have scope to run it as a hotel, a top class wedding venue or a classy Bed & Breakfast. There is a clear opportunity to step up the business in whatever direction the new owners choose.”

Built in 1904 and believed to have been used as a hunting lodge by holiday pioneer Thomas Cook, the main house boasts 16 bedrooms, lounge, dining and games room, a wood-panelled bar and wine store along with a majestic hallway which feels more like the entrance to a Scottish hunting lodge.

The three-bedroom home for the owners was converted from part of the Edwardian-era stables, there are still six loose boxes in the adjacent barn.

The equestrian offering includes the stables which form one side of a cobbled courtyard, two additional stable yards and a large indoor school with viewing gallery. There is also a workshop with a tack and feed room, hay barn and log storage.

Mr Brunt added: “Porlock Vale is renowned in equestrian circles as the training ground for the 1952 British Olympic equestrian team who went on to win gold in Helsinki.

"For the next 35 years, it was one of the pre-eminent equestrian training centres in Britain.

“As if all this wasn’t enough there are 23 acres of land surrounding the property, mainly paddocks, and two orchards well as formal lawned gardens, including a croquet lawn.”

The shingle beach and South West Coast Path are through a gate at the bottom of the field, and Exmoor is over the lane at the top of the drive.