Some houses are easy to describe in terms of rooms and measurements. This one is really about how it makes you feel.

Set back from the road behind its front garden, the cottage has an immediately appealing, almost storybook quality. Red brick, mellow clay tiles, leaded windows and an abundance of mature greenery create a picture-perfect first impression, while the position on the edge of this highly regarded village gives it a lovely sense of retreat without feeling isolated.

Inside, it is every bit as charming as you hope.

The sitting room is wonderfully cosy, with exposed timbers crossing the ceiling and walls and a wood-burning stove tucked into the brick fireplace. White plasterwork provides a simple backdrop and allows the age and texture of the building to do the talking.

Alongside is a separate dining room and this is perhaps where the history of the cottage is most evident. Ancient beams, wonderfully irregular walls and an extraordinary open fireplace give the room a character that simply couldn't be recreated in a newer house. It is intimate, warm and full of atmosphere.

The kitchen sits beyond, while a ground-floor bathroom completes the accommodation at this level. The arrangement is traditional rather than open plan, and all the better for it – individual rooms, each with its own personality.

Upstairs are two bedrooms beneath the old roof structure. The principal bedroom is particularly lovely, with exposed timbers running through the walls and ceiling and a section of exposed brickwork adding another layer of texture. The second bedroom is another characterful space, while useful eaves storage makes clever use of the roofline.

And then there are the gardens.

The cottage enjoys gardens to both front and rear, creating a wonderful green setting around the house. Mature trees and established planting give the rear garden privacy and a delightfully secluded feel, with lawns winding between deep borders and several places to sit and enjoy the surroundings.

Scattered amongst the planting are a greenhouse, shed and a particularly pretty summer house, while the separate garage also incorporates a useful utility room. Together they add to the sense that this is much more than simply a cottage and garden - it is a little world of its own.

For all its period charm, the location makes it particularly appealing. Sitting on the edge of a sought-after village, there is countryside close at hand while village life remains within easy reach.

It's beautiful without being precious, characterful without feeling like a museum and, above all, it is one of those rare cottages that makes you smile the moment you arrive.