LIVING in a friendly village with lots going on has proved perfect for Wendy and Bernie Moss. That and their immaculate bungalow with beautiful views have combined to make the last 10 years busy but thoroughly enjoyable. SUSAN GOODSON found out more

A RECENT evening of wine and cheese with friends only emphasised to Wendy Moss just how much she and husband Bernie are going to miss their home. They will be sad to say goodbye to the welcoming community they have been part of and a home that from the outside hides just how much space it has to offer.

The house - Grayleaves, Sunbrick Lane, Baycliff - is a four-bedroomed detached bungalow in a highly sought-after village location. There is a garden front with block paved drive, porch, entrance hall, lounge, dining room, study, extended kitchen, two ground floor bedrooms and a ground floor bathroom.

To the first floor are two additional bedrooms and a separate shower room. To the back is a lawned garden, patio area and established flower beds.

There is an external utility area/boot room with kitchen units, fridge freezer, plumbing for a washing machine and vented for a tumbler dryer.

As the couple go walking in all weathers this room is great when they come in wet and muddy.

They can clean up and get dry in a warm room without bringing the wet and mud into the main house.

Having come from the Ribble Valley area Wendy and Bernie were immediately struck by the charm of Baycliff. They also fell in love with the bungalow they have further transformed into a stunning family home.

It already had plenty of living space but seven years ago the couple extended it to make it into their dream home.

Wendy said: “We love having people over, socialising with friends as well as having space for our grown-up children and grandchildren when they visit.

“We got such a surprise at how big the house was when we first viewed it, seeing it from the outside didn't reflect the fantastic living space it had to offer.

“There was a porch at the back of the kitchen but we took that down and extended the kitchen area to make it a spacious area to cook, eat and socialise.

“There are also two sets of double glass doors opening the kitchen out into the garden, great on warm and sunny days when inside and outside can be as one.

“We made this downstairs area more open plan and replaced the doors between the lounge, dining room and kitchen with open arches.

“It is such a light and airy house and with so much room we can actually live on the bungalow level.

“The downstairs bathroom has a whirlpool bath and separate shower, wash hand basin and WC ."

There is a first floor shower room with its own WC , wash basin and double glazed sky light.

The couple put Karndean flooring in the kitchen, dining area, lounge and hallway.

Wendy added: “We have turned one of the downstairs bedrooms, with views of Morecambe Bay, into a second dining room, as we don't need the bedroom space.

“The second downstairs bedroom overlooks the back garden.

“Because of the elevated position of the house both the lounge, study and dining room/fourth bedroom have views over Morecambe Bay.

“In the last couple of years we have redecorated and the lounge and dining area now both have Mathew Williamson wallpapers which I just love.”

Outside they pulled down the garage and rebuilt it into a hobby/study room. Bernie likes to listen to music and Wendy loves to sew so this beautiful room is well used. It also doubles up as extra bedroom space.

As an added extra there is an under-house storage area.

Wendy loves gardening and has turned the front into an organic vegetable, fruit and flowers patch but has left all the borders and it could easily be converted back to lawn or flag.

The back garden has been kept very simple with lawn, paved pathways, patio and borders.

Talking about Baycliff Wendy said: ““People think nothing happens in Baycliff but the truth is just the opposite, with an active community spirit.

“We have two pubs which serve food and many of us in the village get together on a Friday night for drinks and a catch-up.

“They pulled down the old cow sheds a while back and now there is a new small housing estate and families, some with young children, have moved in and enhanced the vibrancy of our village.

"We have a lovely play park, a school bus and bus service to Ulverston , Coniston and Barrow.

“If you want to join in at Easter people get together on the village green to celebrate and the children get Easter eggs, the Morris dancers come to entertain. At Christmas we have a carol service, 'Santa' comes to visit, each child gets a Christmas present and there is mulled wine and warm mince pies.

“There is the Baycliff Gala each year in the play park area which is well attended. You can join in to village events if you want to. People in the village really support each other without being pushy.

“We can leave the house and go on walks without having to get in the car and we are in easy access of Barrow and Ulverston."

Grayleaves is a much loved home, but Wendy and Bernie are now retired and want to move closer to family, including Wendy’s elderly mother.

The bungalow - Grayleaves, Sunbrick Lane, Baycliff - is on the market with Ross Estate Agencies for offers in the region of £315,000.

For further details or to organise a viewing please call the agent at their Ulverston office on 01229 582889 or drop into the offices at 25 King Street .