It's a brilliant place - a beautiful old farmhouse on the edge of the national park offering size, space, flexibility and privacy. So says Keith Gibson about Midtown Farmhouse where he and wife Allison have lived for more than 19 years.

Improvements they have undertaken include revealing the original sandstone facade of the property, which was built in 1774, and this adds to the charm of the house which has oak beams, two staircases and a quirky layout.

The interior has been comprehensively modernised by the Gibsons, along with the charming garden which is full of birds. It has parking for up to four cars and is in a good position, close to country walks yet just a 15-minute drive from the coast.

Down a quiet lane, with schools nearby, and farms and fields on the doorstep, Midtown Farmhouse could appeal to a family wanting a peaceful country life close to amenities and work.

Keith said: "It has a beautiful garden full of birds and delightful in spring and there's a summer house at the bottom of the garden.

"It's well-established with bushes, a nice country garden on different levels; you sit on the back step of the house and listen to the birds are singing, it's delightful.

"If you're into walking or have pets, it's a very private area, an adventure playground for kids in that respect as it's surrounded by farms and fields.

"You can walk over to Ponsonby and Gosforth, even across to Keswick. It does look across Sellafield, which might put people off, but behind that we see the western sunset and the Isle of Man."

Midtown Farmhouse has two entrances; the original leads into a utility room which is useful for pets or children. There is a dining room with hatch to a cellar, which provides ample storage, and a wooden floor laid by the Gibson, and the other reception room is a good-sized lounge with exposed beams and open fire.

"The kitchen is the centrepiece of the house," said Keith. "It's big - we had a farmhouse table in there - and is cosy with a Rayburn which heats two-thirds of the house."

The first floor has four double bedrooms, one at the front of the house and the others at the back looking towards the sea. One has an en-suite shower room and the others have the use of the split-level family bathroom which has a Victorian suite incorporating a free-standing double-ended clawfoot bath and walk-in shower cubicle.

The bathroom is accessed from a rear hallway with feature arched window and from where there are stairs down to the dining kitchen.

On the second floor is a very large attic with Velux rooflights, exposed ceiling timbers and undereaves storage running the full length of the room.

"This could be a fifth bedroom or gym," Keith said. "We took the partition wall out and carpeted it, we've spent a lot of money and time on it.

"People might think there's a lot of maintenance with this being a big house but that's not the case. Everyone who sees it likes it.

"The ladies like it and the guys are sceptical and see it as a big job and it isn't like that. You can walk straight in - we keep it maintained and cleaned and have done some minor maintenance."

Midtown Farmhouse is available immediately as Keith and Allison now live closer to the coast. They decided on a change in lifestyle after he started a new job in Whitehaven.

"We'll miss this though," he said, "most especially the birds and the privacy of the house."

Midtown Farmhouse, Ponsonby, near Seascale, is for sale at £289,000 from PFK Estate Agents, tel. 01946 695535.