A family home overlooking its own lake is currently on the market in Greater Manchester, and we can probably all agree it’s a real stunner.
The only thing is, you’ll just need the small matter of £1.6 million before you can call it yours.
It goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article won’t have £1.6 million just sitting in their bank account right now, and that properties of this stature are likely not the kind we’ll get to call home, so the next best thing we can do is just snoop around on good old Rightmove and have a nosey at all the jaw-dropping pictures instead.
Like us, if you’ve got no shame in admitting that one of your favourite internet pastimes is looking up houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then let us introduce you to this gem over in Bolton.
We’re talking a beautifully-modern lake house that estate agents have called “truly unique” and “striking”, kind of a ‘gem’.
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This is The Lake House.
The Lake House is currently on the market in an unassuming Greater Manchester town / Credit: Newton & Co
Described as being one of the Greater Manchester town’s “best kept secrets”, this four-bedroom detached residence is located in the suburb of Lostock – which is known for being one of the borough’s most affluent and sought-after neighbourhoods that’s conveniently close to a wide range of amenities, excellent local schools, and transport links across the region and beyond – and it has so much to offer prospective buyers.
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Hidden in plain sight, but overlooking a Victorian formal pond of lake-size proportions, the property sits behind private gates amid its own expansive grounds at the end of what, you’d have to say, is a pretty run-of-the-mill residential street.
But this is far from being a run-of-the-mill house.
The four-bedroom detached family home is “truly unique” and packed with impressive features throughout / Credit: Newton & Co
The Lake House was actually built in 2010 in the garden of a traditional 1870s home, and back in the day, it was formerly owned by a local inventor who built a model railway in the gardens for local children to ride on.
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Estate agents say the property is so “unique”, in fact, that the current owners have even been approached by filmmakers in their time, who were eager to capture the location on the big screen.
As well as boasting several light and spacious reception rooms, a bespoke kitchen kitted-out with a range of modern fixtures, appliances, and a stunning AGA, four large bedrooms, and both family bathrooms and en-suites, the property also has countless other impressive hand-crafted features to its name behind the grand front doors.
Just a couple of these features include timber spiral staircases, some snazzy modern lighting fixtures throughout, a truly jaw-dropping coved glass ceiling feature, and a master bedroom with its own luxury dressing room.
It’ll set you back a whopping £1.6 million to call it yours / Credit: Newton & Co
The star of the show, though, has to be the elevated terrace that wraps around three sides of the property, making it the perfect place to relax all year round.
And, of course, the outside of the property is just as impressive as the inside… in fact, you could argue even more impressive, as the formal surrounding gardens not only include the lake and all its little quirks, like a range of different bridges, boating houses, and a clocktower, but they’ve also been maintained to the highest of standards, making them a massive credit to the current owners.
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The property also comes with a large double garage in its grounds – which houses its own workshop, a large office, and a bathroom – and there’s also the potential to create a separate annexe too.
The Lake House is currently on the market with Bolton-based independent estate agents, Newton & Co, for a whopping £1.6 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosey at the Rightmove link here.
Featured Image – Newton & Co
Property
The top 10 ‘happiest’ places to live in the North West in 2026 have been named
Emily Sergeant
The top 10 happiest places to live in the North West have been named for 2026.
It comes as Rightmove has published its annual ‘Happy at Home’ index this week, just as it has done for the last 14 years now, exploring exactly what it is that makes people feel content about where they live, and highlighting the happiest places nationwide ahead of the new year – with thousands of residents across more than 200 locations providing feedback.
The residents told the leading property listing platform what they love (or don’t love) about their community, from the friendliness of their neighbours, to job opportunities, access to green spaces, and so much more.
The survey also outlined the differences in happiness in rural, urban, and suburban environments, as well as the way our sense of ‘home happiness’ changes as we age.
So, when it comes to the North West as a whole then, where do we have in the top 10?
Well, to kick things off, you may have already seen that one Lancashire market town has earned its place in the top 10 nationwide, not just for the North West region – and that’s Chorley.
Closest to the Bolton and Wigan boroughs, Chorley – which is is about a 40-minute drive outside of Manchester, and sits on a direct train route into the city centre.
But aside from the national top 10, when it comes to the regional top 10, the next two towns following Chorley in second and third are both in Greater Manchester.
The North West’s top 10 happiest places to live 2026
Chorley
Stockport
Altrincham
Chester
Macclesfield
Southport
Kendal
Wirral
Northwich
Carlisle
Altrincham has been named one of the North West’s happiest places to live / Credit: The Manc Group
The ever-thriving Stockport comes in at number two, followed by Trafford favourite Altrincham directly behind it at number three.
Other of the region’s inclusions like Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and the Manchester borough itself all ranked towards the bottom.
Speaking on this year’s list, Colleen Babcock – a property expert at Rightmove – explained: “The balance between greenery and everyday convenience runs through the wider findings. Even among people who would ideally choose a rural setting, access to amenities, parks and public transport remains important.
“This year’s results suggest that the places people rate most highly aren’t simply urban or rural, but often bring together some of the best elements of both.”
Featured Image – Roger Kidd (via Wikimedia Commons)
Property
Inside the most EXPENSIVE house on the market in one of Greater Manchester’s poshest villages
Emily Sergeant
Fancy a look behind the doors of what is currently the most expensive house on the market in Greater Manchester?
A houses in one of the region’s poshest – if not, the poshest – villages? A house with the most regal interiors and expansive landscaped gardens? A house with an indoor swimming pool, its own cinema room, and leisure suite with a gym and sauna? Of course you do, you’d be silly not to.
The only things is, you’ll just need the small matter of £9.5 million if you want to buy it.
Of course, it goes without saying that the vast majority of people reading this article won’t have £9.5 million just sitting in their bank accounts right now… but, if like us, you love having a nosy inside houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty called Hill Top.
Hill Top is a stunning six-bedroom detached residence in the highly sought-after Trafford village of Hale, currently sitting as the most expensive house on the market in the region.
This is Hill Top, the most expensive house in Greater Manchester / Credit: Gascoigne Halman
Although a new build that was only completed back in 2015, the property has been carefully considered and constructed in the Queen Ann architectural style – which is widely seen throughout the area – to make sure the home stands out while still sitting in harmony with its surroundings.
Sitting on an acre plot at the end of a gated driveway, Hill Top benefits from being within walking distance of all the amenities, excellent local schools, and convenient transport links that make Hale such a desirable place to live.
Estate agents describe it as being full of ‘character and architectural interest’, but with the warmth and charm of a traditional family home.
It’s full of state-of-the-art design features / Credit: Gascoigne Halman
Some of the property’s stand-out features include a Portico stone front porch leading to a grand central staircase, a bespoke designed kitchen with premium integrated appliances, several spacious reception rooms, hardwood sash windows, and Chesney’s fireplaces, as well as the aforementioned leisure suite with a gym, sauna, steam room, and treatment room in the basement space.
Oh, and how could we forget, the indoor swimming pool too?
State-of-the-art technology is seamlessly woven into the design of the house too. We’re talking intelligent underfloor heating, integrated air conditioning, fully customisable multimedia and lighting systems, and an advanced security and CCTV network.
The outside of Hill Top is just as impressive as the inside too, with stunning landscaped gardens by Barnes Walker rounding out why this is one of the most desirable places to live in the region.
The outside is just as impressive as the inside / Credit: Gascoigne Halman
Hill Top is currently on the market with Hale-based estate agents, Gascoigne Halman, for a Guide Price of £9.5 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the property company to arrange a viewing.
Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a look on Rightmove HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
19th June 2024 
