Hot property: wildlife

▲ Bridwell Park, Devon, UK, £4m

Where In Uffculme, a small town, approximately 18 miles from Exeter international airport and five minutes’ drive from Tiverton Parkway rail station (1 hour 57 minutes into London).

What A Grade I-listed Georgian mansion set within a deer park. The seven-bedroom house is equipped with a cinema, an indoor pool, tennis courts and a helicopter hangar. There is a separate coach house for staff and a Gothic-style museum that was first built to house Captain Cook’s collection of artifacts from around the world.

Why The estate, renovated under the supervision of English Heritage in the 1990s, is surrounded by 117 acres of parkland and is home to herds of fallow deer.

Who Savills, www.savills.co.uk tel: +44 (0)1392 455755

.......................................................................

► 1425 Smith Creek Road, Graeagle, California, US, $980,000

Where Around 75 miles north of Lake Tahoe, two hours’ drive from Sacramento and four hours’ drive from San Francisco.

What A two-bedroom house with mountain views of the Eureka and Penman peaks. Set in 43 secluded acres, the 1,200 sq ft property has 12 fishing ponds and 3,000ft of frontage on to Smith Creek.

Why Originally listed at $1.695m, the price has dropped by more than $700,000. In the winter residents enjoy excellent cross-country skiing, such as the famous Jamison Canyon trail. The area also offers some of the best trout and salmon fishing in the US. Located just outside the Plumas-Eureka State Park, home to mountain lions, black bears, mink, deer and bobcats.

Who Chase International, www.chaseinternational.com, tel: +1 530 263 6736

.......................................................................

► Son Ferra Nou, Esporlas, Mallorca, €5.9m

Where Situated on the south side of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains, five minutes’ drive from the Mediterranean sea and around 20km from Palma de Mallorca international airport.

What A 16th-century stone finca with seven bedrooms, a vineyard and a garden planted with fruit trees. The private guesthouse, wine cellar and summer kitchen are accessed via an enclosed courtyard. The outdoor swimming pool and several shaded porches offer escape from the sun.

Why Aside from the privacy, dramatic views and close proximity to the sea, the surrounding Serra de Tramuntana mountains are a Unesco World Heritage site and home to wild goats, falcons and black vultures.

Who Engel & Völkers, www.engelvoelkers.com, tel: +34 971 60 9141

.......................................................................

► Casa Mimosa, Abruzzo, Italy, €1.2m

Where Near San Giorgio, a village on the eastern side of central Italy, overlooking the Gran Sasso mountains and 45 minutes’ drive from Pescara’s international airport.

What A restored farmhouse set in 10 acres and surrounded by olive trees. The six-bedroom property overlooks a swimming pool and pool house. A barn has been converted into a 45ft living space with a dining area that seats up to 14.

Why On the fringes of Gran Sasso National Park, the location is ideal for hiking and animal watching. The park is home to the Apennine wolf – now making a comeback after nearly being hunted to extinction – the Marsican brown bear and the chamois, a goat-antelope species. Golden eagles are often seen flying overhead.

Who Cluttons Italy, www.cluttonsitaly.com, tel: +39 075 8450100

.......................................................................

► Haras du Coussoul, Les Alpilles, Provence, France, €6.5m

Where In the Vallée des Baux, approximately 30km from Avignon on the D5, 57km east of Nimes and 60km from Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in the Camargue.

What A 13-bedroom equestrian estate with a private guest house, two additional apartments for staff, stables, and a swimming pool.

Why There is hardly a better place for an equestrian estate than on the edges of the Camargue valley, where herds of wild, white horses roam freely. In addition, expect to find pink flamingos, boars and wild black bulls, which are rounded up yearly by local cowboys for bullfighting.

Who Knight Frank, www.knightfrank.com, tel: +44 (0)20 7629 8171