Castle Ridge Farm

62 Hope Hill Road

Castleton $1,595,000

Castle Ridge is the quintessential old Virginia Farm.  Time has rounded the edges and through the years, farmers have lived with the land and enhanced the property.  Now the farm has a comforting sense of history and genuine antiquity.  It is perfectly private and has a subtle sophistication that only occurs when good stewards of the land care for a property for a long time.  Located in Castleton, VA with 147 acres of fields and woodlands, it offers many opportunities for farming, recreation and enjoying country living.

 The heart of the property is an old Virginia farmhouse, c. 1850, that began life as a traditional two over two home with a broad back porch.  The original owner was obviously a person of means because of the generous proportions, heart of pine floors, large windows and wealth of architectural details.  Later the back porch was enclosed to increase the living space.  The current owners completely renovated the house in the late 70’s without disturbing any of the patina of the original structure.  Floors were gently refinished, long covered fireplaces were opened and beams were exposed to demonstrate the hearty construction and heft of the timbers.  Now it is a three level home with 5 operating fireplaces, a cooks kitchen and all the modern conveniences that remains true to its roots.

 The main level includes the traditional center hallway that opens to a formal living room with an adjoining study on one side and a master bedroom with an office on the other.  Straight ahead is a reading room with a outstanding view of the rear terraced lawn, impressive landscaping and rolling fields beyond.

 The lower level is the kitchen/dining/family room area that includes a fieldstone fireplace, exposed stonework and rich wood cabinetry.  There are built in shelves and display spaces for collectibles and art.  Large windows in the kitchen and wide French doors in the dining area provide plenty of natural light.  Just off the dining area is a slate floored mudroom that is a handy transition area when coming in from the outdoors.  It has ample space for sporting gear, coats, boots and small tools.  Behind the mudroom is a full bath and the laundry room.

 The upper level includes two generous bedrooms, each with a fieldstone fireplace and office area.  Between the two upstairs bedrooms is a full bath.

 The lawns around the house have been tended and improved for years.  Large shade trees offer natural cooling and interesting interplays of light and shadows while flowering shrubs and perennials provide visual interest in all seasons.  The most impressive portion of the landscape is the hundreds of trees that have been planted in the maintained areas around the home, ponds and barns.  Now there are majestic specimens of over 90 varieties of native and exotic trees that add an arboretum-like quality to the landscape.

 The rear lawn has two levels, terraced with on old stone wall.  On the upper level is the old smokehouse that has been converted into a studio/office with a sleeping loft above.  At the other end of the terraced area is a cedar arbor supporting gnarly old wisterias.  Underneath is a shady spot for al fresco dining.

 The lower grassy level slopes to a spring fed stream that supports water gardens and a small fish pond.   On the downstream side, there is a board fenced garden area with raised beds, compost bins and established asparagus.

 Through an allée of specimen trees and slightly above the main house is a two bedroom guest cottage.  The bedrooms are separated by a small kitchen and full bath.  The front porch of the cottage overlooks a small cottage orchard, vineyard and a pond.  It’s the perfect spot to relax and watch evening fall over the lovely landscape.

 Willows, maples and interesting evergreens encircle the spring fed two-acre pond.  It is cool, deep and stocked with enough bass, blue gill and catfish to satisfy any angler.  With a picnic area under a grove of sugar maples and a perimeter of maintained laws and gardens, the pond provides a reflective backdrop that changes with the seasons, light and weather.

 A sturdy old cattle barn of warm weathered wood with attractive asymmetrical lines is the gateway to the woodlands and working areas of much of the farm.  It provides shelter for cattle and has a large loft above for hay storage.  An equestrian enthusiast could easily convert it into a stable.

 The most dominant topographic feature of the property is a broad open ridge that basically bisects the farm on a north-south axis.  From the top of the ridge, almost the entire farm is laid out before you.  There are spectacular views of wooded foothills rolling to the Blue Ridge Mountains on the western horizon.  To the west of the ridge, is the main house, pond and gardens surrounded by smaller pastures and a productive hay field.   To the east is the wooded portion of the property, which is approximately 75 acres.  

 The ridge and its sloping flanks include approximately 50 acres of fenced pasture punctuated by copses of shade trees and fence rows.  The pastures are currently used for organic grass fed cattle production but it is also ideal for other livestock.  It also has excellent potential for a vineyard with good southeastern exposure and sloping terrain for air drainage.

 The woodlands are laced with trails for riding, hiking and cross country skiing.  With a wide variety of native trees and several semi-open glades, this area is ideal habitat for deer, bear and turkey.  For hunting, hiking or solitude the woods offer opportunities for hours of rambling and exploring.

 Rappahannock County is known for its fine country properties but it is rare, even in Rappahannock County, for a property to come on the market that has so much, history, ambiance, and opportunity.  Castle Ridge Farm is a jewel. The home and property are well cared for and in excellent condition so you can move right in — it's easy and peaceful but never boring. 

Castle Ridge is convenient to Warrenton, Culpeper and across the road from the Castleton Festival and Chateauville Foundation which bring world class-performances to the Theatre House at Castleton Farms.  The Shenandoah National Park is only 20 minutes away and an amazing array of waterfalls, canyons, trails and hikes await you.  Rappahannock County has many fine restaurants and wineries that will allow you an array of fun activities every weekend.  

MRIS# RP7809202   CAAR# 497914

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Entrance to Castle Ridge Farm	Tree Lined Drive
Split Rail Fence	Front Field
Farm Entrance	Farm Entrance View
Fall Beauty	Fall Fields (Bessie Bell in Fall)
High Pasture-Looking East	High Pasture-Looking South
Lone Steer	Garden Area
Picnic Area by the Pond	Magical Reflections
Summer Fun	Mature Landscaping
Wild Azaleas	Japanese Maple
Backyard	Equipment Barn
Cattle Barn	Hayloft
Cattle Shed	Trails Through the Woods
Sunny Glen	Orchard and Vineyard
Equestrian Activities	Guest Cottage
Looking West from Central Ridge	Guest Cottage Porch
Smokehouse	East-West Axis
Delightful Landscaping	Wisteria Arbor
Main House	A Sense of History
Rear View	Rear Terrace
View from Lower Lawn	Front Porch View
Back Porch View	Entry Hall
Center Hall Steps	Main Level Bedroom
Main Level Bedroom Fireplace	Bedroom View
Office	Main Level Bathroom
Living Room	Living Room View
Guest Room off of the Living Room	Upstairs Bedroom 1
Upstairs Bedroom 2	Kitchen
Kitchen View	Lower Living Area
Dining Area	Dining Area View
Mudroom	Guest Cottage Bedroom 1
Guest Cottage Bedroom 2	Guest Cottage Kitchen
Smokehouse Studio	Main Level Reading Room
Center Hall Staircase

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