A dozen dream homes: thatched cottages

It was 18th-century artists and their idealised paintings of thatched cottages that created our romantic view of rural life. Today we're more in love than ever with the intricate craftsmanship and rustic simplicity of these characterful buildings. But what is it about thatch that makes these homes so sought after? Once thought of as the ‘poor man's roof', it is now a symbol of affluence.

For centuries, most cottages and farm buildings in Britain were thatched, and until the Middle Ages even churches and large houses were, too - in 1300, records show that six acres of rush were needed to roof the hall and chambers at Pevensey Castle in Sussex. Thatchers used whatever grew locally: heather in Scotland and moorland England, water reed throughout Norfolk, combed wheat reed in the West Country and wheat straw in southern England.

Each type of thatch produces different architectural results. Water reed creates angular lines and straight edges, for example, while combed wheat reed lends itself to curved eaves. Heather was traditionally used on low, arched roofs and held in place with ropes; wheat straw is ‘shaggier' and often needs netting to prevent damage by birds.

It is a skilled craft and each master thatcher has a signature style. To find a reputable craftsman, talk to their previous customers - all thatched roofs look great when new, but the sign of a good job is one that still looks good five, ten or 15 years later. There are about 24,000 listed thatched buildings in the UK - significantly less than the one million in 1800 - but enough to keep today's much-valued army of 1,500 thatchers busy. With expertise available and a keenly priced housing market, this could be the time to invest in a slice of rural heritage.

If you want to know more, need to make repairs to an existing roof or would like to thatch from scratch, the best place to start is the Thatch Advice Centre (0845 450 4878; www.thatchadvicecentre.co.uk), which has stacks of practical advice on topics from from fire safety to finding a local thatcher.

Click the links below for details of Country Living magazine's selection of the best thatched cottages to buy, rent or holiday let.

£695,000 - Magheralin, County Armagh

Traditional cottage with four bedrooms, sash windows, fruit and vegetable plots, greenhouse, chicken run and balcony with panoramic views.

£650,000 - Colyton, Devon

Grade II-listed farmhouse set in more than one acre with four bedrooms, inglenook fireplace, beamed ceilings, annexe, stone barns, paddock and mature gardens.

£650,000 - Ailby, Alford, Lincolnshire

17th-century Grade II-listed house with six bedrooms, outbuildings and equestrian facilities and adjoining paddocks, surrounded by 12 acres of land with.

£550,000 - Penton Mewsey, Hampshire

Grade II-listed detached cottage with charming front porch, three bedrooms, exposed beams, inglenook fireplace, woodburning stove, garage and shed. It has a pretty front garden with a picket fence, and a landscaped garden at the rear with an ornamental pond and seating area.

£420,000 - Flemingston, Barry

Cottage with three bedrooms, beamed ceilings, garden room, garage, cottage garden and countryside views.

£400,000 - Hitcham, Suffolk

Grade II-listed timber-frame cottage with three bedrooms, exposed beams, wooden windows, summerhouse, large driveway and mature gardens overlooking open fields.

£2,000pcm - Kea, near Truro, Cornwall

Georgian-style house in a creek-side setting on the Fal estuary with six bedrooms, garage and lawned garden.

£1,400pcm - Ashmore, Salisbury, Dorset

Period-style house on Cranborne Chase with five bedrooms, garden room, garage, conservatory mature shrubs and sweeping vistas.

£555-1,003 per week - Brundall, Norfolk

17th-century cottage with four bedrooms, spiral staircase, inglenook fireplace, exposed timbers, woodburner and mature garden. Sleeps eight.

£440-1,280 per week - Shorwell, Isle of Wight

18th-century, Grade II-listed cottage with three bedrooms, woodburning stove and summerhouse. Sleeps eight.

£295-653 per week - Harome, North Yorkshire

16th-century stone cottage on the edge of the North York Moors with two bedrooms, beamed ceilings, flagstone floors and open fireplace. Sleeps four.

£350-500 per week - South Uist, Outer Hebridies

Restored period cottage with two bedrooms, underfloor heating, sandy beaches nearby and stunning views of the Isle of Skye. Sleeps five.

Please note that although all properties were available when Country Living magazine went to press, some may have since been sold or rented.