WHERE ARE WE?

In Pitstone, Buckinghamshire. The views are stunning, with rolling hills, woodland and wide open spaces. You could be somewhere in Switzerland, but in reality you are on the edge of the Chiltern Hills.

TELL ME MORE . . .

One of the larger villages around Tring, Pitstone is widely known for its ancient windmill, pictured above, and the medieval church of St Mary the Virgin, founded in 1180. The surrounding area has much to offer – the Grand Union Canal, the bluebell woods at their best in May, nearby Whipsnade Zoo, and the Kings Head Restaurant at Ivinghoe. The market towns of Aylesbury, Tring and Berkhamsted are alive with interesting shops. The revamped Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted is arguably the finest independent cinema in the country. There are some extremely good schools in the area – Aylesbury Grammar, Tring School and Berkhamsted Collegiate School.

WHAT ARE THE TRANSPORT CONNECTIONS?

The train journey from nearby Tring to Marylebone takes about 35 minutes. Pitstone’s proximity to the M1 is one of the benefits that attracts potential buyers (those that drive, anyway). Once the current roadworks around Luton airport are completed, commuting as far afield as Milton Keynes and the Midlands should become a practical proposition.

WHY ARE PEOPLE SUDDENLY SO EXCITED ABOUT PITSTONE?

The place has undergone a transformation. Not so long ago the southwestern end of the village was overshadowed by a cement works. This has now disappeared to make way for new homes and even a business park. Much of the rural setting has been restored: some 275 homes have been built where the cement works once stood. A further development phase, with 161 new dwellings scheduled, is expected to begin later this year, subject to planning permission – already agreed in principle – for one, two, three, four and five bedroom houses and flats, 20-30 per cent of which is earmarked for affordable housing.

WHAT’S THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A PROPERTY?

Cole Flatt, an estate agent in Tring and Berkhamsted, reckons that Pitstone house prices are up to 50 per cent less than similar properties in London. Two typical houses for sale in Pitstone include an attractive four-bedroom semidetached property with a 125ft back garden, priced at £390,000; and a three-bedroom detached family home in a cul-de-sac, with front and back garden, for sale for £464,950.

Times recommends

• Second homes: credit crunch casualty or money-spinner?
• How I built my own sliding house
• Top 10 incentives for house buyers