A stunning seaside home with access to a secret padlocked tunnel that inspired The Thirty-Nine Steps has hit the market for £2.25million.
The contemporary property, called Seaview, is on the North Foreland Estate in Broadstairs, Kent, and is set 200 yards back from a private beach.
The beach can only be reached through an underground tunnel and stairs - which just a small group of locals have the keys to.
It is thought that writer John Buchan was convalescing at a home on the estate in the summer of 1914 and began writing a novel to relieve his boredom.
The clifftop house where he and his family were staying had steps running down to the beach, which inspired the story.
Reports of a German spy who had been captured at North Foreland - signalling to a U-boat just days before the Buchans arrived - also gave him the idea.
North Foreland Estate is today a prestigious gated community made up of detached, individually-designed homes.
Seaview was built six years ago by a property developer for his own family and includes a number of high end features such as air conditioning, remote control blinds and frameless windows and glass doors.
A stunning seaside home (pictured) with access to a secret padlocked tunnel that inspired The Thirty-Nine Steps has hit the market for £2.25million
It is thought that writer John Buchan was convalescing at a home on the estate in the summer of 1914 and began writing a novel to relieve his boredom. A still from the 1935 film adaptation is pictured
Inside it has 3,912 sq ft over three floors.
On the ground floor lies an entrance hall leading into an open plan kitchen, dining and family room, a lounge, boot room and utility.
On the first floor is the master bedroom, which has a large en suite and a dressing room, and two further en suite bedrooms. The top floor has a fourth bedroom with an en suite, a sitting room and the roof terrace.
Outside it has a heated swimming pool and an outdoor kitchen and fireplace for entertaining.
There is also an electric gate and security system and a large double garage with an electric car charging point.
The private beach for North Foreland residents is just a few minutes walk, down the famous steps and tunnel.
The beach can accessed by the public from neighbouring bays - but only at low tide.
It sits between Joss Bay and Stone Bay, below the impressive chalk cliffs.
The contemporary property, called Seaview, is on the North Foreland Estate in Broadstairs, Kent, and is set 200 yards back from a private beach
The beach can only be reached through an underground tunnel and stairs - which just a small group of locals have the keys to
The house is also close to the renowned North Foreland golf course.
The owner, who is selling to start a new project, said: 'We were delighted to have the opportunity to create this unique and contemporary property to the highest standard and it has been a wonderful family home.
'We thought about every detail, even ensuring the property was actually on mains drainage, unlike many of the other properties on the estate.
'The location is ideal as it is a quiet, peaceful and safe area with entry bollards to the estate as well as CCTV.
'As the property forms part of the North Foreland Estate, we are key holders to its private beach that is accessed via steps and a padlocked tunnel leading through the cliffs.'
Fine & Country, who are selling the property, said: 'No expense has been spared and no detail overlooked in the construction of this magnificent seaside residence.
'It is located in a prime location on the prestigious North Foreland Estate in Broadstairs.
'It has superb sea views and provides the ultimate experience in modern day contemporary living, whether you are looking for a permanent home or a stunning holiday and weekend retreat.'
On the ground floor lies an entrance hall leading into an open plan kitchen, dining and family room, a lounge, boot room and utility
The property also has its own unique flight of stairs (pictured) - which are a lot more modern than the ones that inspired Buchan
Stunning sea views are visible in the home's living area with the widepanelled glass doors ensuring everything is on display
Fine & Country, who are selling the property, said: 'No expense has been spared and no detail overlooked in the construction of this magnificent seaside residence'
The property even has its own spacious walk-in wardrobe with plenty of room for clothing and footwear
Outside it has a heated swimming pool and an outdoor kitchen and fireplace for entertaining
In Buchan's day there were 78 wooden steps.
It is not known why the number was reduced from 78 to 39 for the novel - one theory is that a friend suggested halving the number as it sounded better, another is that it was Buchan's 39th birthday while he was staying in Broadstairs.
During the 1940s the steps were replaced with concrete ones - 100 steps which zig-zag through several tunnel sections.
A carpenter used the wood from the original steps to make three sets of bookends with one given to the owner of St Cuby, the house where Buchan had stayed while writing, one to Alfred Hitchcock, who directed the first screen adaptation in 1935, and the third to Buchan's family.
Each had a silver plaque with the inscription 'made from one of the original 39 steps'.