Outstanding and fully renovated country house, situated in an idyllic yet highly convenient location with paddocks, outbuildings and potential for a separate annexe.

Description

Woodbank House is situated in lovely wooded countryside, close to Drumoak and just 13.5 miles west of Aberdeen. It is a stunning country house which dates from 1938, is of stone and brick construction with a slate roof, and very much has the outward look of that period. It was built by the architect John McMillan himself and was extended in the 1980s and again in the 1990s. However, the house has been fully and substantially renovated since 2015. It is now a beautifully presented country residence, with the refurbishment completed to an exceptional standard, and marrying the best of the old and the new. It is a graceful house, which is private, being screened by trees, and it looks out over its own gardens and grounds which include two paddocks. The layout also allows for a one bedroom self contained annexe, if required, on the ground floor, or this can form part of the principal accommodation.

The renovations were extensive and have in effect created a new house in an older shell. Works included redesigning the internal configuration for modern day living, re-plumbing with copper pipes, partial re-wiring, partial underfloor heating on the ground floor, installation of ground source heating, refurbishment of the kitchen and bathrooms, new flooring throughout, addition of the steam room and completion of replacement windows, which are all fully double glazed. Externally part of the roof was reconfigured to allow the creation of the dressing room. In addition, a triple garage and workshop was built, along with its attached buildings, a field shelter was put up which serves both paddocks, and extensive landscaping was done to create lovely gardens surrounding the house. The result is a truly exceptional country house, which is ideal for entertaining, and hugely flexible.

A more detailed internal description of the house is available under additional information.

There is a triple garage which is block built and harled with three automatic up and over doors and with a separate workshop area with a wood burning stove, power, water and light. Behind is a lean to log store and a tool storage area and a store (7.3 m x 4.7 m) which is ideal for garden equipment and mowers.

The garden around the house is lovely and is surrounded by hedges and walls and has lawns, rhododendrons, flower and shrub borders and looks out on to natural woodland with birch and pine trees. There is a six sided summer house, an enclosed orchard with raised beds and a lean to potting shed (2.14 m x 5.3 m).

There are two enclosed paddocks, which share a double fronted field shelter.

Location

Woodbank House is situated in a very pleasant and highly convenient rural setting, between Peterculter and Banchory. Banchory is considered to be the gateway to Royal Deeside, is a popular town located along the picturesque River Dee and overlooked by the renowned Scolty Hill. Within Banchory there is a good range of amenities, including specialist shopping, two large supermarkets, banking, restaurants, a garden centre, hotels, sports centre, swimming pool, library, health centre and several dentists. There are pre-school facilities available in addition to two primary schools and Banchory Academy which caters for secondary education. Banchory Sports Village provides sporting facilities, including a six lane swimming pool. There are many outdoor leisure activities available, including hill walking, horse riding, fishing, gliding and golf. The area is also well located for access to the ski resorts at Glenshee and the Lecht during the winter months.

Peterculter also has a secondary school, with secondary education at Cults Academy. The most westerly suburb of Aberdeen, Peterculter provides a good range of amenities, including independent shops, small supermarkets and a Marks & Spencer/BP filling station. There is a sports centre with swimming pool, 18 hole golf course and Kippie Lodge Sports & Country Club, while Royal Deeside and its numerous leisure pursuits are easily accessible. The property is conveniently situated for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, which has greatly improved travel both north and south of the city, with easier access to the airport and industrial hubs at Dyce and Westhill.

Aberdeen lies only some 13.5 miles away. The international airport offers regular flights to London and other UK and European cities. There are regular train services from Aberdeen, including a sleeper to King’s Cross, London. Aberdeen provides all the services of a major city, including business, leisure and health facilities, theatres and cinemas, restaurants and a wide range of shopping. There is private schooling including Robert Gordon’s School, St Margaret’s, and Albyn School as well as the International School at Pitfodels. There are two universities and two colleges of further education.

Square Footage: 3,875 sq ft


Acreage: 4.66 Acres

Directions

From Aberdeen take the A93, Great Western Road. Proceed through Peterculter and continue through Drumoak and Park, then turn right, signposted Cullerlie. After 0.8 miles the gates into Woodbank House will be seen on the left.

If coming from the A90 (Aberdeen Peripheral Bypass) take the Deeside junction, signposted A93. Follow signs for the A93 and then turn right signposted Braemar. Proceed through Peterculter and continue as above.

Additional Info

Detailed internal accommodation:

Electric gates with an intercom open on to a tarred driveway which leads up through most attractive natural woodland with rhododendrons and then leads past the house to parking beyond. A covered entrance with a wooden front door opens into a fabulous open plan living area with French doors to the garden, wooden flooring and a fireplace with a wood burning stove. Pillars would allow the room to be divided into separate dining and sitting areas if required. Adjacent to the front door is a staircase to the first floor, an understair cupboard and a WC with washbasin. Beyond is the dining kitchen with a large central island / breakfast unit with granite worktop. The hugely impressive fully fitted kitchen has wooden wall and floor units with soft closing drawers and again is complemented by granite worktops. Fitted Siemens appliances include a steam oven, oven, microwave / oven, coffee machine, warming drawer and induction hob together with a Blanco sink with Quooker hot water tap, NEFF dishwasher and a Samsung fridge freezer with water and ice dispenser. This links through to a fine family / sun room, again overlooking the garden, and with an LG Ultra wall mounted TV with sound bar, and a ceramic tiled floor. The back hall has useful storage cupboards and a back door, again with a covered entrance. A cloakroom has a washbasin and WC, while the utility room houses two NOBE heat pumps, water filtration system and fitted units with a Bosch washing machine and dryer. Also off the back hall is a fantastic wellness room with a Softub, four person steam room with shower, two storage cupboards, and an office.

On the other side of the open plan living area is an annexe which can either be an integral part of the house or used as separate self contained accommodation. The sitting room overlooks the garden, while a kitchenette has a single oven, microwave, Lamona ceramic hob with extractor, sink and a Lamona undercounter fridge. There is a small lobby with its own entrance door and a shower room with corner shower cubicle, washbasin and WC. Bedroom one has built in hanging and shelved cupboards.

At first floor level are bedrooms two and three, with an interlinking shower room with corner shower cubicle, washbasin and WC. The most impressive principal bedroom has fitted wardrobes and a beautifully finished en suite bathroom, with freestanding bath, shower cubicle, double sinks with vanity unit, WC and tiled floor. The spacious dressing room has fitted wardrobes.