Highland retreat in the Findhorn Valley

Description

Occupying an elevated position overlooking the River Findhorn and set against the backdrop of the Monadhliath Mountains, Easter Auchintoul is a modern country house enclosed within 75.3 acres of attractive mixed woodland and open grazing land running down to the river. This exceptional setting provides a valuable habitat for rare species of native wildlife with regular sightings of osprey and Red kites, and good numbers of wading birds including curlew and oyster catcher. Deer are seen on the property on a daily basis, with a group of sika deer now resident in the woodlands over-looking the river.

The house provides versatile accommodation including a self-contained cottage, set in attractive and manageable grounds making it suitable not only for residential use, but as a holiday letting enterprise or events venue.

Easter Auchintoul was built about 25 years ago on the site of a former farmhouse and there are echoes of the original dwelling in its design. Set around a courtyard, the property comprises a main house, guest wing, a self-contained two bedroom cottage, workrooms and garaging.

The house has comfortable accommodation with its principal rooms all looking towards the River Findhorn. The impressive entrance hall with its double height ceiling is filled with natural light and on either side of this are the beautifully proportioned drawing room and the dining room which in turn leads to the well-appointed dining kitchen. The remaining sides of the courtyard provide informal and versatile ancillary rooms including a study/winter sitting room, staff accommodation, a rod and gun room, boiler room and lunch hall. This layout also allows for subdivision, subject to the necessary consents.

The first floor master bedroom suite is reached by its own staircase, while a second staircase leads to two en-suite guest bedrooms.

Ghillie’s Cottage provides a well-presented, two bedroom self-contained dwelling. The cottage was previously a residential let, but could also be used as supplementary, staff or as holiday letting accommodation.

ACCOMMODATION
MAIN HOUSE
Ground Floor – Reception Hall. Drawing Room. Dining Room. Winter Sitting Room.
Dining Kitchen. Cloakroom. Utility Room. Wine Cellar.
First Floor – Master Bedroom Suite. Two further en-suite Bedrooms.

WEST AND SOUTH COURTYARD
En-suite Bedroom 4. Rod and Gun Room. Lunch Hall. Boiler Room. Strong Room. WCs.
Double Garage.
GHILLIE’S COTTAGE
Entrance Hall. Open plan Sitting Room and Kitchen. Two Bedrooms. Bathroom.

GARDEN GROUNDS
The grounds at Easter Auchintoul extend in all to approximately 75.3 acres. Lawns lie around the house, while the courtyard provides a sheltered environment for container grown plants. Ghillie’s Cottage has its own enclosed garden. The remaining land comprises pasture let on an annual grazing licence and mixed woodland.

FISHING
Easter Auchintoul has the right to fish for salmon and trout on an exceptionally pretty stretch of the upper River Findhorn. The fishing is located within a short walk of the house, making wandering down to the river for an early morning or late evening cast entirely straightforward. The fishing extends to approximately 1,154 meters of the left bank of the River Findhorn with two nice pools. The river is currently only fished lightly by the owner. The beat is between points A and B as shown on the plan.

OUTBUILDINGS
The boiler room is accessed from the courtyard and houses the second oil fired boiler. At the front of the house is a geodesic dome. Within the grounds is a renovated, corrugated iron shed housing the water filtration system and automatic back-up generator for the house.

Location

Easter Auchintoul lies amid tranquil Highland scenery in the upper Findhorn Valley, about 3 miles to the south of the small village of Tomatin, and roughly equidistant from the city of Inverness to the north, and the thriving Highland town of Aviemore to the south (both 18 miles). Although it enjoys a peaceful and secluded setting Easter Auchintoul is very easy to reach. The A9 Perth to Inverness trunk road and the mainline railway both provide fast access to the north and south. Trains to Glasgow, Edinburgh and London are available from Inverness and Aviemore, and Inverness international airport (about 25 miles) provides regular flights to a range of UK and some international destinations.

The surrounding countryside is amongst the finest in the Highlands and provides a wealth of excellent sporting opportunities. The Cairngorms Ski Area is close by and sailing and watersports are available on Loch Ness and the Beauly Firth. The Morayshire coastline has a string of beautiful beaches and historic fishing villages, which are in complete contrast to the spectacular scenery of Loch Ness . Nearby Aviemore has established itself as a centre of outdoor and adventure activities, and also has a great quantity of bars, restaurants, cafes and shops.

The area is also recognised for the quality and variety of field sports that it offers, which include first class salmon fishing on some of Scotland’s most productive rivers such as the Findhorn, Spey and Ness, and countless opportunities to take deer stalking, and shooting on local estates within the area.




Acreage: 75.3 Acres

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