House Of Aquahorthies, Burnhervie, By Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, AB51

A once-in-a-generation opportunity to purchase a mini estate on Donside in a wonderful secluded setting of about 155 acres.

Description

House of Aquahorthies is a superb A Listed detached mansion house in a prime location with cottages, walled garden, paddocks, loch and boathouse. This is a rare opportunity to acquire a very fine country house that has been in the same family for some 50 years. The house is constructed of pink granite under a slate roof and has been refurbished and well maintained over the years. Features include ornate mantlepieces, lovely natural light, pitch pine panelling, ornate shelved cupboards and beamed ceilings which all add to the considerable character of the house. Although substantial, the house also has the comfortable feel of a manageable family home. There are two additional properties included in the sale: The Stables and Gardener’s Cottage. There is also a B Listed quadrangle of traditional outbuildings including a two storey former mill. Additionally there is a former cattle court. The house has an idyllic south-facing location with a walled garden and beautiful loch with boathouse and jetty to the rear. The property is surrounded by good quality arable ground, woodland and rough ground to the west, north and east providing excellent screening and privacy.

The imposing house was built between 1797 and 1799 and served as the only Roman Catholic seminary in Scotland from 1799 until 1829 when it transferred to Blairs College, Maryculter. The property was then remodelled and has been a private home ever since.

House of Aquahorthies:
The house is approached off a private shared drive which divides through stone entrance pillars onto a private drive which leads to a gravel area beside the front door.

The front door leads into a hallway off which are doors to the dining room and library. The latter is lined by bookcases and enjoys a dual aspect, as do most of the rooms in the house. From the library, there is access to the sitting room which has a door to the garden and bay window seat. The dining room, which sits to the left of the front door, leads on to the kitchen which has an AGA and utility area.

There are two staircases in the house: the main staircase leads from the reception hall to the first floor landing. To the right is the drawing room, an elegant room with an open fireplace, whilst to the left is the principal bedroom suite with a dressing room and luxury bathroom with roll-top bath and shower. The main guest suite is adjacent to the back stairs.

On the second floor are five double bedrooms and two bathrooms. The stairs lead to the attic floor which is home to bedroom eight and its en suite, plus a playroom with bedroom 9 beyond.

Beside the house is a two storey stone and slate bothy, originally the cook’s house, which provides useful overspill accommodation with a bedroom (5.8m x 3.5m ), sitting room (3.8m x 3.5m), shower room and kitchenette.

Gardener’s Cottage:
A short distance to the north of the main house is the Gardener’s Cottage, built of concrete panels under a tile roof in the 1950s. Accommodation is in good order and comprises a sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. The property is part double glazed and is available with vacant possession.

The Stables:
B Listed and converted in 2007, the accommodation is on two levels and provides very comfortable semi open plan accommodation with windows and French doors to the walled garden. The building is constructed of granite under a slate roof. The front door leads to a large hallway with openings to the sitting room and dining kitchen. The kitchen has a range of white units with a large wooden island. There is a range cooker and a door to a balcony which overlooks the walled garden. The adjacent utility room has a back door to the parking area. The sitting room also has a glazed door to a balcony and an ornate fireplace over a wood burning stove makes for a fine focal point.

On the first floor there is a principal bedroom with en suite bathroom and a separate shower. There are two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom. The Stables is subject to a Private Residential Tenancy.

Farm Buildings:
B Listed range of traditional farm buildings with considerable potential for conversion into residential use. The buildings include a two storey former mill (20.3m x 5.5m) with a loft over part. The buildings are arranged in a quadrangle around a central courtyard. The old mill still includes the former threshing mill equipment.
North wing 49m x 4.6m
South wing 65m x 4.7m

Plans have been previously prepared by a local architect to convert the buildings and planning was granted for six dwellings and two holiday lets, although this planning permission has now lapsed. Alternatively, a buyer could prepare plans for a single house or simply retain the buildings for general storage.

Cattle Court:
A steel framed building (15.9 m x 29 m approx.) with concrete block walls, corrugated roof, together with a Dutch Barn (8.9m x 29m approx.). Now expired there was previously planning for 2 houses on the site.

Grounds:
House of Aquahorthies is in a spectacular, south-facing location at the foot of Bennachie. The property is surrounded by gardens, good quality arable ground, woodland and rough ground which provide excellent screening and privacy. Mature broadleaf trees frame the outlook from the house down the Don Valley with many 200 year old beech trees. In front of the house is a large lawn which is a wonderful outlook from the house.

Walled Garden:
To the east of the Stables House is the walled garden. The garden was further developed during 2020-21 and provides a fantastic sheltered and secluded place. Most of the garden is laid to lawn and there are fruit trees and herbaceous borders. A small area of the Walled Garden currently forms part of The Stables lease.

Loch:
Beautiful ornamental loch with a boathouse (5.9m x 4.6m) and jetty. Fantastic amenity with a small central island. There is also a smaller loch which feeds the larger loch.

Grazing:
The grazing is currently let to two farmers.

Location

House of Aquahorthies is situated in a peaceful location on the foot slopes of Bennachie, just outside the small hamlet of Burnhervie, approximately (20 miles) northwest of Aberdeen. Inverurie is the nearest main town, (4 miles) away.

Inverurie is a vibrant market town with a railway station, several supermarkets (including a Marks & Spencer), a library and retail park Sporting facilities include tennis, cricket, 18 hole golf course, fishing on the rivers Don and Urie, mountain biking and hill walking. The nearest primary school is Kellands Primary and secondary education is at Inverurie Academy.

Aberdeen lies approximately (20 miles) away, with the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route providing improved travel in and around Aberdeen and a quicker and more direct route south to Dundee. 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.

Inverurie (4 miles)
Aberdeen Airport (16 miles)
Aberdeen (20 miles)

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Square Footage: 6,631 sq ft


Acreage: 155 Acres

Directions

Take the A96 to Inverurie, at the Blackhall roundabout, take the turning for Burnhervie. Follow signs for Burnhervie. In Burnhervie bear right, signpost of Chapel of Garioch, and after a short distance passing some houses turn right onto the drive signposted Mains of Aquahorthies. The private drive to House of Aquorthies will be seen on the right.

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Additional Info

Local Authority: Aberdeenshire Council

Council Tax Bands: House of Aquahorthies- Band H, The Stables- Band G, Gardener’s Cottage- Band D

Services: House of Aquahorthies- Shared private water, shared private drainage with The Bothy and Gardener’s Cottage, oil central heating. A water filtration plant is in the old mill and serves a number of houses.

The Stables: Shared private water, private drainage, oil central heating.

Gardener’s Cottage: Oil central heating, shared private water, shared private drainage.

Miscellaneous: There is a right of access along the farm track in favour of Nether Mains of Aquahorties, Mains of Aquahorties, The Granary and Gean House. There are no rights of access past House of Aquahorthies.

Fixtures & Fittings: Standard fixtures and fittings are included in the sale. Some furniture is available by separate negotiation.

Servitude rights, burdens and wayleaves: The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude rights, burdens, reservations and wayleaves, including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cable, drains and water, gas and other pipes, whether contained in the Title Deeds or informally constituted and whether referred to in the General Remarks and Stipulations or not. The Purchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied himself as to the nature of all such servitude rights and others.

Possession: Vacant possession and entry will be given on completion to House of Aquahorthies and Gardener’s Cottage.
The Stables is subject to a Private Residential Tenancy Agreement, vacant possession can be obtained from November 2024.
135 acres of grazing land- vacant possession from November 2024.

Offers: Offers, in Scottish legal form, must be submitted by your solicitor to the Selling Agents. It is intended to set a closing date but the seller reserves the right to negotiate a sale with a single party. All genuinely interested parties are advised to instruct their solicitor to note their interest with the Selling Agents immediately after inspection.

Deposit: A deposit of 10% of the purchase price may be required. It will be paid within 7 days of the conclusion of Missives. The deposit will be non-returnable in the event of the Purchaser(s) failing to complete the sale for reasons not attributable to the Seller or his agents.

Photographs: April and May 2024: Brochure Code: 240326JMW