When Will Coull was a young lad, he loved being outdoors, following the path of the River Nairn into the countryside, and having fun exploring.
The knowledge he gained of the area would prove useful one day.
After leaving school he joined the RAF, working in the UK and overseas, but regularly returned to Nairn to visit relatives. While he enjoyed those visits he had no real plans to move back until he and his partner, Kathy Agrebi, spent time sailing here.
“I had a 38ft French catamaran and we loved sailing around Scotland, visiting the Western Isles and sailing through the Caledonian Canal. It was during one such trip that it fully dawned on us how beautiful it was here and how much we’d like to live here,” said Will, who is an aircraft engineer working in Germany.
Their search for a home ended when Spindrift, a beautifully positioned bungalow in Little Kildrummie, an area on the outskirts of Nairn overlooking the river, came on the market.
“I knew the area pretty well from my days exploring as a lad,” said Will. “At one time there was a sawmill here, then it was the location for a holiday caravan site. Spindrift was built in the early 70s and had an extension added a few years later, and I could immediately see it had lots of potential.”
It’s easy to see why this was a place popular with holidaymakers.
The south-facing site overlooks a bend in the river and the grounds extended downhill towards it. There’s a fantastic private picnic and barbecue area, edged by tall Corsican pine trees, where the gentle sound of running water and birdsong vie for your attention.
It’s a truly beautiful location, teaming with natural beauty and wildlife, and one that feels like the edge of a wilderness yet it’s just a five minute drive from here to Nairn.
Designed to take full advantage of its location, this attractive home has had new life breathed into it by Kathy and Will since they moved in two years ago.
The layout is pretty flexible. At one end, there’s a self-contained one bedroom annexe with open plan lounge and fully-fitted kitchen, a large double bedroom and a generous bathroom. It has its own entrance, but is also linked to the main house so could be used as a granny flat or be let out to holidaymakers – the route taken by the couple.
The accommodation elsewhere includes a large porch which opens into a broad hallway, nicely lit thanks to the installation of two light tunnels, while there’s a large sitting room on an open plan basis with a very well appointed and large dining kitchen. The sitting room has a picture window overlooking gardens full of year-round colour, while a recently installed wood burning stove makes an attractive focal point.
The kitchen has a Rangemaster cooker and lots of windows overlooking the gardens and riverside, and from here a door opens out to a large patio area which even in early February, was a sun trap.
At the back of the house there’s a magnificent, enormous lounge designed to bring the outside in. It has triple aspect windows overlooking the gardens and river and Kathy tells me it’s a great space for entertaining.
Close to this room is an enormous master bedroom with twin built-in wardrobes and a huge en-suite wet room, while two further double bedrooms, a large family bathroom and a large, contemporary utility room can be accessed from the main hallway.
On the market at offers over £395,000, the house sits within an acre and a half of ground which includes landscaped gardens, a large tarred parking area and turning circle, a substantial Wendy House, several ponds including one which is home to hundreds of goldfish and koi carp; assorted storage sheds and further accommodation in the form of a four-six berth static caravan with decked area which has its own private area of the garden.
“We let out both the annexe and the static van via our company, Nairn Riverside Escapes, and they provide a good source of income,” said Kathy who works part-time as a management consultant with the NHS.
“At the height of the season the van (Riverside Holiday Home) takes in £575 a week and the annexe (Sprindrift Cottage) £440 a week.
“We have had very busy seasons and met really nice guests who love having barbecues and picnics down by the river in the summer evenings while at that time of day, Will and I enjoy a G&T while sitting on the deck outside the Wendy House.”
They clearly adore their home which has attracted lots of interest since going on the market two weeks ago.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we are selling. Due to family commitments we are relocating down south. We really don’t want to leave, as we have had a fantastic time here and made many good friends, but hopefully one day, we’ll be back,” said Kathy.
Contact: Strutt and Parker on 01463 719171.
