When David and Bridget Anderson bought Dalvrecht Manse in 2006, it had been completely renovated by the previous owners.
It meant they were getting the best of both worlds – a sparkling new yet historical home.
After putting their own touches to the house and keeping it alive, the couple now feel that it is time to move closer to David’s family, so they are handing across their beloved home to someone else.
David said: “The previous owners were Australian and had done lots of major restoration.
“They did the roof and they took the render off so it was just stone finish, and did a lot of the floors and the electrics.”
Bridget added: “We then did the kitchen, the study and the shower room and the usual sort of interior decoration.”
For a guide price of £500,000, the four-bedroom home is the perfect place for someone who wants to escape to the country, yet be within reach of the fun of the cities.
Dalvrecht Manse, near Tomintoul in Moray, was built in 1844 and still has lots of period features, including timber window shutters and decorative cornicing.
“The vicar built the small little kirk next door and he built the manse after,” said David.
“Some of the windows even have original glass in them,” said Bridget.
The kitchen has an oil-fired AGA and a period flagstone floor, giving it a country farmhouse feel. There is room for a dining area for the family, or you can choose to use the more formal dining room.
The drawing room is a comfortable place and is probably one of the couple’s favourite rooms in the house. It is tastefully decorated with a fireplace and mantelpiece where you can cosy down during the cold Scottish winters.
“You’ve got a fireplace in all the bedrooms,” said Bridget.
The main bathroom has a Victorian-style open fireplace and a roll top bath which is positioned to give a view straight out of the window.
Bridget said: “You can lie in the bath and in the summertime you can watch the house martins go up into the roof.
“In the winter, you can lie in the bath with a glass of champagne and the fire on. It’s stunning.”
The four bedrooms in the house are spacious and have been tastefully decorated by the couple to suit the period of the house. The living accommodation is flexible, as there is the possibility of an extra bedroom on either the ground or the first floor.
Dalvrecht Manse is right next to the River Avon and there are beautiful views of the woodland and countryside around. There are ospreys that come down to the river, so bird-watching fans would be very pleased.
The garage is opened with an electrical remote operated roller door and has plenty of storage. In the same building there is also a workshop and a store for all the garden machinery needed to look after such a beautiful lawn.
Bridget said: “The garden goes down in terraces. From the top you come out the house and you can see the river and everything.
“You go down a level and it is the most amazing herbaceous area. It used to be an orchard.
“You go down to the lawn area and you have shrub beds and fruit trees to one side.”
At the bottom there is a final terrace area which is mainly grass, but where remains of the old steading can be seen.
Bridget said: “The walls of the old steading form the area.
“At one end is where the fireplace was and at the other end you can see the old chicken coop. We have got a table and chairs down there and a barbecue. On a Sunday lunch down there all you can hear is the river and the oyster catchers and it’s stunning.”
Contact CKD Galbraith on 01343 546362.
