5 bedroom house

CLOSING DATE SET FOR FRIDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2021 AT 12NOON



A rare opportunity to acquire a compact-estate in Rafford, just a few miles of the white beaches of the Moray Coast.  Backing directly onto the 1,800 acres of Newtyle Forest and offering approximately 8 acres of pasture and 30 acres of mixed woodland, with paths and streams meandering through it, the property is truly beautiful. Deer, squirrels, rabbits, badgers and a multitude of birds frequent the property. The Dava Way, 26 miles of disused railway track converted to a walking/riding trail that runs from Forres to Grantown-on-Spey, is within a few minutes of the property.



The substantial bungalow, built in 1986, sits in ample, enclosed, gardens and has multiple useful outbuildings, including a modern double garage, car port and several buildings previously used for coal and wood storage, chickens and storage. With 4/5 bedrooms (2 en suite), dining kitchen, open plan dining/living room, sun room, family bathroom, WC/cloakroom, utility room and storage room the house is suitable for a wide-range of families.



Within a few miles there are vast outdoor opportunities with sailing, white water rafting, mountain biking, horse riding, cycling and hiking, to name a few. The Cairngorm mountain range is within an hour and Inverness airport with daily flights to London and other international hubs approximately 30 minutes. The town of Forres, providing local amenities and access to rail and bus routes is just 3 miles away.



ACCOMMODATION



Double wooden front doors, with glazed side panels, lead into a vestibule with further double wooden doors leading into the hallway. The H-shaped hallway provides access to all accommodation with the bedrooms and bathroom to the left and the living accommodation to the right. The centre section of the hall has floor-to-ceiling opaque windows to the front of the house, allowing a natural light to flow in. The hallway is carpeted.



Dining Kitchen (4.1m x 4.5m)



A newly installed, sleek white kitchen, with spotlights to the ceiling and LED under-cabinet lighting. A wide range of upper and lower cabinets with multiple features such as a wine rack, towel rail, pantry cupboards and display glass-door cabinets. With integrated microwave, oven, fridge freezer, dishwasher, hob and extractor fan, this kitchen is a delight. A bowl-and-a half sink with mixer taps sits beneath a picture window looking out toward the private woodland. Roller blind. Wood-effect laminate flooring. UPVC door with double-glazed panel to rear patio. TV point. Doors to hall and to dining room.



Open plan sitting/dining room (4.9m x 9.3m)



A generous, dual-aspect room, with a feature fireplace creating a distinct divider between the dining area and the living area. This room is the hub of the house providing an amazing family space.



The dining area is accessed from the hallway and also provides access to the kitchen. With windows towards the garden there is ample room for a large dining table. Chandelier. Carpet.



The sitting area leads on from the dining area. The multi-fuel stove provides a wonderful feature to the room sitting on a slate hearth with a grey brick surround. The chimney is encased in wood panelling. A back boiler behind the stove can be used to run the central heating system, when in use. Carpet. Floor-to-ceiling double glazed sliding patio doors lead to a patio area outside the sitting room and the kitchen. Further double glass-panel wooden doors lead to the sun room. Both sets of doors have curtain poles and curtains. Central chandelier and wall sconces.



Sun room (4.4m x 4.3m)



The sun room is a truly luxurious living space, large and bright. The double-glazed windows to three sides have vertical blinds and the room is carpeted. Electric panel heater. Chandelier.



Moving back down the hall the operational areas of the house include the utility room, cloakroom/WC, Office/bedroom 5 and the large storage room/workshop.



Utility room (1.8m x 3.4m)



With an opaque window to the side of the house, the utility room has a double sink with mixer tap inset to cupboards with a wood block countertop. A further formica countertop provides useful laundry space with plumbing for a washing machine and space for a tumble drier and other amenities. White tiled walls and linoleum flooring.



Office/Bedroom 5 (3.3m x 2.1m)



To the side of the house with windows looking out towards the woods. Phone point. Curtain and curtain rail. Carpet. Pendant light.



WC/Cloakroom (1.9m x 3.4m)



Handy cloakroom close to both the front door and the door through the storage room. The first area is a cloak room with upper cupboards with a hanging rail beneath. The adjacent WC has a basin inset to cupboards and a WC. Heated towel rail. Wall mounted cupboard with mirrored door and shaving point. Tiled walls. There is an opaque window to the side and both areas are carpeted. Curtains and curtain rail.



Storage room/workshop (3.7m x 5.2m)



A substantial room with power, strip lighting, wall mounted shelves and a clothes line. An external UPVC double-glazed door leads to the front of the house. With opaque windows to two sides and a concrete floor, this room could be used for a multitude of purposes - a gym perhaps? Half-glazed door to main hallway.



 



Moving along the hallway, past the main entrance to the opposite side of the house



 



Master Bedroom suite (4.8m x 3.7m)



The master bedroom is an ample triple-aspect room with both a dressing room and shower room en suite. Large picture windows look out over the fields to woodland beyond. Carpet. Curtains and curtain rails.



The dressing room (2.4m x 1.7m) has two sets of double built in wardrobes spanning one wall, with mirrored doors and an opaque window with curtain rail and curtains.



The en suite (2.4m x 2.4m), with a three-piece white suite with flower design, comprising pedestal basin, WC and bidet has a further opaque window to the side. In addition there is a mains shower. Heated towel rail. Wall mounted cabinet with mirror and further wall mounted mirror. Glass shelves. Tiled walls. Carpet. Curtains and curtain rail.



Bedroom 2 (3.7m x 3.5m)



A generous, bright, double bedroom with wide windows also looking across the fields to the woodland beyond has a double built-in wardrobe with a mirror. Curtains and curtain rail. Carpet. Radiator.



Laundry Cupboard (1.3m x 1.8m)



Walk-in cupboard accessed from the hallway. Wooden laundry shelves to one wall. Concealed safe and alarm control unit. Electrical fuse box. Hot water tank. Access to insulated loft space. Carpet.



Bedroom 3 (3.1m x 3.8m)



A further bright, double bedroom with wide windows looking across the fields with a double built-in wardrobe with shelves and hanging space and a mirrored door. Carpet. Curtains and curtain rail.



Family Bathroom (3.0m x 1.9m)



Containing a beautiful, modern bathroom suite with a white 3 piece suite comprising WC with concealed cistern and sink inset into light units with wood block countertop, and a bath with mains shower above. Partially tiled walls and carpeted floor. Mirror with LED light. Heated towel rail. Fan heater. Opaque window with curtains and curtain rail.



Bedroom 4 (3.1m x 5.0m)



Double bedroom with an en suite shower room accessed through sliding doors, one with a mirror. Curtains and curtain rail. Carpet. Radiator. Large windows towards the fields.



The en suite contains a cream two-piece suite (pedestal basin and WC) and an electric shower. Glass shelves and a wall-mounted cabinet with glass doors. Shaving point. Heated towel rail. Carpet. Tiled walls.



Garden and Grounds



The gardens of Skene Meadows have been designed for ease of maintenance. The garden area is entered through double wrought iron gates with “Skene Meadows” prominently displayed.  The entrance and sides are laid to stone chips with a tidy lawn to two sides. There are fruit trees and mature shrubs. The property currently has a low level wall with a fence above to two sides and a higher wall with double wrought-iron gates to the remaining sides. The fences were installed to prevent deer from coming into the garden.



There is a raised, paved patio area sitting between the kitchen and the sitting room.



There are pastures to the front and rear of the house. It is estimated that the front paddock is approximately 6 acres and the rear paddock approximately 2 acres. Both are well fenced with rylock fencing, water, tree shelter to the sides and metal gates. The front paddock has a pond.



A further 30 acres (approximately) consists of beautiful mixed woodland with undulating terrain. A wide track runs through the middle and around the top of the property with narrow, grassy tracks winding throughout the woods.  With both coniferous and deciduous trees there is colour all year round. A stream runs through the woods and down the side of the garden.



Outbuildings



Within the curtilage of the garden there is:

• a modern double garage with over-and-up electric garage door and a concrete floor. A weather vane sits at the ridge. There is a wooden car port, also with a concrete floor, attached to the garage.
• Boiler room - accessed through a UPVC door from the patio in front of the kitchen, the boiler room is concrete floored and provides additional storage
• Large wooden shed/barn (cobbled floor) with an attached car port (concrete floor) - barn was formerly providing wood storage and stable
• Smaller wooden shed that has a fenced area behind it, previously used as a chicken coop.

Outside of the garden curtilage there is:

• a stone building with a wooden pedestrian door and window, with further double wooden doors. Useful for equipment storage or as a workshop.
• Large wooden building with double doors, previously used as a tractor shed.

Services: Mains water supply and drainage to a septic tank. Electricity and telephone.



Heating: LPG Gas central heating, supplemented by electric panel heaters in some areas.



Viewing: Viewing is through R & R Urquhart's Property Department on



Date of Entry: Early entry is available



Skene Meadows is a truly beautiful property. There is boundless opportunity for outdoor activities with the Forestry Commission Newtyle woods directly adjacent to the property. The property is accessed from the back road that runs between Lower Rafford and Dallas Dhu distillery and neighbours equestrian properties. It offers the opportunity to live in a semi-rural location offering seclusion while still being relatively close to neighbouring properties and the amenities that Forres offers. The close-by town of Forres is a wonderful former Royal Burgh situated close to the Cairngorm Mountain Range and within 5 miles of the beautiful white-sand beaches that run from Findhorn to Burghead. Local amenities include good primary and secondary schools, supermarkets, banks, restaurants, doctors' surgery and a variety of national and local retail outlets.



The Highland capital city of Inverness is approximately 25 miles west of Forres and provides extensive retail, leisure and entertainment facilities in addition to road and rail links south. Dalcross airport is approximately 6 miles east of Inverness on the A96.

Marketed by: R & R Urquhart Property, Forres