7 bedroom detached house for sale

Tenure: Freehold

Situation

With the hills of the upper Tweed valley to the west, and the more open farmland of Berwickshire to the east, the central Tweed valley offers some of the most beautiful and varied countryside in the south of Scotland. Faldonside stands in its own hidden valley, in the heart of the Scottish Borders, and remains very accessible but remarkably private. To the east of Faldonside lies Sir Walter Scott's home, Abbotsford.

Renowned for its productive farmland and forestry, the Scottish Borders are also famous for their range and quality of country sports. The nearby River Tweed is one of Scotland's finest
salmon rivers, and there are well-managed grouse moors to the north-east in the Lammermuirs. Apart from Faldonside's own sportings, there are opportunities to take shooting throughout
the Borders and the Lothians. This is wonderful riding country, with active hunts, pony clubs and equestrian events. Faldonside is in Buccleuch Hunt country, with the Berwickshire and Jedforest packs nearby. Kelso Racecourse is an easy drive (17 miles). There are many golf courses in the area, including picturesque nine hole courses at Melrose and Selkirk, and a championship course at The Roxburghe near Kelso, (19 miles).

Despite its completely rural location, Faldonside is close to local amenities. The historic Abbey town of Melrose and the principal shopping centre of Galashiels are within easy reach. Melrose is a thriving town, lying at the heart of the local community, home to the internationally renowned Melrose Sevens and the popular Borders Book Festival. It provides a good range of independent shops and excellent restaurants. St Mary's preparatory school sits in the centre of the town.
Galashiels provides the principal shopping in the area including supermarkets and professional services. The area is well served by agricultural suppliers and livestock markets, including St. Boswells (7 miles) and Wooler (35 miles). The major agricultural show, The Border Union, takes place in July at Kelso and the annual Kelso Ram Sales in September is the largest event of this type in Europe. Edinburgh city centre is within easy reach via the A7 and A68 trunk roads, and the railhead of the proposed new Edinburgh-Borders railway is three miles away at Tweedbank. There are
local primary schools at both Melrose and Selkirk and secondary schools in Earlston and Selkirk.

Description

Faldonside is an exceptional agricultural and residential estate with outstanding amenity and sporting opportunities. At its core lies an attractive period house surrounded by well maintained
gardens and sheltered policies, including a walled garden. In addition to the principal house there is a traditional gate lodge. Faldonside is at the end of a minor public road which terminates
at the gate lodge. Extensive woodlands provide shelter for livestock and the foundations for the shoot. The good network of internal roads gives easy access to most parts of the estate.

Accommodation

Lot 1 - Faldonside

The house is a fine period country property in an elevated position with wonderful views over the private loch and surrounding landscape. From the lodge gates a tarmac drive leads through the grounds and gardens to a gravelled area in front of the house. A back drive passes the walled garden and leads both to the farm buildings and to a wide yard at the rear of the house.
Constructed from stone and brick with harled walls and a slate roof, the accommodation is over two storeys, with a coombed attic above. The property has comfortable yet well proportioned and elegant principal rooms, well suited for family life, providing space, practicality and ample room for entertaining. The house retains many original features including fine corniced ceilings, brass door furniture and attractive fireplaces. There are three principal reception rooms on the ground floor
including the drawing room and dining room, both of which have open fireplaces (dining room chimney presently capped) and large sash and case windows overlooking the loch. The sitting
room, towards the back of the house, also has a working fireplace, with an attractive stone surround.

The other main rooms on this floor include the kitchen which has a range of fitted floor and wall units and a two oven oil-fired Aga, a further small sitting room with open fireplace, a study and a
large games room with a wood burning stove.

GARDENS AND GROUNDS
The gardens are well laid out and maintained, fringed and sheltered by mature trees and shrubs. Beyond the gravel in front of the house is a crescent lawn, with a mature border above a stone ha-ha. There are uninterrupted views over the loch and surrounding countryside. Much of the garden was laid out in the 1880s by the then owner, W. B. Boyd, a distinguished alpine botanist. A number of plants are named after Boyd or Faldonside including Salix Boydii, and Faldonside Primrose.

Faldonside has an outstanding collection of snowdrops. To the east of the house is a substantial walled garden enclosed by high stone walls on three sides with a row of traditional stone built potting sheds and stores (see below) running along the western side. The walled garden may offer potential for a house site, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

DOMESTIC OUTBUILDINGS
There is a most attractive row of domestic outbuildings, currently used as the potting shed, stores, kennels and workshops. Approximately 42m x 4.5m. The yard is also flanked by three garages, a log store and a coal house.

FALDONSIDE LODGE
This traditional lodge is inside the main entrance gates. Of harled stone construction under a slate roof, the accommodation is over two storeys.There is a garden to the front and the rear, and a parking bay on the south side.

FARMING
The farmland benefits from a well-balanced combination of arable ground and pasture, comprising 179.12 acres of arable ground, 191.50 acres of permanent pasture and 18.93 acres
of rough grazing. It is ideally suited to support a beef and/or sheep enterprise, typically taking two cuts of silage off about 220 acres. The lower lying land near the River Tweed is at about 100m
above sea level and the highest point of Faldonside is about 260m. From many parts there are outstanding views over the estate and the Tweed valley. The fields are well fenced and of
a good size and layout. The farm benefits from two sets of sheep handling pens located in Fields 3 and 21. Historically, the farm was managed in-hand and carried a herd of 100 suckler cows and flock of 800 sheep. Under the current farming system the land is let on a series of seasonal
agreements which terminate on 30th September 2012. The estate is equipped with an extensive range of useful farm buildings situated a short distance west of the house and benefitting from three phase electricity and good access. In addition to the existing buildings, the seller has obtained
consent (Ref: 12/00006/AGN) for the erection of a new general purpose building (24.3m x 12.1m) and hard standing in the north western corner of Field 8. The consent also permits the construction of a new farm access road running across Fields 2 and 3, which would give a purchaser the opportunity to relocate the working farm steading away from the house. Laid out as shown on the accompanying plan, they comprise both modern and traditional buildings, with the latter having
potential for development, subject to obtaining the necessary consents. A former cattle court has been converted into two secure storage units, one of which is currently on a short term
let.

WOODLAND AND SPORTINGS
The woodlands, extending to about 99.90 acres, have been carefully managed and maintained, with both landscape and sporting benefits in mind. Particular emphasis has been placed upon
selected felling and replanting to conserve and enhance the attractiveness of the estate. This approach has provided exceptional amenity and sporting benefits. These woods, the layout of the internal estate tracks, and the absence of third party access make Faldonside a remarkably private place to live. The current owners have enjoyed an excellent informal shoot over the estate and a small number of pheasants are put down each season. The estate's natural topography, coupled with the mature woods and hedges, provides the foundation of the shoot. For the sporting enthusiast, Faldonside offers an exciting opportunity to develop a full driven shoot of the highest quality.
Towards the south is a duck flighting pond.

Faldonside Loch supports a great variety of interesting birds, and was formerly stocked with brown and rainbow trout. There is also excellent roe deer stalking.

LOT 2 - UPPER FALDONSIDE 332 ACRES
Lying on the eastern side of the estate, this block of farmland rises from Cauldshiels Loch, at about 240m above sea level, to the top of Cauldshiels Hill at about 320m, from where there are panoramic views over the surrounding Borders countryside. The hill itself is the site of a fort, which is designated as a scheduled ancient monument. Extending to 332.20 acres in total, it comprises 23.13 acres of arable, 174.45 acres of permanent pasture, 121.08 acres of rough grazing and 8.92 acres of woodland. The land benefits from good access off a private track running along most of the western boundary of the Lot, and also from a track running along the southern shore of the loch. There is a useful steel framed Dutch barn (14m x 6m), and set of lambing pens. A short distance east of the Dutch barn is a duck flighting pond.

LOT 3 - WEST FALDONSIDE 68 ACRES
This block of bare land is split into two fields and is situated on the south western edge of the estate and is accessed directly off the public road. Extending to 68.21 acres in total, it comprises 17.22 acres of arable, 32.98 acres of permanent pasture and 15.59 acres of woodland.

LOT 4 - RAILWAY FIELD 12.21 ACRES
This individual arable field is on the western edge of the estate and extends to 12.21 acres. It benefits from good access directly off a minor public road, and was formerly used for a Pick Your Own fruit business.

LOT 5 - TROUT FISHING AND BANK TO ETTRICK AND TWEED 2.42 ACRES
Lot 5 comprises an attractive stretch of wooded bank along the Ettrick Water with trout fishing rights extending to about 400 metres and including part of the junction with the River Tweed. The Salmon rights are not included in the sale.

Directions

From the north, follow the A68 southwards towards Jedburgh. About three miles after Earlston take the second exit off the roundabout onto the A6091 (signposted Melrose and Galashiels). Continue towards Galashiels and at the first roundabout take the first exit, continuing on the A6091. At the next roundabout, take the first exit onto the B6360 (signposted Abbotsford). Follow this road for about one and a half miles, then turn to the left up the hill beside a line of trees (this turning is easy to miss). Continue on this road for about half a mile until you reach a crossroads, with the entrance gates straight in front of you.

From the south, follow the A68 northwards towards Edinburgh. About two miles after St Boswells take the first exit off the roundabout onto the A6091 (signposted Melrose and Galashiels). Continue thereafter as above.
From the south west, follow the A7 northwards towards Edinburgh. Continue through Selkirk towards Galashiels and Melrose. Follow this road for about one and a half miles, then turn right onto the B6360 (signposted Abbotsford). Follow this road for about four-fifths of a mile, and then turn to the right up the hill beside a line of trees. Continue on this road for about half a mile until you reach a crossroads, with the entrance gates straight in front of you.