Keithock House, By Brechin, Angus, DD9

Exceptional country house with delightful gardens, cottages and almost 70 acres.

Description

Keithock House forms the heart of a delightful small residential estate. Situated centrally within its own grounds, extending to some 69.4 acres, the house looks out over its own gardens and beyond to its woodlands, providing privacy. It is a most elegant house, with its bow fronted sides and Doric columned portico at the front, while at the same time being a manageable and practical home. With its walled garden, outbuildings, cottages and grounds, Keithock is a lovely, small and readily accessible estate. Well proportioned reception rooms with cornices and window shutters are perfect for entertaining, yet the house is also ideal for modern family living.

Gates, flanked by a pair of matching single room stone built lodges (4.35m x 3.4m and 4.4m x 3.65m), open onto the main tarred drive from the east which leads to a gravelled sweep at the front of the house, and continues on over a bridge on the Keithock Water to a further drive to the west with stone gate piers and gates, and another running past the stable block to the north, and the woods on the other side of a minor public road.

The Doric columned entrance and front door opens to an outer hall with cornicing and tiled floor which leads into a fine hall with a magnificent stone hanging staircase with a cupola above, together with two Doric columns, a warming wood burning stove and a stone flag floor. Off this are the principal reception rooms. A stunning double aspect drawing room has a fireplace and parquet flooring, and opens, with pocket doors, to a bow fronted music room again with a fireplace and parquet flooring as well as a shelved alcove. Opposite is a library, another fine double aspect room, with an ornate fireplace with Barbas fire, four wall lights and a shelved press. The bow fronted dining room has a marble fireplace, and the date stone of 1680 over a door which conveniently links to the kitchen.

The fully fitted kitchen has fitted units with wooden worktops, a central island unit and Amtico flooring. Appliances include two Lamona dishwashers, double sink, four oven AGA with side module with four ring gas hob, under counter wine fridge and a Samsung fridge/freezer with water and ice dispenser. Adjacent is a secure walk in cupboard, while opposite is a cloakroom with fitted cupboards and a separate WC with pedestal wash basin. A back hall connects to the kitchen and has rear stairs with under stair cupboard, a store with fitted cupboards, and a boiler room housing two Ideal Concord CX boilers and side entrance door. A laundry has two Whirlpool top loading washing machines, sink, Bosch washing machine and dryer and a larder cupboard. Beyond is a pantry with stone and wooden shelves. Also off the back hall is an office, and a freezer room with back door. Off this is a timber-lined sauna room with shower and tiled floor, a split level wine cellar and a store with outside door.

The front staircase leads up to the first floor landing. Bedroom 1 is bow fronted with window shutters, while the adjacent bathroom has a bath, marble wash basin and a WC. Bedroom 2 is double aspect with a fireplace, window shutters and picture rail. The double aspect principal bedroom has window shutters, a fireplace, dressing room with fitted wardrobes, a balcony over the portico and an en suite with bath with shower, two wash basins and WC. Beyond is bedroom 4, also bow fronted with window shutters, picture rail and a walk in wardrobe with hanging rails and shelves. Partway up the staircase is a side landing with the back stairs and two laundry cupboards. Bedroom 5 has a shelved alcove and built in hanging cupboards, while a billiard room has a brick fireplace. Behind is a bathroom with bath, wash basin and WC, and bedrooms 7 and 8. Stairs lead up to the second floor landing with fitted shelves. Off this is bedroom 9, a playroom which could be a further bedroom and an attic.

At the back of the house is a store, former WC and dog kennel with run. To the side of the house is a lovely walled garden with flower and herbaceous borders, fruit and apple trees, a tennis court, lawns (a Husqvarna automower is included in the sale), raised vegetable beds and a Victorian greenhouse (20.1m x 4.2m), divided into three, one with a productive vine, and potting sheds to the rear. On the west side of the house are paved seating areas, making the most of afternoon and evening sun, and a stretch of lawn leading down to the Keithock Water and woods beyond. In front of the house are expansive lawns with fine trees including copper beech and sequoia, rhododendrons, and a lily pond to the side. Beyond a ha-ha is a field enclosed by shelter belts.

The Olde Laundry House

Situated to the west of the walled garden is an attractive two storey house with single storey wings. Stone built with a slate roof it begins with a hallway with stone flag floor and two cupboards, one housing a wall mounted Worcester boiler. To one side is a dining kitchen with underfloor heating. The fitted kitchen has a Lamona dishwasher, oven and four ring gas hob and a sink. There is ample space for dining, a staircase to the first floor and a rear entrance lobby with the back door. Bedroom 1 has an en suite with shower, wash basin and WC. On the other side of the hallway are two further bedrooms, one with beamed ceiling and entrance door, and a bathroom with bath with shower, washbasin with vanity unit and WC. The staircase leads up to a sitting room with a fireplace with wood burning stove, wooden mantel and window shutters. The garden in front is in grass.

Stable Block

Off the north drive is a stone built stable block, which is arranged around a courtyard, with a doo’cot over an entrance archway, and includes two cottages.

No 1 The Stables Cottage has a hallway with stairs to the first floor, a sitting room with a wood burning stove, wooden mantel, wooden floor and under stairs cupboard. The dining kitchen has fitted wall and floor units with a two oven gas AGA, Lamona oven and four ring gas hob, a Lamona dishwasher, sink, under counter fridge, a cupboard housing a wall mounted Worcester boiler, and a wooden floor. A utility room has a Belfast sink, plumbing for a washing machine, a separate WC with washbasin, and a back door to a small courtyard with a store. On the first floor is a bedroom with fitted wardrobe and an en suite shower with washbasin; a further bedroom with fireplace and cupboards; and a bathroom with bath with shower, wash basin and WC.

No 2 The Stables Cottage has a hallway with stairs to the first floor and under stairs cupboard. There is a downstairs bedroom and a sitting room with a wood burning stove, while a kitchen has units with a Lamona oven and four ring gas hob, dishwasher and fridge/freezer, a sink, plumbing for washing machine, wall mounted Worcester boiler and a back door to a small courtyard with two stores. On the first floor is a further bedroom and a bathroom with bath with shower, wash basin and WC.

On the opposite side of the drive from the cottages are gardens. The remainder of the stable block comprises (all measurements approximate) stables (10.5m x 4.75m) with panelling and hatch to loft above; store; garage (6.3m x 4.9m) with double doors; former byre (5m x 4.25m); workshop (7.6m x 4.9m); former stable (4.9m x 4.3m); store (4.9m x 5.8m) with cobbled floor; tractor shed (5.6m x 3.5m); former kennels with run (now housing chickens); store (7.1m max x 10.5m max ); store (5.2m x 4.8m) with cobbled floor; store (4.6m x 4.9m); loft (4.9m x 9.9m) with outside steps; workshop (4.9m x 4.9m); cart shed (4.9m x 4.9m): and a further cart shed (5.4m x 3.3m).

In addition there is a wooden tractor shed (7.1m x 5.3m) with box profile roofing.

Woodland

Off the north drive is an area of woodland including an area which could be fenced as a small paddock. On the other side of the minor public road is an area of mixed woodland, mainly hardwoods with some pine.

Location

Keithock House is most attractively situated within its own exclusive and extensive gardens and grounds between Brechin and Edzell in Angus, just to the north of the A90 dual carriageway.

This is a highly appealing and scenic area of rolling fields and countryside, while to the north are the Angus hills and glens. The property is ideally situated for those who wish to enjoy the range of outdoor pursuits offered in Angus. Salmon and sea trout fishing is available on the nearby North and South Esks, or the West Water. The Angus glens also offer some of the best hill walking in eastern Scotland and skiing at Glenshee. From Edzell the scenic Cairn o’ Mount route gives access to Deeside. Golf courses in the area include Edzell and Brechin, with the championship course at Carnoustie nearby. There are outstanding sandy beaches at Lunan Bay and St Cyrus which is a nature reserve.

Brechin is well served with local shops, business and leisure facilities, nurseries and schooling. There is a swimming pool at the new community campus and High School. There are further local primary schools at Stracathro and at Edzell which also has good local shopping including a butcher, post office, coffee shops, chemist and health centre, together with a country club within the Glenesk Hotel, and a renowned 18 hole golf course, along with a 9 hole course and driving range. Further afield, more extensive shopping and business services are found in Forfar, the county town, and in Montrose. Private schooling is available in Aberdeen and locally at Lathallan (Johnshaven), which has its own bus service from Brechin, as has the High School of Dundee. Further private schools are found at Glenalmond, Strathallan and St Leonards.

The A90 provides fast access to Aberdeen and south to Dundee and Perth. At Perth it connects with the M90 to Edinburgh and the A9 to Glasgow. Both Aberdeen and Dundee are easily reached and offer all the services expected of major cities. Dundee has renowned cultural facilities including the V&A museum. There are railway stations at Montrose and Laurencekirk on the east coast mainline with regular services to Aberdeen and the south, including a sleeper to London. Journey times to Aberdeen and its airport have been much reduced by the Western Peripheral Route. Both Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports provide a range of domestic and European flights and there is a service from Dundee to London Heathrow.

Square Footage: 9,352 sq ft


Acreage: 69.4 Acres

Directions

If coming from the south on the A90 take the second turning for Brechin (B966). If coming from the north take the first turning for Brechin. Follow signs for Edzell (B966) and the gated entrance, with two lodges, will be seen immediately on the left.


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Distances - Brechin 2.5 miles, Edzell 3.5 miles, Montrose 10 miles, Carnoustie 22 miles, Dundee 28 miles, Aberdeen 38 miles, Perth 49 miles, Edinburgh 85 miles

Additional Info

Historical Note - The house is described by John Gifford in The Pevsner Architectural Guides, The Buildings of Scotland, Dundee and Angus (2012) as a dignified classical small mansion built circa 1805. The Georgian house covers the front of the late 17th century residence. Its exposed gables remodelled at the same time. It is believed that there has been a house on the site since the 15th century. In the 17th century the house was enlarged and in the dining room there is the original front door over which is a carved coat of arms celebrating the marriage of David Edgar to Katherine Forrester in 1680. The Edgars were Jacobites, and his son David was Secretary to the Old Pretender and fled with him to Rome after the failure of the 1715 rebellion. It is understood the Old Pretender spent a night at Keithock prior to his escape from Scotland. In 1790 the estate was sold to Captain Robert Haldane who then created the Georgian mansion seen today that fronts the earlier 17th century house.

Viewings - Strictly by appointment with Savills - .

Services - House and cottages - mains water, electricity and gas, private drainage, mains gas central heating. Smoke and fire alarm system in Keithock House. Electric underfloor heating in dining kitchen in The Olde Laundry House. At the front of the house is a Pod Point electric vehicle charging point.

Angus Council Tax Bands
Keithock House Band H
The Olde Laundry House Band F
No 1 The Stables Cottage Band A
No 2 The Stables Cottage Band B

Fixtures & Fittings - Fitted carpets, curtains and light fittings are included. Certain furnishings and garden/estate equipment may be available in addition. The sundial is excluded.

Photographs - Photos taken June 2024 and March 2025, brochure produced May 2025.

Environmental Stipulations - Keithock House, the bridge over the Keithock Water, the main gates and the stables are Listed Category B. The Olde Laundry House is Listed Category C.

Energy Performance Certificates
Keithock House = E
The Olde Laundry House = D
No 1 The Stables Cottage = D
No 2 The Stables Cottage =D

Cottage Occupancies - The Olde Laundry House and No 2 The Stables Cottage are let under terms of Private Residential Tenancy Agreements. No 1 The Stables Cottage is occupied under terms of a service occupancy.

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.

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.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that:

1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.
2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise.

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