Balranald, East Clyne, Brora, Highland, KW9

Balranald is a B Listed former Church of Scotland manse in the scattered hamlet of East Clyne close to Brora. The property is in a beautiful south-facing setting with easterly views to the Moray Firth and, to the west, Ben Bhraggie, while to the rear of the house is the charming though now derelict, listed church along with the graveyard and belfry. Balranald comprises the main house, a partly renovated steading, and a range of good quality outbuildings set in approximately 15.3 acres of gardens, grazing land and amenity woodland.

Brora is in an area of the Highlands popular for its beautiful beaches, links golf courses, stunning landscape and dry climate. This unspoilt region offers many pursuits for the outdoor enthusiast including walking and hill climbing as well as world class golfing, fishing and stalking. Brora has a supermarket, general shops, restaurants, hotel and links golf course, while nearby Golspie has schooling up to secondary level and a railway station. Dornoch, with its championship golf course, and Tain are both within easy reach and offer further shops and amenities. Inverness, about a one hour drive away, has all the facilities of a modern city including its airport with regular flights to the south and Europe.

THE HOUSE
There are records of an Early Christian chapel at Balranald, but the former manse itself dates from the 18th century and was enlarged in the mid-19th century. A property of some presence, the house has well laid out accommodation retaining many traditional features including original woodwork, parquet flooring, flagstone floors, a stained glass window and cornicing.
The current owners purchased the property in 2010 when it had been uninhabited for some years and at this stage carried out improvements including timber treatments, upgrading the sash windows, rewiring, upgrading the plumbing, the installation of pv and solar panels, while the exterior has been re-harled. Although now in need of further modernisation, the house is extremely attractive with its handsome exterior, well-proportioned rooms and original features.

GARDEN GROUNDS
Balranald is approached from the public road, a gateway leading to a drive and a parking area at the side of the house.
The garden grounds extend to approximately 2.4 acres. The beautiful, listed walled garden lies on the west side of the house, its wall and south-facing aspect creating a sheltered growing environment for the deep herbaceous borders, wall-trained fruit, and kitchen garden. There is a sheltered, flagstone sitting area adjacent to the house and raised terrace on the back wall with its bee boles, recesses formerly used to house traditional straw beehives.
There are colourful mixed beds at the front of the house, beyond which are grass paddocks, while there are magnificent, mature broadleaf trees throughout the grounds.

THE STEADING
The L-shaped, stone and slate steading lies to the west of the walled garden and has its own access from the public road. Full planning consent for conversion to a residential dwelling was granted on 19th February 2018. Reference No: 17/05764/LB

The steading has been structurally renovated and the interior partitioned and prepared for fitting out as a contemporary, two bedroom dwelling.
There is a yard in front of the steading and a sitting area to the rear with a paddock beyond this.

OUTBUILDINGS
THE BOTHY
Previously used as a short term holiday let and with the potential for use as an office, bunkhouse or residential unit, subject to the necessary consents. The building comprises:
Garage
5.7 m x 3 m
With double doors, lined walls and housing the converters for the pv panels.
Kitchen
3 m x 2.5 m
With fitted units and cooker.
Washroom
3 m x 3 m overall
With shower cubicle and WC.
Attic Room
With an external, spiral staircase and running the full length of the building. With power and light.
MACHINERY SHED/WORKSHOP
6.5 m max x 6 m max
With power and light.
LIVESTOCK SHELTER
7 m x 2.9 m
Of timber construction and with two double doors.
GENERAL STORE
4.9 m X 2.5 m
Lying to the rear of the house. With power and light.

THE LAND
The IACS registered land extends to approximately 12.8 acres and lies across the public road from the house and grounds. Divided into seven enclosures the land comprises well-managed, permanent pasture over three grazing units, enclosed by stone walls and good quality fencing and with modern gates. The remaining land is semi-mature woodland, parcels of which are grazed, and providing shelter, amenity and a habitat for native wildlife.

Permanent pasture 6.5 acres
Woodland 6.25 acres
Within the farmland is a field shelter and:

OPEN-FRONTED LIVESTOCK SHELTER
4.7 m x 3 m
STEEL PORTAL LIVESTOCK SHED
9.7 m x 5.7 m
With power, light and water.

EPC Rating = F