Portmore Estate - Lot 1, Peebles, Scottish Borders, EH45

Situation
Portmore Estate is situated in a most private and highly scenic rural setting, a short distance from the village of Eddleston and about 5 miles to the north of Peebles in the Scottish Borders. Eddleston is a delightful conservation village with a thriving community with a primary school, village hall and the Horseshoe Inn. The historical Royal Burgh of Peebles, on the River Tweed, offers an extensive range of services including independent retailers, supermarkets, banks, medical centre and both primary and secondary schools.

Portmore Estate is highly commutable to Edinburgh. Situated some 18 miles to the north of Portmore, with the city centre reached in about a 45 minute journey by car, Edinburgh offers a wealth of amenities including a wide variety of retail outlets, restaurants, museums, art galleries and 3 universities. Home to the Edinburgh Festival and the Fringe, the city has numerous theatre and concert hall venues. Its international airport reaches destinations throughout Europe and North America, whilst the Waverley Railway Station provides daily services north and south including the London Sleeper service. Edinburgh has a number of independent schools offering both primary and secondary schooling. St Mary’s Preparatory School is found at Melrose, lying about 29 miles to the south-east.

The Scottish Borders is a county of gentle rolling countryside comprising fertile arable land, grassland, woodlands and hills, with the Tweed river system running through it, renowned for its excellent salmon fishing. The county has had a vibrant history including that of the Border Reivers and associated fortresses and castles and was renowned for its great woollen textile industry which still forms a major contribution to the local economy. The county offers a wealth of recreational activities including shooting, fishing, hill walking, mountain biking and for the golfer, a number of excellent courses including the Peebles Golf Club. The Scottish Borders has a strong equestrian identity which continues today with racing at Kelso. There are also Rugby Clubs in a number of the local towns. The nationally renowned Borders Book Festival, which has been running for 20 years, is hosted annually in Melrose.

Description
Portmore Estate is a highly desirable Scottish Estate extending to some 3,459 acres (1,400 hectares). Centred on Portmore House, a Category A-Listed country house, the estate sits within beautiful and well-tended policies with restored walled garden and Victorian glasshouse, a parterre, parkland fields, mature deciduous woodlands, farmland and hill ground, together with the reservoir to the north. The estate provides great seclusion and amenity, nestled discreetly in the rolling Borders countryside. The farming enterprise is run from Boreland Farm, which lies to the south of Portmore House and includes a farmhouse, cottage and practical range of modern and traditional farm buildings. The highly regarded pheasant shoot, which ran for many years, has very recently ceased following the retirement of the keeper. In addition to a lower ground floor flat within Portmore House, there are five further residential dwellings on the estate; Primrose Cottage (Gardener’s House), Hillhead Cottage (Keeper’s House), Portmore Lodge and both 1 & 3 Skiprig Cottages

Method of Sale
Portmore Estate is presented in 3 Lots. However, it is only available to purchase in the following packages:-
• Lot 1
• Lot 1 & 2
• As whole (Lots 1, 2 & 3)

Please note that Lots 2 and 3 are not available to purchase individually or as Lots 1 & 3 together.

Lot 1
Portmore House, Portmore Lodge, Primrose Cottage, Hillhead Cottage and Land (Extending in total to 274 acres, 111 hectares)

Portmore House
Portmore House is a Category A-Listed Scots baronial house built in 1850 and designed by the Scottish architect, David Bryce. Constructed of red sandstone under a principally slated roof with lead additions, it has a central tower together with turrets on the western elevation, crow step gables and sash and case windows. The South Wing was partially rebuilt following a fire in the 1980s. Portmore House offers well-proportioned rooms which are light and bright with a wealth of period of features including wood panelling, fine cornicing, panelled doors and fireplaces and the original organ in the hall.

Portmore House provides beautiful principal reception rooms and extensive bedroom accommodation with a most welcoming kitchen with practical ancillary rooms. The accommodation extends to a billiard room on the lower ground floor, a playroom and a 2-bedroomed caretaker’s flat. Adjoining the principal house is a practical range of outbuildings lying to the north with a partly covered cobbled courtyard adjacent. The accommodation of Portmore House lies over three principal floors comprising:-

Ground Floor: Hall, Organ Room, Drawing Room, Library, Dining Room, Kitchen, Sitting Room, Pantry, Laundry, Cloakroom, Bootroom, Ancillary Room, Annex Bedroom Wing (2 Bedrooms and Shower Room)

First Floor: Principal Bedroom Suite with Dressing Room, Bathroom, Walk in Wardrobe, Shower Room, Store Cupboard, Bedroom 2 with En-suite, Bedroom 7 with En-suite, 7 further Bedrooms, 5 further Bathrooms.

Reached by a secondary staircase from the Ancillary Room on the ground floor is a Guest Annex providing Sitting Room, Bedroom, Bathroom

Second Floor: Bedroom 11

Lower Ground Floor: Billiard Room, 5 Bedrooms, Bathroom, Playroom, Cloakroom, Two Wine Cellars, Store Room 1, Boiler Room, Store Room 2, Generator Room, Store Room 3

In addition there is a two bedroom flat within Portmore House on the lower ground floor. It can be accessed directly from the lower ground floor and via its own independent access. It provides the following accommodation: Hall, Store Room, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Snug/Study, Bedroom 1 with En-suite Shower Room, Bedroom 2, Bathroom.

Gardens and Grounds
The gardens at Portmore are a notable feature of the estate having been carefully restored and developed under the current ownership of the last 40 years. A tree lined drive leads from the entrance lodge to an extensive gravelled sweep to the front of the house with lawns and backdrop of fine deciduous specimen trees. To the east lies the parterre with a stone edged canal and fountain which are set in the grass terraces and surrounded by yew hedges.

The Walled Garden is exquisite and lies to the north of the house, extends to about 1.5 acres and since 1987, has been extensively restored by the current owners. Its original traditional style has been complemented by a more contemporary approach, resulting in an outstanding and significant garden of considerable note. It benefits from a southerly aspect, is enclosed by a whinstone wall and wrought iron railings with a Victorian glasshouse and brick outbuildings on the north side. The garden is symmetrically laid out with gravelled paths, lawned areas, hedging, herbaceous borders and specimen shrubs and trees.

To the east is the Water Garden with a stream and number of pools interplanted with specimen shrubs, trees and herbaceous planting. Lying beyond is a woodland walk with a fine collection of azaleas, rhododendrons and spring bulbs completing the superb horticultural features at Portmore.

Portmore Lodge
Portmore Lodge lies to the west of the estate and adjacent to the A703 public road. It is a delightful, traditional lodge of stone construction under a slated roof and providing the following accommodation over one floor:

Hall, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Bedroom, Bathroom and Utility Room

Portmore Lodge sits within its own garden principally down to lawn with borders and parking to the east.

It is let under a Short Assured Tenancy.

Primrose Cottage
Primrose Cottage is a most attractive traditional stone built cottage under a slated roof and lying a short distance to the east of the walled garden. It has recently been modernised and provides good sized accommodation over two floors comprising:

Ground Floor: Hall, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Utility Room, Dining Room, Bathroom

First Floor: Three Bedrooms

Primrose Cottage sits within its own garden, principally down to lawn with borders, shrubs and trees. It is occupied as part of the employment of the Head Gardener.

Hillhead
Hillhead is a traditional stone-built cottage lying to the north of the walled garden and was occupied until recently by the retired Estate Gamekeeper. It sits within a good sized garden with parking area. The cottage has oil central heating, a rayburn stove in the kitchen and a wood burning stove in the sitting room. The accommodation, over two floors, comprises:

Ground Floor: Hall, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Utility Room, Shower room, Bedroom, Conservatory

First Floor: Two Bedrooms, Bathroom

In addition there is a traditional range of Victorian kennels lying to the north east of the house. Sitting next to the cottage is a range of timber outbuildings providing useful storage. In addition there is a game larder with fridge room and prep room.

EPC Rating = E