Glebe House, Duffus, IV30 5QP

Glebe House offers a rare opportunity to acquire a truly distinguished 4/5 bedroom, 4-reception room residence set in the historic village of Duffus amid rolling countryside. Built circa 1830, originally as a church Manse, this category B Listed, remarkable stone house enjoys a commanding, elevated position with sweeping, uninterrupted views over farmland and the hills beyond. A home of substance and grace, it retains all the grandeur of its late Georgian origins, including soaring ceilings, ornate cornices, picture rails, tall sash-and-case windows with wooden shutters, polished timber floors and wonderfully intricate fireplaces. The extensive, partially walled, gardens add further charm, featuring a woodland area awash with snowdrops and a delightful Ha-Ha to the front of the house.

Accommodation

The generously proportioned accommodation is across two floors.  The sitting room, dining room, study, kitchen, breakfast room and a shower room form the ground floor, and the upper floor comprises four spacious bedrooms (two with dressing rooms), a sewing room and the bathroom.

Entry to this magnificent home is initially through a glazed porch, followed by the impressive front doorway with decorative pilasters and solid timber door, into the welcoming hallway where one is greeted by the superb helical staircase.  The staircase itself is a stand-out feature, with ornate metal balustrades, sweeping timber handrail and plush carpet runner held in place with the original brass stair rods. The stairway benefits from a large window where natural light floods in, above which is a semi-circular, vaulted ceiling.  The entrance hallway has the most charming understairs hideaway, with a playful little mouse-hole with its own front door in the skirting.

The sitting room and dining room are both front-facing, enchanting, apartments each with two bay windows basking in the most tranquil outlook.  The sitting room has a deep inglenook fireplace with large inset log burner, providing warmth and a cosy glow for family get-togethers, whilst the imposing dining room of generous proportions offers the ideal opportunity to host large family events or perhaps more formal dinners.  Immediately behind the sitting room is the atmospheric study with a few interesting tales to tell, amongst which would be the 1940s wartime weddings where the resident clergy would perform ceremonies at short notice before couples were all-too-soon parted by duty to their country.

To the rear of the hallway is a corridor, along which the shower room, kitchen and breakfast rooms are located. The quintessentially country kitchen has a former open range, inset to which is the Esse stove, which is oil fired, fed by gravity and provides reassurance of functionality even in a power cut.  The stove also provides heat to the upstairs bathroom.  A kitchen island has shelves and cupboards, and a further island boasts the double Belfast sink. Both islands have lovely wooden work surfaces. Additional amenities of the kitchen include ample space for a large fridge freezer, tall cupboards, concealed spaces for washing machine and other appliance and a very generous larder cupboard with shelves.  Plenty of space for a table by the tall windows looking out to the gorgeous woodland garden. The serving hatch to the dining room has folding doors, thus shielding guests from the industry of the kitchen.

The rather sweet, quadruple-aspect, breakfast room with its vaulted ceiling and exposed wooden floorboards, is a charming space in which to enjoy that morning coffee. The conveniently placed door leading to the woodland garden and French doors providing access to the rear courtyard invite ease of transition between indoor and outdoor living.

Ascend the sweeping staircase to the upper landing where two skylights provide natural light and a sense of serenity.  In line with typical Georgian symmetry, there are two bedrooms at either end of the landing.

Bedroom 1 is a generous king-sized room with a beautiful, varnished floor, ornate fireplace and two windows with views over the walled garden. Bedroom 2 is a very bright, double, room with a window looking to the front garden and the long views beyond with a convenient dressing room attached. The engraved, pewter, fireplace and hearth with metal guardrail, add further character. Bedroom 3 is another generous double with a window facing the woodland side garden and Bedroom 4 enjoys views of the front garden and also boasts a dressing room.  All bedrooms benefit from inbuilt storage.

The front-facing sewing room provides additional, flexible, accommodation.

The family bathroom has an aura of nostalgia with its 3-piece vintage-style suite. Spacious and bathed in brightness from the window overlooking the woodland garden, the bathroom invites dreamy bathtimes to soak away the cares of the day.

Room Dimensions

Sitting room (5.1m x 6.0m)

Dining Room (6.0m x 4.5m)

Study (5.6m x 5.1m)

Kitchen (6.0m x 4.8m)

Breakfast Room (4.9m x 3.0m)

Downstairs shower room (2.9m x 2.4m).

Bedroom 1 (6.0m x 4.7m)

Bedroom 2 (3.7m x 4.7m)

Bedroom 3 (4.7m x 3.3m)

Bedroom 4 (4.7m x3.8m)

Sewing Room (3.0m x 1.7m)

Upstairs Bathroom (2.5m x 3.1m)

Outside and Gardens

The gardens of Glebe House are truly delightful with many stunning features such as a partially walled garden, sweeping driveway, mature trees, formal lawns, box hedging, rose garden, fruiting plants and areas suitable for organic food cultivation.

A well-maintained access track from the main road leads to the gravel driveway at the front of the house, where there is parking for several vehicles.  A driveway leads around the side of the house to the rear courtyard and a two-storey double garage, with sizeable storage loft above.  The biomass boiler is housed in the garage and there is also space for a small freezer room.

The front garden has steps down to a sheltered spot known as a Ha-Ha, providing a peaceful spot away from prevailing winds.  To one side and continuing round to the rear of the house is a woodland garden, complete with a mixture of trees, snowdrops and ground-covering foliage and other flowering plants.  To the other side of the house is a formal lawn with box hedging and a partially walled garden beyond.  There is also a greenhouse, a selection of soft fruit bushes including redcurrant and blackcurrant, bountiful rhubarb and a fruiting apple tree.

Duffus

Duffus is steeped in history and boast a rather fine 12^th century, ruined, mott and bailey castle which attracts visitors from far and wide.  The village is approximately 1 mile inland from the stunning beaches of Moray coast, home to a myriad of sailing and water sports opportunities and miles of golden sands on which to wander and ponder.  The prestigious Gordonstoun School is a short walk from the village centre and there are primary and secondary schools in nearby Hopeman, Elgin and Lossiemouth.  Duffus has a thriving community life with many groups and clubs operating from the village hall and the local shop is a real social hub.  More extensive amenities can be found in the city of Elgin (approximately 5 miles), including Dr. Gray's hospital, medical centres, leisure provision, shopping, transport links and more.  Elgin has a mainline train station with services running to Aberdeen, Inverness and beyond.  Aberdeen (66 miles) and Inverness (30 miles) both have airports.

Please note that all measurements and distances are approximate and provided for guidance only.