16th century Baronial castle, with Georgian wing.
With an historic tower dating from the 16th century and a later Georgian wing, added in 1795-6, Balbegno Castle is a delight. The original part is four storeys with a re-entrant tower, and is lime rendered, with a stone slate roof with a turret and crow-stepped gables. The Georgian wing is a pretty two storey addition with a slate roof and a single storey Venetian entrance hall. Sitting within its own policies, with views south over agricultural land, it is most imposing. The Georgian wing and the Great Hall have been refurbished and imaginatively redecorated in recent years, yet the house retains many of its original features with panelled doors and lovely brass door furniture, and cornices in the principal rooms and bedrooms, along with many having picture and / or dado rails and window shutters.
A wooden entrance door with glazed overlight opens to the hall. An inner hall has a staircase to the first floor and connects to the downstairs accommodation. The fine dining room has an ornate cornice, shelved press, balancing door, fireplace with Adam style wooden mantel and a wooden floor. A vaulted room is currently used as a games room, while the fully fitted kitchen has wooden wall and floor units with tiled splashbacks, double porcelain sink, clothes pulley, shelved cupboard and a further walk in cupboard. There is ample space for informal dining. Appliances include a Bosch dishwasher, Belling range cooker with five gas burners, two ovens and grill, together with an undercounter Lamona fridge and freezer. There is a rear lobby with back stairs and a rear entrance door. The laundry room has fitted wall and floor units, sink, clothes pulley and a Hotpoint washing machine and dryer. Bedroom one has a fireplace with wooden mantel and wooden floor. The useful downstairs shower room has a pedestal washbasin and WC, while bedroom two has a wooden mantel.
The first floor landing has a centre rose. Off the landing is a splendid drawing room with ornate cornice, fireplace with Adam style wooden mantel and wooden floor. Bedroom three has a fireplace with carved wooden mantel and wooden floor. The bathroom has a freestanding bath with shower, pedestal washbasin and WC. Bedroom four has a walk in cupboard while steps lead down to bedroom five which has a walk in cupboard. The back stairs lead to bedroom six which has a built in cupboard and wooden floor.
Stairs from the hall give access to the original part of the castle, and its magnificent Great Hall with its fine ceiling, along with a fireplace and storage cupboards. The stone spiral stairs continue up into the tower where there are a series of rooms over a further three levels, many with original fireplaces. These are in need of renovation.
The two cellars are accessed from the outside and have vaulted ceilings and stone flag floor. There is an outside Firebird Enviromax Heatpac C44KW boiler.
Surrounding the castle are lovely gardens, enclosed by walls, with lawns and borders and some fine trees. Beyond is a grass field extending to some 17 acres, with some mature trees and a 17th century doo'cot (dovecot) with crow stepped gables and a stone slate roof.
Hollies Cottage lies to the west of the castle and is reached by a separate drive which runs to the rear. An attractive stone built cottage which faces south, it has a harled extension to the rear. The accommodation includes a living room with a tiled fireplace and shelved recess, three bedrooms (one with a tiled fireplace), bathroom with bath with shower, washbasin and WC, together with a shower room, entrance lobby and a kitchen with space for dining. It has an outside boiler and an enclosed garden. Situated to the rear is the former stable block. This is very handsome and stone built, and has considerable potential for a number of uses, subject to obtaining any necessary planning consents, but is currently used for storage.
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This historic property combines Georgian elegance and contemporary comforts with the exciting further development potential of the castle upper levels along with the stables. A much-loved family property, while the future possibilities for Balbegno Castle make it a very attractive prospect.
Ruaraidh OgilvieProperty agent