Drumleys HouseAirlie, By Kirriemuir, Angus, DD8 5NU

Drumleys House is a most attractive, south facing house, which was built between 1899 and 1901 by Sir Hugh Munro, of Lindertis Estate, who was a founder member, and later president, of the Scottish Mountaineering Club. Sir Hugh is best known for his list of almost 300 Scottish hills of 3,000 feet and over, known now as Munros. The house was later extended in 1964. There is a date stone of 1964 with a coat of arms. Stone built, with a slate roof, it looks out over its own extensive gardens and grounds, extending to some 4.9 acres, with views over Strathmore to the Sidlaws. It is a gracious house with well proportioned rooms, mainly benefitting from the views. The fine principal reception rooms are arranged off an impressive hall, so the house is ideal for entertaining. There are six bedrooms upstairs, so the house is well laid out for family living. An east wing, beyond and above the kitchen has latterly been partially used for storage but offers considerable scope as additional accommodation, or even as a separate flat. In 2015 a biomass heating system was installed, reducing running costs, and at that time rewiring, replumbing and insulation works were undertaken. As such it is a most impressive and desirable house, with historic connections. With its entrance on the northern side of the house, the views south are enhanced. Period features remain such as cornicing in the principal reception rooms and main bedrooms, as well as panelled doors and original door fittings.

The house sits behind a high hedge, providing screening, and gates open onto tarred parking. A covered entrance leads to a vestibule with an understairs cupboard and tiled floor. The hall has a fireplace with wood burning stove, two wall lights, shelved alcove, wooden floor and staircase. The lovely bow fronted drawing room has a fireplace, two display alcoves, wooden floor and links to a covered verandah. A cloakroom has a separate WC with washbasin; a gun room has fitted shelves and cupboards; while a study has a fireplace and door to the garden. The dining room has a bay window, fireplace, shelved alcove, wooden floor and serving hatch to the kitchen. Off a side hallway is a butler’s pantry with fitted shelves, cupboards, sink and hatch to cupboard; a store room; and back kitchen with fitted units, two sinks, Beko dishwasher, Delonghi gas cooker; while the main kitchen has wooden units with an AGA, stone sink, wood burning stove with oven, wooden floor, and double glazed door to the garden. Beyond is a playroom with fitted shelves. A back hallway has an entrance door, stairs to first floor, and a WC with washbasin. Beyond is a shelved larder; a boot room with a sink, clothes pulley and two cupboards (one a former lift); store room; and a freezer room with an entrance door.

A fine staircase lit by a leaded window, leads to a first floor landing. Bedroom 1 has a fitted wardrobe, and an en suite bathroom with a free standing bath, shower cubicle, double washbasin, WC and secondary glazing. Bedroom 2 has fitted wardrobes, dressing table and washbasin. A partially tiled shower room has a shower, washbasin and WC. Bedroom 3 has a corner fireplace and washbasin. Bedroom 4 has fitted wardrobes and a sink, as does bedroom 5 which also has a corner fireplace. A maid’s pantry has fitted cupboards and sink, while a bathroom has a bath, shower cubicle, washbasin and WC. A side landing has back stairs and the former lift. Bedroom 6 has a corner fireplace, while a former bathroom has a washbasin and WC (with the plumbing for a bath still in situ). A linen room has cupboards, and opposite is a sink and plumbing for a washing machine.

Outside there are steps down to a cellar, and a covered wood store by the back door. A wooden biomass shed with a box profile roof (4.5m x 8.7m approx.) houses a Froling boiler and a hopper. This can be accessed from a back drive through an area of mature woodland, off which is a garage. The lovely garden, surrounding the house, is mainly lawn with shrubs, spring bulbs and some good trees. There is a gravelled terrace in front of the house, and a kitchen garden to the side, with raised beds and a former greenhouse and wooden shed. In front is part of a field, which is included in the sale.

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