Location

The property is located about 1.5 miles from the village of Auchleven, which has a primary school. About four miles away is Insch which has a range of local shops and community facilities along with a railway station. About seven miles away is Alford which has various local shops, medical and dental practices and a community campus housing nursery, primary and secondary schools, a library and swimming pool. The property is within the Huntly and Inverurie secondary school catchment areas.

Bracka House is situated just to the north of Bennachie, a well known Aberdeenshire landmark with easy access to both Aberdeen and its airport, on the A96.   Locally there is salmon fishing on the nearby Deveron, Don and Spey, together with golf courses at Insch, Alford, Huntly, Inverurie, Royal Aberdeen, Cruden Bay and the Trump International Golf Links.

There is private schooling in Aberdeen including Robert Gordon's College, St Margaret's and Albyn as well as the International School of Aberdeen. There are two universities and several colleges of further education. Gordonstoun is also easily reached.

The nearby A96 provides ease of access to Aberdeen and its airport which provides excellent links to London and other UK and European cities.   The Western Peripheral Route has improved travel in and around Aberdeen, and links to a quicker and more direct route south. Insch railway station, on the Aberdeen–Inverness line, is easily reached and there are regular mainline services from Aberdeen, including a sleeper. Aberdeen has all the services expected of a major city including business and leisure facilities, theatres, restaurants and a wide range of shopping.*

*All distances are approximate

Description

Understood to have been built in the 1970s, this charming home replaced a former stone walled farmhouse. Detached over two floors, the property has been extended to the east side with a single storey extension and to the west side with a linked building which accommodates a swimming pool, sauna and former squash court. Although this was previously a leisure wing, this part of the building offers great potential for further development to create event space if desired. The outdoors comes in with large picture windows and sliding patio doors opening to the terrace. The pool 7.6m x 4.3m has mosaic tiling and a pine-lined ceiling. The sauna is a good size with tiered seating. Adjoining with steps down to a lower level is the squash court. The majority of the ground floor doors in the main part of the house are hardwood framed glazed panel doors and the first floor doors are hardwood timber panel.   Large windows throughout, many of which frame wonderful views of the surrounding picturesque landscape, bathe the house with natural light. This expansive home offers multiple spaces for a large family or for those who enjoy entertaining. The two home offices cater for remote working needs. An entrance vestibule has extensive storage space to adapt as a boot room. Elegant and elongated is the sitting room, while at the heart of the home is the dining kitchen. Fitted by Laings of Inverurie, there is a comprehensive range of cherry wood cabinets and drawers. Stainless steel appliances include a range cooker and a peninsula unit with breakfast bar which seamlessly connects the spacious dining area for casual meals. Two sets of French doors open from the formal dining room which is currently used as a games room. There is an open fire which has an ornate white marble hearth and mantelpiece with a cast iron tiled insert. For everyday domestic tasks there is the utility room which has twin Belfast sinks and space for a washing machine and tumble dryer. Along one wall is extensive storage. There are two staircases: one in the east wing and one in the west wing which allow for more independent and separate space for guests or relatives if required. The bedrooms have built in wardrobes and the bath and shower rooms offer contemporary finishes. On the first floor the principal bedroom suite has an en suite shower room with mixer jet shower, and a dressing room. Bedrooms two, three and four are serviced by a bathroom with freestanding roll top bath with ornate claw feet and oversized corner shower enclosure. Bedrooms five and six share a shower room with an oversized shower enclosure.

Outside: Brackla House offers a very special package for a rural lifestyle including equestrian facilities. The 25 acres of land included in the sale comes with a range of versatile buildings including the following: A detached former steading building, divided into four parts and currently used as a workshop, store, wood shed and vehicle store with lights in each section. In good order and actively used is an L shaped stable block, divided into four parts comprising three large stables, a foaling box, tack room and fodder store. There is a concrete floor, lighting and water. A tractor shed allows space for most commercial vehicles or horse box. A substantial greenhouse is currently used as a gym with lighting. The house and direct garden grounds are about 1.2 acres and the majority of the front garden has a perimeter hedge and raised decked terrace surrounding the swimming pool building. A super alfresco spot is the sunken barbeque pit which has a stone flagged floor and stone retaining walls. An extensive tarred drive and yard areas provide parking and turning for numerous vehicles. A concrete tennis court is enclosed by high mesh netting fencing. Grass paddocks around the house and buildings extend to about 6.8 acres and there is a field shelter. Arable fields extend to about 10.8 acres, and are currently being cropped with barley. The land is predominantly south facing between 225-265 metres ASL and the majority is graded 4(1) on the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research Land Capability for Agriculture Maps, which is land capable of growing a narrow range of crops based primarily on grass with short arable breaks. There is a lake within an idyllic setting of 5.7 acres along with a boat shed. Bringing additional character to the landscape is Druidstone Croft at the southwest corner of the property, where there is a dilapidated stone and slate cottage. Please note the croft site has no access road or services.

Garage: There is a double garage positioned at the beginning of the access road, adjoining B992, which has two metal up and over vehicle doors. Located at the property is a further garage, with a roll up vehicle door and power.