Location

Somerset House sits in a wonderful waterfront position with breathtaking views over the Gare Loch, surrounded by beautiful gardens and grounds of around an acre which have been lovingly maintained by the present owners.

Garelochhead lies at the head of the Gare Loch, approximately 8 miles northwest of Helensburgh, with Loch Lomond a few miles to the east. Development first began in Garelochhead in the 1820s and the village initially grew to cater for visiting steamer passengers. The railway was built in 1894 and sits high on the hillside to the east of the village. There are regular rail services to Oban, Fort William and Glasgow with connecting services to London. The village has local shops, a pub and a church as well as a bowling club and a community centre. Garelochhead is also served by a local primary school. Helensburgh is the nearest major town where Lomond School provides excellent private schooling at primary and secondary level. Hermitage Academy is the local secondary school. Helensburgh is regarded as one of Scotland's most desirable towns with excellent local shopping, a swimming pool, golf course and Rhu Marina nearby.

Some of Britain's most spectacular scenery is around the Loch Lomond area with the loch crossed by the Highland boundary fault and the physical characteristics of lowland and highland Scotland clearly visible within a few miles of each other. World famous Cameron House Hotel with its excellent health club facilities and the exclusive Loch Lomond Golf Club are easily accessible.

Description

Somerset House is an exceptional early Victorian villa occupying a private elevated position designed to take full advantage of the uninterrupted views over Gare Loch. The house sits within around an acre of mature gardens and has an especially attractive symmetrical exterior featuring large arched astragal windows and lovely brickwork detailing.

The property and its pretty red front door is approached via a private driveway which opens up to a substantial parking area and a separate single garage. Constructed around 1855 of stone under a slate roof, the house displays many beautiful features in line with the Victorian period but also with attractive late Georgian style touches. Extending to approximately 2,673 square feet, the accommodation has been beautifully refurbished and upgraded. The space is both extensive and thoughtfully arranged to suit modern family living while retaining a sense of classical elegance.

Entering the property, the welcoming and bright entrance hallway features a tiled chequerboard floor, intricate cornice and a sweeping staircase with original balustrade rising to the first floor. The hallway provides access to the principal reception rooms on the ground floor, each of which is generously proportioned and finished to an excellent standard.

The sitting room has a stunning interior, centred around a feature fireplace and enhanced by a dual aspect outlook to the front of the property. This room also has plenty of space for dining. To the rear of the hallway is the cosy library with industrial style bookshelves, woodburning stove and views over the rear garden.

The kitchen is the heart of the home, designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind. It is fitted with an extensive range of handcrafted cabinets, generous worksurfaces, and a gas range cooker. To the rear of the kitchen is a handy utility room with French doors leading outside and WC. Adjacent to the kitchen is a laundry room. A guest bedroom completes the downstairs accommodation and offers a versatile space with a well-appointed en suite bathroom and walk in wardrobe.

Upstairs comprises a superb versatile living room with fireplace and elevated views to the front of the property; and four nicely presented bedrooms, each offering generous proportions and pleasant outlooks, with one currently used as a home office. The principal bedroom suite is particularly impressive, featuring a walk in wardrobe and a luxurious en suite shower room. The internal accommodation is completed by the family bathroom. A fixed staircase on the upper floor leads to a spacious, floored attic, offering potential for further development subject to the necessary consents.

Outside, the beautifully designed gardens of Somerset House have been planted to offer year-round interest and privacy. There is an expansive lawn to the front of the property, while the rear garden offers a number of tiered levels with a rich variety of mature trees, shrubs, flowering plants, a vegetable patch and greenhouse. There are a number of sitting areas ideal for relaxing outdoors and catching the sun at different times of the day.

Somerset House represents an opportunity to acquire a substantial and beautifully appointed family home in one of the most idyllic locations on the west coast of Scotland.