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Skeldon Estate, Dalrymple, Ayrshire

Ayr 7 miles, Glasgow Prestwick Airport 12 miles, Glasgow 40 miles

Lot 1: House and policies about 192 acres - Offers over £4 million

Overview

In all about 77.70 hectares (192 acres)

An exceptional residential, sporting and agricultural estate on the banks of the River Doon.

* Classical 18th Century country house

* Listed Category B

* Immaculately presented

* 3 reception rooms

* Kitchen/breakfast room

* Study and office

* Conservatory

* 6 bedrooms

* 5 bathrooms

* Staff flat/2 guest bedrooms

* Library/games room annex

* All weather tennis court

* Outstanding gardens and greenhouses

* Estate offices and buildings

* Gate lodge & 3 other cottages

* About 192 acres of parkland policies

* 2½ miles of double bank salmon fishing on the River Doon

GENERAL

SITUATION

Skeldon is situated about 7 miles south east of Ayr on the south west coast of Scotland and close to the village of Dalrymple. It lies in particularly beautiful rolling countryside with productive farmland framed by woodland and highlighted by the River Doon.

Dalrymple village lies on the western extremities of the estate and provides useful local shops and services while the seaside, county town of Ayr has a full range of shops, services and amenities including a regular mainline rail services to Glasgow and the well known Independent school of Wellington. Only 3 miles north of Ayr is Glasgow (Prestwick) airport providing a wide destination of International flights as well as regular flights to London.

Ayrshire is well known for its lovely countryside and attractive coastline with many sandy beaches and world famous Links golf courses. Ayr racecourse provides all year round horse racing including the Scottish Grand National and Skeldon lies in the heart of Eglinton Hunt Country.

DESCRIPTION

The estate is made up of two distinct assets with Skeldon House and estate policies divided from Potterston Farm only by a quiet country road.

Lot 1 SKELDON HOUSE AND POLICIES About 192 acres

Skeldon is a delightfully private and beautiful residential estate extending to about 192 acres of designed landscape gardens, parks and woodland policies lying in the embrace of the River Doon. It is a truly magical place.

Skeldon House is a classical, late 18th century, Georgian country house, thought to have been built to plans by the Adam brothers, with later additions thought to be by James Miller including the dome roofed entrance portico and south side conservatory. Its scale and proportions are particularly pleasing, being neither too big nor unmanageable and is by all accounts a lovely family home.

Skeldon is beautifully cared for, making the most of its stunning landscapes. It is approached over the old north drive, through a stone pillared gateway, with the resurfaced road winding through mixed woodland and lined with rhododendrons and laurels. It ends in a gravel sweep in front of the house with a large area of lawn bounded by a ha-ha.

The accommodation is bright and spacious with classic Georgian proportions. The ground floor reception rooms lead off from the elegant, black and white tile floored hall with fine stone hanging staircase and galleried landing with the drawing room to the east and dining room to the west. Adjoining both and beneath the hanging stair, is a delightful study with hand painted wall paper and vaulted ceiling. All three rooms link to a wonderful conservatory which has just been completely refurbished and which has a small terrace with a double flight of stone steps leading down to the south lawn.

On the first floor are three excellent bedroom suites with a further three good bedrooms and family bathroom on the attic floor.

A stone spiral stair links all three floors to the lower ground where a large modern kitchen/breakfast room takes up the south west corner. This level also incorporates a large office and a staff flat as well as numerous ancillary stores, laundry, boiler room, pantry and bathroom.

A short walk from the back door is a two storey outbuilding which has been cleverly converted to provide a large library/games room with extensive storage below. There is also an outside gardeners wc and store.

Gardens and Grounds

The gardens and grounds are a special feature of Skeldon. The gardens around the house comprise lawns of different levels, castellated yew hedges and specimen trees including magnificent examples of oak, lime and silver birch. At the front these trees frame the view of the parkland beyond which are more arboretum quality trees including copper beech, horse chestnut and oak.

Gravel paths run down both sides of the house, through banks of rhododendrons to the walled garden and to riverside walks. There are magnificent views from the paths over the walled garden and over rich tree canopies of oak, beech, lime and clumps of rhododendron. The riverside walks were mainly formed between 1856 and 1894 and include a footbridge over the River Doon to Skeldon wood. Beside the paths and on the banks of the river are masses of laurel and rhododendrons broken up by more special trees including Cedar of Lebanon, Argentinean pine and Cypress.

In the protective bend of the river is the delightful walled garden. The north wall carries a range of heated glass-houses full of fruit and flowers. There is a D shaped hedged garden to the south with a small formal area planted with roses trained on poles and umbrella frames and under planted with herbaceous plants. A pergola frames the north-south pathway and is covered by clematis, actimidia and Russian vine. There is also a shrub border featuring contorted hazel specimens around the perimeter of the garden. There are borders of day lilies and beds of dahlias and all are beautifully looked after.

There is an all weather tennis court beside the drive, adjacent to The Mains.

 

Skeldon Mains

The Mains comprises of a U-shaped, late 18th century courtyard and incorporates the estate office, two garages, former stables, stores and a pair of semi detached stone built cottages, originally built for the gardener and chauffeur.

West Cottage

Occupied on service occupancy by the gardener and his family the accommodation comprises sitting room, bathroom, living room, kitchen with 3 bedrooms on the first floor.

East Cottage

Is let on a holiday letting basis and comprises: Dining room, sitting room, bathroom, bedroom and kitchen with 2 further bedrooms on the first floor. The cottage has recently been refurbished.

Behind The Mains is a useful general purpose barn and a range of timber stables and loose boxes.

 

Castle Cottage

The cottage is located on the east side of the drive overlooking the parkland. The cottage has been built on the site of Old Skeldon Castle which is believed to date from around 1400.

The cottage built on the two storeys of stone, has oil fired central heating and has a good area of garden ground including an old stone kennel. It is currently let on a Short Assured Tenancy arrangement until May 2009. Detailed planning consent has been granted to extend the cottage with an additional lounge and office, bedroom and bathroom.

Sitting room

(19’9” x 9’9”)

Kitchen

(13’6” x 10’6”)

Fitted units

Bathroom

Bedroom 1

(16’6” x 14’9”)

Bedroom 2

(20’3” x 14’3”)

Lodge Cottage

Located at the entrance gate to the west drive on the edge of the village, the Lodge Cottage is one storey, bow fronted harled and white painted. It has a good area of garden ground with two small outbuildings and is let on a Short Assured Tenancy agreement until May 2009.

Porch

Living room

(18’3” x 13’9”)

Bedroom 1

(12’9” x 12’6”)

Bedroom 2

(9’9” x 9’0”)

Bedroom 3

(10’0” x 9’0”)

Back porch

Shower room

Kitchen

Estate Lands

The estate lands extend in total to about 192 acres. The majority is in woodland with small crops of commercial conifers surrounded by mixed amenity planting which adds up to 135 acres.

Two new areas of woodland have recently been planted under the Farm Woodland Premium Scheme. Any grant payable for work carried out by the estate will accrue to the seller. The purchaser will be responsible for complying with terms of the grant from the date of entry.

The farm land includes the front park of about 10 acres together with good arable/grassland of about 47 acres. All the lands are farmed in conjunction with Potterston Farm.

Sporting

Although there is currently no formal shoot at Skeldon, the mixed ages of the woodland and the undulating nature of the ground is ideal for showing high pheasants.

The fishing at Skeldon is particularly exciting. The mainly double bank beat with 17 named pools on the River Doon extends to about 2½ miles and includes the trout and salmon fishing rights. A 10 year average of 65 salmon have been taken each year including those caught on the “village beat” which is let to the local angling club and the Skeldon Mill beat let to a local syndicate.

Salmon and Grilse catch at Skeldon

DIRECTIONS

From Glasgow, take the M77/A77 to Ayr. Once on the Ayr by-pass turn left onto the A713 at the third roundabout (Ayr hospital). Turn on to the A713 and into the village of Hollybush (4 miles). Turn right onto the B7034 and after about 1 mile turn left onto a minor public road and then left into Skeldon Estate.

SERVICES

COUNCIL TAX

The Council Tax banding for each property is:

Skeldon House Band H

West Lodge Band C

East Mains Band D

West Mains Band D

Castle Cottage Band D

ENVIRONMENTAL

Skeldon House is Listed Category B. Skeldon Gardens are included in the Inventory of Gardens and are Designed, Landscapes in Scotland.

VIEWING

Strictly by appointment through CKD Galbraith on 01292 268181 or Knight Frank on 0131 222 9600. Prior to making an appointment to view, the agents strongly recommend that you discuss any particular points which are likely to affect your interest with a member of our staff who has seen the property in order that you do not make a wasted journey.

LOCAL AUTHORITY

East Ayrshire Council

London Road

Kilmarnock

Ayrshire

KA3 7BU

Tel: 01563 576000

ENTRY

By arrangement.

CLOSING DATE

A closing date by which offers must be submitted will probably be fixed later. Anyone who has informed the selling agents in writing that they intend to make an offer will be sent a letter drawing their attention to the Closing Date.

Selling Agents / Local CKD Galbraith Office

CONDITIONS OF SALE

1. Ingoing Valuation

The purchaser(s) shall, in addition to the purchase price, be obliged to take over and pay for at a valuation to be agreed between two valuers, one acting for each party, or an arbiter appointed by the valuers, or failing agreement as to the appointment by the President, for the time being, of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Scottish Branch), the following:

* All growing crops on a seeds, labour, lime, fertiliser, sprays and machinery basis with an increment representing the enhanced value of the establishment and age of such crops.

* All hay, straw, fodder, roots, silage and farmyard manure and other produce at market value.

* All oils, fuels, fertilisers, sprays, chemicals, seeds and sundries at cost.

* Stock may be available to purchase in addition at valuation.

* Estate and Farm machinery, tools and equipment.

Note: If the amount of the valuations has not been agreed on the date fixed for completion, then the purchaser shall pay to the seller such a sum as the agents shall certify on account at the valuation pending agreement. Should the payment not be made within seven days then the interest will become payable on outstanding monies at 5% over Bank of Scotland borrowing rate.

2. Fixtures and Fittings

Fitted carpets are included in the sale. Estate and garden furniture, certain furniture in the estate house and cottages and curtains and certain light fittings may be included by negotiation although the main light fitting in the dining room and drawing room are specifically excluded. No other items are included unless specifically mentioned in these particulars.

3. Title

The subjects are sold under the conditions in the Title Deeds, rights of way (if any), water rights affecting the same, whether shown in the Title Deeds or not. They will be sold as possessed by the Seller and no warranty is given.

4. Deposit On conclusion of missives a deposit of 10 per cent of the purchase price will be paid with the balance due at the date of entry. This deposit will be non-returnable in the event of a purchaser failing to complete the sale for reasons not attributable to the Sellers or their agents.

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. Particulars: These particulars are not an offer or contract, nor part of one. You should not rely on statements by Knight Frank LLP or C K D Galbraith in the particulars or by word of mouth or in writing ("information") as being factually accurate about the property, its condition or its value. Neither Knight Frank LLP nor any joint agent has any authority to make any representations about the property, and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents, seller(s) or lessor(s).

2. Photos etc: The photographs show only certain parts of the property as they appeared at the time they were taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only.

3. Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has been obtained. A buyer or lessee must find out by inspection or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all information is correct.

4. VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice.