Victorian elegance with sleek makeover
IT has been a much-favoured holiday destination of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria bought Balmoral in 1848 and today Royal Deeside remains a hugely sought-after place to have a home. Considerable new building has taken place in the past 20 years, but for some househunters only something constructed from the traditional granite will do.
Cron House stands on an elevated site, with Craigendarroch – ‘hill of the oaks’ in Gaelic – to the rear of the property.
The building was latterly used as a nursing home but has been meticulously refurbished by its present owners, who have lavished time and effort on creating a light- filled and comfortable home. This part of Aberdeenshire can endure exceptionally hard winters so they have also ensured it is a warm home by installing an air source heat pump.
A new kitchen and bathrooms, oak floors, doors and skirtings complement original features such as high ceilings and sash and case windows.
On the ground floor is a sitting room, family room and a formal dining room.
The large breakfasting kitchen is a triumph. The glossy white units and sleek white floor tiles flood the entire room with light, an important quality in this northerly part of Britain.
On the first floor are two bedroom suites, three further double bedrooms and a Victorian- style family bathroom decorated in a black and white colour scheme, complete with slipper bath.
The house has a self-contained annexe with a sitting room, bedroom, shower room and kitchen, which could be used by a dependent relative or live-in nanny.
A bonus is the detached triple garage with games room.
Offers over £730,000 to Mackinnons in nearby Aboyne.