Perfectly connected
Country home offers ideal transport links, discovers Paul Drury
Anyone seeking Scotland’s best-connected town could do worse than alighting at Dunblane. Its geographical position and access to some of the country’s finest transport links have created something of a commuter heaven in the rolling Perthshire countryside.
The M9 starts and stops at its door, putting Glasgow and edinburgh easily within an hour’s drive. Dunblane railway station is the main connection between the north and south, offering regular trains to Perth, Inverness and Dundee as well as the Central Belt.
The city of Stirling is only seven minutes away by car or bus. Gosh, Dunblane even has a Marks & Spencer Simply Food. What more do you want?
Almost a third of commuters are attracted to Scotland because it offers the chance to live in the countryside yet work in town, a recent survey by estate agent Strutt & Parker found.
Susanna Clark, director of research for Strutt & Parker in Scotland, said: ‘our Scottish Lifestyle Survey shows not only how important a work-life balance is for our respondents, but how achievable it is in Scotland.
Although overall consumer expectations are subdued at present, quality of life and wellbeing continue to drive decision-making.’
Beechwood, a five-bedroom detached property set in picturesque countryside just outside Dunblane, would appear to tick all the commuter’s boxes.
Its location at Cromlix places it just over four miles from Dunblane station yet affords a peaceful rural lifestyle with scarcely a neighbour in sight. It even has a home office, complete with fireplace, which could allow you to work comfortably from home should the weather close in and travel face disruption.
A generous reception hall leads to the library and another fireplace. To the rear of the property a light, modern, kitchen/ breakfast room has a large oven with gas hobs, an island with breakfast bar and ample space for dining and entertaining.
next to the kitchen lies an impressive sun room, with French doors that open directly to the back garden.
Completing the downstairs accommodation is a cloakroom, two bedrooms and a large integral garage with workshop.
But a gem of a room awaits above, for the family room has a feature fireplace and three skylights which allow light to flood in.
There are two further bedrooms, plus a master bedroom with fitted wardrobes, lovely views and an attractive en suite with shower. A bright family bathroom completes the accommodation.
Kevin Maley of Strutt & Parker said there had been a significant rise in people from London moving to Scotland ‘who benefit from excellent schools and a great outdoorsy lifestyle – and commute to London a few days each week’.
Offers in the region of £635,000 to Strutt & Parker, Perth. Tel: 01738 567892; email Hamish.spencernairn@struttandparker.com