A view fit for a Queen

Gazing across the Forth to East Lothian, a North Queensferry property sits in a fine elevated position and is perfect for Edinburgh commuters. Jack McKeown finds a house full of warmth and charm

Perched on a hillside high above the Forth, TighNa-Mara has sweeping views across the water to Edinburgh and East Lothian. “At Hogmanay or during the Festival when the Tattoo is on we come up here and watch the fireworks,” says owner Sandy Mitchell.

We’re standing in the attic, one of the finest spaces in a house full of surprises.

This room was created when the original flat roof of the house failed.

Faced with a £30,000 quote for replacement, Sandy decided to put the money towards an extension.

Instead of a flat roof, he had an apex roof put in, complete with a sweeping section of glass looking out to the estuary and french doors that open on to a rooftop deck with dining table and chairs overlooking the back garden.

Two floored and lined side rooms at either end of the attic extension are ripe for development by anyone who purchases the house.

“We originally intended to make this our master bedroom,” Sandy confides, “But by the time we’d done the rest of the house and this we’d run out of steam a bit – we’re not young anymore – so it’s been used as a home office.”

The house, on Ferryhills Road in North Queensferry, dates to around 1910.

With five reception rooms, five bedrooms – three en suite – a home office and four-car garage it’s big enough for all but the very largest families.

Electric gates open to a parking area and stone steps lead to a charming portico with brick archways which forms the entrance to the house.

There is a formal drawing room and dining room, but the warm heart of the house is at the back, where there is a living room, dining kitchen and conservatory opening out to the secluded west-facing garden.

The living room has a wood burning stove with a back boiler that heats radiators in several of the rooms, allowing the Mitchells to keep the gas central heating switched off much of the year.

While the downstairs rooms have a pleasant outlook it is the first and second floors that enjoy the full breathtaking views.

The master bedroom has a table and chairs in the bay window and Sandy