THE VOICE OF PROPERTY

MOST people if asked to guess the location of Scotland’s most expensive street, would say Edinburgh. But while a recent report by Bank of Scotland reveals the

Scottish capital has eight of the top 10 most expensive streets and 12 of the top 20, pole position goes to Golf Place in St Andrews with an average house price of £1.975m.

Golf Place and The Scores are the gateway to the Old Course and virtually every property in this locale exceeds £1m. It also houses the Hamilton Grand development, which has metamorphosed from an illustrious hotel retreat more than a century ago to the most luxurious apartments in Scotland – Savills reports the average price paid for one last year was £1.85m.

Although St Andrews is the exception, property consultancy Galbraith says sales elsewhere in Fife also soared in 2018, resulting in a 12 per cent uplift in volumes for the firm’s Cupar office. The average price of property in Fife sold by the firm in 2018 was £436,000, up from £402,000 in 2017.

Partner George Lorimer, comments: “Fife is perfectly sandwiched between Dundee, St Andrews and Edinburgh and strong demand for property in these areas has extended throughout the whole region. The opening of the V&A Dundee has captured national and international attention and created a huge buzz – people really want to live in Dundee; it’s a thriving city on the up.”

He adds: “Fife has the natural attractions of a wonderful coastline, beautiful countryside and some of the best golf courses in Scotland at St Andrews, Kingsbarns, Crail and Ladybank with Carnoustie also nearby. Property to the north of the Forth is very attractively priced compared to the Edinburgh market and the East Neuk area is also perennially popular, with Elie, Crail, Anstruther and Pittenweem all offering historic properties with attractive architecture.”

PILE IN TO SAVE CASTLE

LAST year I reported a buyer had been found to rescue Baltersan

Castle near Maybole in Ayrshire. Unfortunately the buyer pulled out but the castle’s owner has continued his mission to try to save this historic pile. He – in partnership with an Italian musician and a film director – may now be a step closer.

The plan is to set up a charitable trust and seek

crowd-funding to reinstate the building as a music school with masterclasses by internationally-recognised musicians.

Find out more at a public meeting on February 5 at the Carrick Centre.

NOWADAYS Newton Mearns is known as an affluent residential suburb on the south side of Glasgow, close to open countryside and good commuter links to the city and Ayrshire.

Houses mainly date from the 1930s, although there are a few historic buildings. The present Mearns Kirk dates from 1813 and would have originally been within the confines of Mearns Kirk. The Kirkhouse is a handsome B-listed late Georgian house (possibly the oldest in the area) built circa 1835 reputedly for a bishop.

Converted to form two properties in the

1970s, the Upper Kirkhouse is a remarkably spacious 2,306 sq ft home spanning the first and attic levels. Inside, the modern interior combines the charm, character and features that come from age – as well as three ensuite bedrooms – to more than meet the demands of 21st century family lifestyles.

A private entrance hall and staircase at ground level leads up to the first floor accommodation – spacious drawing room, adjoining family room, 23ft dining kitchen, cloakroom and double en-suite bedroom. The attic level houses two large bedrooms with lovely views. The established private

NEWLY on the market for those who are up for a challenge is a five bedroomed detached farmhouse in the village of Drumnadrochit on the western shore of Loch Ness, 14 miles or so from Inverness. The village is home to Nessieland, amongst other things, which makes it an essential tourist attraction and strengthens this property’s potential as a home and/or guesthouse or B&B business.

The accommodation comprises ground floor living room, dining room, dining kitchen, utility, bathroom and bedroom. The kitchen/diner incorporates stairs up to a further bedroom, while the main staircase in the hall leads to three further bedrooms and a shower room on the upper level. There is also a large garden surrounding the house.

This property is in need of extensive renovation and modernising – but then it is over 500 years old. Given the location, stunning views and abundance of local amenities it could be a worthwhile investment. Offers over £175,000 to Home Sweet Home in Inverness.

As a general rule, though, larger herbs such as sage, Salvia officinalis, and bay, Laurus nobilis, need richer soil and more space so use bigger pots than is often recommended. Sage ultimately needs a 15-20 litre container and my bay is so large that a 43 litre one is essential.

This also applies to most soft fruit. I found low-growing, self-supporting raspberry Ruby Beauty just survived in a tiny 10 litre container while thriving in one twice the size. To succeed with tiny pots, you would have to douse them with obscene amounts of fertiliser.

Blueberries cope with 15 litre pots for a couple of years. My old-fashioned variety, Rubel, is crammed with antioxidants in smaller than usual fruits. But

RARE FIND: Upper Kirkhouse is in a league of its own in the modern surrounds of Newton Mearns.