The Herald - The Herald Magazine
An oasis of calm and comfort
SOME of us have to travel far to find a little oasis of calm – a pretty pond, perhaps, with wild birds and sweet-scented trees, with places to sit and relax in the summer sun.
For the owners of Castlehill Farm in Eaglesham, however, all of the above and more can be found on a stroll through their garden.
“The grounds at Castlehill are really beautiful,” explains local property expert Emily Watson. “The current owner has spent a lot of time creating them – when he and his wife and daughter bought the place, it was very overgrown and huge parts of the land were not usable.
“He has really regenerated the outdoor space, and as a big fishing fan, the trout pond was his passion.
“The land is split between two separate pastures and a stunning landscaped area, which has in the past been used as a wedding venue.
“Immediately adjacent to the property lies a man-made pond, complete with its own little island accessed by a bridge.”
Emily, of selling agents McEwan Fraser Legal, adds with a smile: “There are even
trout in the pond, and wildfowl make the occasional visit. It’s beautiful – surrounded by manicured lawns, a summer house, a large terrace and a stunning scented walkway.
“It’s the perfect spot to while away a summer afternoon.”
Castlehill Farm is an unusual property. Think attractive traditional farmhouse meets striking contemporary design, in an eyecatching blend of the old and new.
Originally a working dairy farm, today’s property is a luxury five-bedroomed detached home, encompassing a Victorian farmhouse and adjoining redeveloped farm buildings which form a U-shaped steading.
Emily adds: “In recent years, the owners have extensively renovated the property, both internally and externally, presenting a property which is a fantastic blend of period character and contemporary styling.
“They have travelled a great deal, and stayed in many modern homes in Dubai and South Africa, and those have influenced their style here.
“It’s a bricks and mortar Scottish farmhouse, but it really reflects their love of travel and contemporary design with bold colours throughout.”
Over the course of its life as a residential property, the building has expanded, Emily explains, and the focus of the public rooms has actually shifted away from the original farmhouse – they are now in what used to be the sprawling cattle byre.
The main entrance to the property, in fact, was once the stable door. From here, the large reception hallway, with its lovely carved wooden fireplace and log burner, gives access to the principal public rooms.
The contemporary, “all mod cons” kitchen was custom designed to be a blend of professional quality cooking area at one end and continental coffee and juice bar at the other.
Finished to the highest standard with contemporary units and textured stone works surfaces, the kitchen also has an attached utility room with plenty of storage and work surface space, alongside a washing machine and tumble dryer.
The main open plan drawing room and dining room area is lovely, all exposed stone walls and ceiling joists, with plenty of space and light. There is a large fireplace in the drawing room, which has great views over the terrace and gardens from a large picture window, while the dining area has French doors leading through to a large conservatory which has been entirely rebuilt in recent years.
“The current owners have thoughtfully redesigned the conservatory to make full use of the original stone walls and its panoramic views,” adds Emily.
Also on the ground floor, the master bedroom suite is a beautiful room with walkin wardrobe, en-suite complete with Jacuzzi and walk-in shower, and French doors on to the terrace.
From the kitchen, you can access the original Victorian farmhouse (which also has a door into the central courtyard). Here there are four large double bedrooms and two bathrooms over two floors. Many original features remain, including ornate coving and ceiling roses.
The complete steading also now contains a double garage, stables and an attached, two double bedroomed cottage. This is a self-contained property, with open plan kitchen, bathroom with shower and separate WC – ideal for extended family, guests or a short-term let.
Castlehill Farm sits in around 10 acres of land in Eaglesham, off the Humbie Road, private and partially secluded behind a bank of mature trees.
“It’s a great location, and very handy for commuting both east and west,” says Emily.
“All in all, this is a simply magnificent property and a fantastic family home.
“There is also plenty of untapped commercial potential thanks to the associated land and the attached cottage, which has separate services. These would make a fantastic short-term rental or staff accommodation for a livery business.”