Come in from the cold to a warm welcome

A wood burning stove is the ultimate accessory for a characterful house, finds Kirsty Mcluckie

It may only be the first week of September but the nights are drawing in and the trees are beginning to be tinged with russet.

The start of Autumn also traditionally kicks off the second busiest time in the year for buying and selling property.

But whereas in the Spring buyers might be tempted by glorious gardens in bloom, light-filled interiors and outside eating areas, at this time of year, thoughts turn to cosy evenings spent indoors.

If a home possesses charm and a hint of quirkiness so much the better, and modern insulation, glazing and central heating means older properties, if fully renovated, can offer a comfortable warm haven to wait for winter.

A wood-burning stove in pride of place creates the best kind of welcome for viewers.

Number two, Kirkhill House in Broxburn is a one-bedroomed B listed building, dating from 1590 that has been fully renovated and upgraded to create a unique and beautiful home, oozing charm.

The terraced house is over three floors plus it has an attic room.

It is in a glorious setting with a private south-facing garden overlooking adjoining grounds and beyond to attractive open countryside.

When the current owner bought it in 2005 it had three bedrooms, but the rooms were small, dated and lacked insulation.

It has since been stripped back to the bare walls and the rooms rebuilt, creating a much better living space with attractive exposed stone work.

During the work, the original fireplaces were found and wood-burning stoves were installed in the kitchen, living room and bedroom.

The addition of modern insulation means that it is now a cosy home, with plenty of period charm, in a quiet location, close to the city.

Easter Balmachreuchie is an enchanting traditional cottage with superb views of Strathardle, three miles from Bridge of Cally in Perthshire.

The front porch opens into an extensive vaulted open-plan sitting and dining area with a wood-burning stove set in a stone fireplace. Bi-fold doors lead from the sitting room out to a decked patio.

Stairs lead up to a mezzanine level, currently used as a study, but suitable as a snug or guest accommodation.

The garden is a particular feature of the property being filled with colourful and interesting plants and shrubs, and it is enclosed by an old stone wall and a mature beech hedge, attracting a variety of wildlife.

Willies Mill is a more substantial country property with a literary connection. The historic mill house in Ayrshire has been extended and modernised into a very attractive, characterful family home.

It sits in just over four acres of grounds, which are divided into landscaped gardens and paddocks, with stabling and outbuildings.

Willies Mill has strong Burns connections as the former owner, the eponymous William Muir, featured in Burn’s poem Death and Doctor Hornbrook and was also a close friend.

He took in Jean Armour when she discovered that she was pregnant to Robert Burns for the second time.

All of which makes Willie’s Mill’s comfortable sitting room, with wood burning stove, the perfect spot to while away an Autumn evening with the Bard.