WHAT A BUTE
Sherbrooke House on the Cowal peninsula has great views, and it’s a bit of a looker itself
A stunning house overlooking the Kyles of Bute.
THE views from Sherbrooke House in Tighnabruaich must be some of the most beautiful in Scotland.
Breathtaking outlooks over the Kyles of Bute, with its sparkling blue water dotted with yachts and where seals, basking sharks and even the occasional whale can be spotted, abound from the 19th Century villa.
And Sherbrooke itself equals any of its stunning views.
Built in 1879, the eight-bedroom house is set in an acre of mature gardens and the interior blends period features with contemporary style.
The sale also includes an adjoining cottage, which can be used as an extension to the main property or as separate accommodation.
Owner Alison Stewart bought the property 15 years ago.
“It was a holiday home at first, as we were living in Cambridge, and we didn’t get here too often,” she explained.
“When we moved to Edinburgh 10 years ago it was used much more.
“Then five years ago we came full-time when our younger daughter left school.
“Before the previous owners bought it, the house had been really neglected.
“But they renovated the ground and first floors, although they didn’t do anything to the attic floor or cottage, where the servants would once have lived.”
Alison put in a new kitchen and shower room in the cottage, rewired it, and replaced the kitchen and bathroom in the main house, among other things.
The house is entered via a vestibule that leads to a magnificent reception hall with ornate cornicing and pine flooring. The drawing room has an open fireplace and triple windows, while integrated appliances give the kitchen a modern feel. A pine staircase leads to the first floor and the four double bedrooms (one en suite) and family bathroom, while the second floor has two more double bedrooms, a store room and shower room.
There are two more bedrooms in the cottage.
Alison continued: “My favourite part of the house is our big family room.
“The views are so beautiful over the water and it’s light in the summer here until about 11.30pm, so we’ll sit and watch the yachts come in.
“The house is quite high, so we get the sun late in the day, too.
“We’ve done a lot of work in the garden and created a flower bed that we can see from that room.”
She added: “My husband is 12 years older than I am and three of the four children are in the south of England, so we feel we have to move closer to them. We don’t want to become a nuisance living so far away.
“It will break our hearts to leave, but the time has come to hand it on to someone who can love it as much as we do.”
Sherbrooke House is on the market with Bell Ingram for offers over £620,000.