Victorian splendour
Mansion with a modern twist makes most of its setting, says Paul Drury
SITTING regally on a hilltop, this eight-bedroom Victorian mansion is in a truly breathtaking location and makes the most of its surroundings by dragging them indoors. Paintings are somehow superfluous in the drawing room. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out to Ben Venue, a 2,392ft peak that belies its name in Gaelic, ‘the miniature mountain’.
The kitchen by Sculleries of Stockbridge is elegance itself but serves best as a viewing gallery for the beauty of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
And the master bedroom, which takes up the entire second floor, allows you lounge in your roll-top bath while soaking up the views of Loch Achray, Ben Venue and Ben A’an.
Michael Jones, of selling agent Knight Frank, said: ‘The highlight of Glenbruach is not an individual room but the views it offers from all of its principal apartments.
‘From its elevated position, looking down on the loch, the views are simply stunning.’
The idyllic spot was chosen by the Dunsmures, who built Glenbruach as their family home in 1875, just a mile from the small village of Brig O’Turk in Stirlingshire.
This was a time when Victorian businessmen from Scotland’s major cities were ‘discovering’ the natural beauty of the area.
Glenbruach has gone through various incarnations in the intervening years and served as a home for the elderly and, more recently, as an upmarket B&B welcoming tourists from all over the world.
Its current owners decided Glenbruach required to be dragged into the 21st century – and what a job they made of it.
The Dunsmure family would not recognise what is now the cinema room, with high-definition screen, surround-sound system, Apple TV and iPad control. Tiered seating guarantees a good view even from the back of the room.
There is a Sonos sound system in the four main reception rooms and wi-fi throughout the house.
On the first floor, there are seven individually designed bedrooms, all with en suite shower rooms or bathrooms designed and supplied by Porcelanosa.
One floor up, the extensive master bedroom includes its own sitting area, which is accessed by a private staircase.
The en suite’s cast iron roll-top bath and shower have been positioned to make the most of majestic views of the hills and lochs.
Glenbruach also comes with a single-storey gate lodge, a two-bedroom flat and a bothy which has planning permission for conversion to a one-bedroom house.
With the decline in the value of the pound, Knight Frank believes the house will appeal to an international investor. It’s not cheap – but at least the views are free.
Offers over £1.95million to Michael Jones of Knight Frank. Telephone 0131 222 9600.