The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Modern style in the country
A large country house completed around 10 years ago combines style with substance. Five large bedrooms, plenty of entertaining space and a garden that takes advantage of both sunshine and views are among its many features
The village primary school is great and the bus for Kinross High stops right outside
A private road drops down from the Parish of Portmoak, on the A911 between Milnathort and Scotlandwell.
It sweeps downhill and deposits you at Glebe House. Built a decade ago by Simon Wilson Homes, it sits on a large, well-screened plot and enjoys tremendous views over the Kinross-shire countryside.
Doug and Sam Thornton were the first people to move into the house when it was completed.
Although built from a timber frame, the house has a feature stone-clad wall that makes it look much more established than its 10 years.
It’s cleverly built into a hillside so that you enter from the upper level, which has the public rooms. You then drop down to the bedrooms on the ground floor, which look out on to the garden.
At the heart of the home is a large, country-style kitchen, which has windows on two sides and enjoys the sun all morning and afternoon.
Next door is the lounge, which has French doors on to a Juliet balcony, and beside that is the family room, again with glazed doors and Juliet balcony.
Nearly all the main rooms face south – only the dining room looks north, to the back of the house.
Most rooms benefit from the view, which sweeps across Portmoak Moss to Bishop Hill, with Loch Leven off to the right hand side.
“In winter, when the trees lose their leaves, you get an even better view of the loch,” Doug adds. “On a clear day you can almost see the Wallace Monument. And you can watch the gliders swooping around – this is a favourite spot for them.”
Portmoak Moss is a favourite place for walking the couple’s two cocker spaniels. “At this time of year you can just go straight from the bottom of the garden across the fields and into the woods,” Doug says. “Kilmagad Wood, behind the house, is also great for taking the dogs out, and Loch Leven is only a 15-minute walk away,” Sam adds.
Downstairs are five bedrooms, the master with en suite and dressing room, and an en suite guest room.
The garden slopes gently southwards into countryside and is designed with plenty of areas to enjoy the sunshine from morning to evening. There’s a hot tub, which Doug says comes into its own on crisp winter nights.
Doug, 50, and Sam, 51, have two kids aged 19 and 16, and are looking to downsize. “We’ve really enjoyed being here,” Sam explains. “It’s quiet but there’s plenty to do. You’ve got a pub a couple of hundred yards down the road, there’s a shop within walking distance, and it’s easy to get anywhere by car.
“It’s also good for schooling. The village primary school is great and the bus for Kinross High stops right outside the gate.”
Doug works as a surveyor; he was formerly Tesco’s property director and now runs a small consultancy business.
The couple are keen on a self build. “We’d like something with the character of this place but perhaps a bit more open plan,” Doug says.
“I’ve spent so many years doing projects for other people, it feels time to do one for myself.”