Where grand plans come to fruition

FROM the sweeping tree-lined driveway and stunning Georgian façade, to the row of servants’ bells, Ayton House is full of reminders of days gone by.

But the grand exterior and historic detail of the place hide a stylish, comfortable family home.

Current owners Sir Roger Gifford and his wife Clare, who have six children between them, have loved living in the Perthshire property over the years.

“It has always been a family home,” explains Clare. “Roger moved here in 1992, to be closer to his parents and his home city of St Andrews.

“He had always spent a lot of time in this part of the country and it felt like home.

“We have such a big family, and everyone tends to gravitate to Ayton House – it’s always full at Christmas and in the summer.”

Ayton House is a stunning property, situated in around 12 acres of lawns and majestic trees near the Perthshire village of Aberargie.

“It is a very elegant house,” agrees Clare. “It still takes my breath away whenever I see it for the first time on my way up the driveway, with those magnificent trees, and the beautiful views.”

The couple are moving on, because – as Clare explains – “our children are not children any more, the youngest is 22 and they have all moved on to university or work, with lives and families of their own.”

She adds: “It’s a very big house for just the two of us, and we have become quite Londoncentric with work so we have decided to sell.”

Built on the site of a Roman watchtower, Ayton House is an exceptional Georgian mansion (with an earlier wing dating to Jacobean times, and later additions by the architect Robert Lorimer).

It is a magnificent mansion, with five main reception rooms, 13 bedrooms, and 10 bath and shower rooms.

The impressive entranceway leads to a lovely reception hall, and an inner hallway with its stunning stone staircase.

The kitchen is large and welcoming, complete with an Aga, a bay window overlooking the front gardens and ample space for dining and relaxing.

To the rear lie a scullery, laundry and pantry, and a corridor leading to the large billiards room. The ground floor also includes a number of further stores, wine cellar and boot room.

The principal and rather grand reception rooms are located on the first floor, including an elegant dining room, a stylish drawing room and the Lorimer-designed library/study.

There is also a butler’s pantry and small kitchen. At this level, in two separate wings, are five bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The main staircase continues to the second floor where there are four bedroom suites, each with its own en-suite bathroom. A further four bedrooms and two bath/shower rooms complete the upper level.

“My favourite place in which to curl up with a book is the drawing room,” says Clare. “Although it is a grand house, it can feel very cosy too. Because the heart of it is Georgian, it has wonderfully high ceilings and beautiful windows which let in so much light.

“The kitchen is a big social hub, there are always lots of people hanging around there.”

She smiles: “The servants’ bells don’t work, sadly, but there is a huge bell in the rear courtyard, which still works, if you fancy pulling the rope and making it sound.”

Outside, there is a historic lime tree avenue, a hard tennis court in need of some surface attention and a paddock, plus a large fourvehicle garage and a newly renovated two bedroom cottage.

Around 88 acres of mixed commercial woodland are available as a separate lot.

Ayton House is in a fantastic location, with

Although the house is large, many spaces offer cosy corners for reading a good book