Well-grounded properties with points of view

Kirsty Mcluckie discovers the attractive aspects of a trio of homes that offer plenty of garden and outdoor space

Whether you are seriously green fingered, yearn for some privacy or just more space for the kids to let off steam, to some buyers the garden is the most important aspect when considering a property.

It has been estimated that beautiful and practical outside spaces can add 20 per cent on to the value of the whole and, for some types of home, can be the most desirable part of the property.

While planning a garden from a blank canvas can be expensive and take years of hard work, fortunately there are properties on the market with outstanding grounds just waiting for a new owner to come along with deckchairs, a set of goalposts or a pair of pruning shears.

The next couple of months are when Scotland’s gardens are in full bloom, but the best designed spaces will provide yearround interest.

A sunroom or conservatory is an added bonus from which to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors all year round.

Kirklands of Coull in Aberdeenshire is a beautiful former manse, which was remodelled in 1834.

The six acres of grounds are entered through white, double wrought-iron gates that open onto an extended gravel driveway which wraps around the front and side of the house.

There is a selection of mature trees, copper beech hedging separating the front and back gardens, expanses of lawn and a variety of flowering bulbs.

At the back of the property nestles a private and secure walled garden, which is more formal, with box hedging, mature shrubs and more lawn.

A large field, currently used for grazing, is well maintained and, with stable accommodation and pasture, the grounds are suitable for equestrians or buyers who wish to keep livestock.

Demijohn Cottage, Newbridge, is close to Edinburgh but offers a beautiful garden in a rural setting.

The mid-victorian property originally dates from 1875 and was originally the gate house for the nearby Norton House.

The cottage has been extended and upgraded to give a good mix of contemporary and traditional accommodation, with four bedrooms, a sitting room and an extension, which houses a bright dining-kitchen and a sun room leading out onto a wraparound deck.

To the back is a mature and wellmaintained garden on several levels, a cellar accessed from the garden and a home office housed in a detached outbuilding to make the most of the space.

Broadwood is a wonderful detached family house situated on the western periphery of Gifford, one of East Lothian’s most sought-after and attractive villages and in easy commuting distance of the Capital.

The house dates from 1937 and has a footprint of almost 5,000sq ft with five bedrooms, three public rooms and a separate one-bedroomed annex.

The grounds of more than an acre are beautiful and most of the rooms, including the drawing room, snug and dining room, are oriented to have the best views.

The conservatory, in particular, makes the most of the private surroundings and it is wreathed in a well-established and productive vine.