Saddle up for a conversion to a really stable home life
Former farm steading has sea views to die for, a stylish interior – and your very own paddock
THE detached sandstone house was named after the building’s previous use as part of a farm steading. The 2004 conversion has its own stables and paddocks, but the links to matters equestrian do not end there.
From a galleried landing on the upper floor, you can enjoy spectacular views over Lunan Bay in Angus, a three-mile stretch of sand that’s popular with… horse riders.
‘Horse owners can be an obsessive lot,’ said owner Neil MacAlpine, who keeps four of the animals on his property.
‘Often you have to drive several miles to a field to feed them, but the great thing here is that they are right on your doorstep.
‘Two of our horses are a bit complicated, with special dietary requirements, so it’s great that they are so handy.’
The selling agent, Savills, insists you don’t have to love the gee-gees to be interested in The Stables – but it helps.
Situated at Mountboy, six miles south of Montrose, The Stables is one of four properties which emerged from a farm conversion ten years ago.
The developer who carried out the work chose to live in The Stables after the job was completed, which says everything about the quality of the work.
Large windows allow the property to become flooded with light.
Though it is a sizeable home, the thick walls ensure that once the place is warmed up by the oil-fired central heating system, it retains the heat.
There’s an attractive, open fireplace in the downstairs sitting room and a brilliant Rangemaster Elan cooker in the kitchen, complete with two ovens, a grill, griddle and five-ring gas hob.
Fans of traditional touches will also appreciate the porcelain Belfast sink and the wall and floor units created from oak.
Linked to the kitchen is the airy, open-plan dining room that could easily become the centre of the household activity. From here there are French doors to the garden, which stretches to two acres.
But it’s upstairs in The Stables where you will find the most imaginative use of space. Anywhere else, it would be considered a simple landing.
But the installation of a giant window affords spectacular views over Lunan Bay towards the North Sea and turns a mere upper hallway into a stunning viewing gallery.
Lunan Bay is recognised as one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland, where the traditional fishing method of hanging nets on poles dug into the sand to trap fish as the tide recedes is still practised.
Oh, and did I mention the horses? And surfers? And bird watchers? Well, Lunan Bay has the lot.
Look the other way and you’ll enjoy lovely views to the Sidlaws, the range of volcanic hills near Dundee.
Neil MacAlpine and his wife Catherine Thearle want to move to the City of Discovery, where Catherine works and their two teenage children attend school.
The new owner of The Stables will find more than enough space for a growing family. In addition to the gallery on the landing, the upstairs contains a master bedroom with feature beams, a walk-in dressing room and an en suite shower room.
There’s a Jacuzzi-style double bath in the bathroom and three further bedrooms. Outside, the extensive garden has a summer house, which boasts its own WC and raised decking, making it perfect for barbecues. At the foot of the garden is a stable block, with two large loose boxes with rubber flooring, automatic drinking troughs and a tack room.
See… I told you you can’t get away from the horses at The Stables.