Outlandishly pretty
Historic home seen in hit TV show is cosy, comfy and bathed in light
THERE is one unusual accessory you should keep beside you when you draw a bath in this quaint country property – a pair of sunglasses. The bathroom at Young’s House in Falkland, Fife, is on the top floor and illuminated by three windows on the roof that drench the space in light.
With what could be viewed as an extra hour of daylight in store today, goodness knows what the UV levels will be like in this room this afternoon.
Young’s House has also become accustomed to a ‘lights, camera, action’ showbiz routine.
Its frontage featured in the first episode of hit TV time-travel drama Outlander, when Falkland doubled as the city of Inverness.
The show’s Scots star Sam Heughan, who plays Jacobite hero Jamie Fraser, and Caitríona Balfe, who plays his love interest Claire Randall, are regularly spotted in the village during filming.
Falkland is a pretty and ancient place. It is most famous for its palace, inspired by French chateaux, and its former royal resident Mary, Queen of Scots.
The village’s main square is graced with the imposing Bruce Fountain, which was a gift in 1856 from a former laird and benefactor, Tyndall Bruce.
Originally known as Bayne’s House, Young’s House dates from 1776. The white-harled frontage with sash and case windows will have changed little since then and the home is part of a historical row of properties.
It sits back nicely from the pavement at West Port, with a small front garden and a bench for whiling away the time.
The double front door opens straight into the spacious sitting room, so there is no need to enter a chilly hallway. Warmth is provided by a burner which sits within an enormous stone fireplace, probably big enough to have once been used as a cooking area.
Conveniently, the under-stair cupboard has been converted into a WC, saving you a climb to the top of the house.
The B-listed building was substantially renovated in 2009, with a view to letting it out as holiday accommodation, and upgraded again in 2012 when it became the owner’s full-time residence.
The dining kitchen makes good use of the available space, with all the appliances you need at hand for cooking and washing.
There is a lovely view from the kitchen to the rear garden, which has a handy shed at the back.
Two good-sized bedrooms can be found on the first floor, the larger of which has space to add an en suite, if required.
The smaller room is sufficiently big to double as a home office and offers pleasant views again to the back garden.
That aforementioned bright main bathroom is a pretty large affair for the size of the property, with a double-size bath in the centre of the room, a shower cabinet, and a wash basin pedestal with twin sinks. There is also a linen cupboard, which houses the large hot water tank and boiler.
Each of the three roof windows has a pull-down shade – but how effective these are in blocking out the light is anyone’s guess.
To paraphrase the lyrics from Timbuk 3’s hit, in Young’s House, the bathroom’s so bright, you ‘gotta wear shades’.