Muirside Steading, Brodie, Forres, Moray, IV36 2TE

Property Summary

Do you dream of escaping to the countryside, having your own land, being able to view the Northern Lights from your living room, having virtually immediate access into thousands of acres of managed woodland, yet being within a few minutes of most amenities? Do you imagine your children being able to have the sort of childhood where they can play in the woods and fields by themselves, or cycle to a lovely village school through a National Trust estate and then down a quiet road? If so, then Muirside Steading may be the property that can fulfil your dreams.

It is so incredibly rare for a property like this, with a modern (2016) three/four-bedroom detached house, large outbuildings and 7 acres of land, to come available for purchase.

Currently an established equestrian property, Muirside Steading would be equally suited for any type of livestock, woodland or as a productive smallholding. The seven acres of reasonably level fenced pasture, and various outbuildings, including a virtually new 45ft x 45ft steel barn (2019) provide substantial and secure living space for livestock immediately adjacent to the homestead. Built to a high standard in 2016 by Macgillvray Construction, a master builder, Muirside Steading offers three/four bedrooms, two bathrooms, spacious open plan living/dining/kitchen, a mezzanine living space/Bed 4 and a utility room. With large windows throughout, this house is a beautifully bright home, with wonderful views from every window. The floor-to-ceiling gable end windows provide views of the Northern Lights in the winter and allow light to stream in, in the summer. The slate and wooden floors, with underfloor heating, provided by the air source heat pumps, on the ground floor, and radiators on the upper floor make this a comfortable, and easy to maintain, home.

Outdoor opportunities abound for all ages and interests. Just minutes’ walk away are the approx. 7,000 acres of Culbin forest; ideal for cycling, running and walking, and the National Trust estate of Brodie Castle, with its frequent events, café and adventure playpark. Golfing is available both in Forres and on the two championship courses in Nairn approximately 5 miles away. Watersports including sailing and paddleboarding are available in the beautiful coastal village of Findhorn just 8 miles away. Skiing is available in the Cairngorms approximately 30 miles away.

The local primary school is Dyke Primary School, listed in Tatler (2017) as one of the top ten state primary schools in the UK, with secondary education being provided in Forres. The prestigious private school, Gordonstoun, is a mere xx miles away, with daily transportation available from Forres.

Surrounded by other properties with acreage, many with horses, from an equestrian point of view, this property offers just about the closest thing to horse heaven that you could hope for. The hacking is amazing, with access into Culbin enabling riding on quiet tracks for hours without crossing the same path twice.  Both affiliated and unaffiliated show jumping and dressage competitions and training opportunities are held within a few miles, and miles of white sand beaches to gallop on are just 15 minutes away.

A key differentiator for Muirisde, is the ability to access the A96, just 0.7miles away, providing a direct link between Aberdeen and Inverness. Inverness International airport at Dalcross is only 20 miles away and provides daily flights to London and continental Europe, with Aberdeen airport, only 76 miles away. There are reliable train links from Forres and Nairn to either city, with further train links to the South.

The House

Built in 2016 by MacGillvray Construction to a design by Grant & Geoghan, Muirside Steading was built to an exceptionally high standard. It encapsulates the need to have a home that is functionally suitable for living in the country, with oak doors, and hardwood and slate floors throughout, yet well insulated and comfortable. Specifically designed to maximise both the views and light, the windows in every room provide a picture across fields and woods.

ACCOMMODATION

Vestibule (2.2m x 2.1m)

A bright spacious vestibule with ample room for shoes and outdoor coats, a large Velux windows in the coomb ceiling provides light streaming to this handy room. A slate floor makes for easy cleaning. Door to utility room.

Utility room (2.1m x 2.0m)

A handy utility room housing the air source heat pump boiler and providing a countertop with space for a tumble dryer and plumbed for a washing machine. A single sink, with drainer and mixer tap, sits beneath a window looking to side garden. A second window and large Velux window make this a bright room.

An L shaped hallway provides access to all ground floor accommodation and stairs to the upper floor.

Dining/sitting/Kitchen (9.7m x 5.5m)


An expansive triple aspect, open plan room with a patio door opening to the garden and floor to ceiling windows on the gable end. Four large Velux windows in the coomb ceilings above the seating area allow light to stream in, and a wood burning stove, set on a Caithness slate hearth with a rustic wooden mantel piece, provides a lovely feature to the room. The dining area has ample space to accommodate a table to seat 8. The kitchen areas is bright and modern with an integrated fridge freezer, dishwasher, extractor fan and space for a 1.10m free standing range cooker. A square basin, with mixer taps, sits beneath a horizontal picture window looking out over the fields towards the woods beyond. The wooden countertop contrast beautifully with the dark grey slate tiled floor. Curtains and curtain poles.

Bedroom 1 (3.9m x 3m)

A lovely ground floor double bedroom with wooden floors and a floor to ceiling window that opens as a door to the garden.

Bedroom 2 (3.5m x 5.3m)

An incredibly bright triple aspect bedroom with floor to ceiling windows that also open as doors, facing west and east. Further windows span the width of the room, facing south. Wooden floors.

Bathroom (2.0m x 2.9m)

A light family bathroom with angled ceilings inset with a large Velux window. Two further windows face east and south. Containing a white 3-piece suite comprising WC with hidden cistern, modern rectangular basin inset to bathroom cabinets, and bath with mixer taps and hand shower attachment. A square corner shower houses a rainfall shower with separate hand attachment.

In the hall a large understairs storage cupboard with ample space for storing coats, ironing board, vacuum etc, double as the plant room, housing the hot water tank and providing access to pipes, the electricity consumer unit and the phone point.

U shaped carpeted stairs lead to the upper floor.

Master suite

A wonderfully private master suite with an ante room, bathroom and spacious bedroom. The ante room has ample space for storage, hanging clothes or a chest of drawers with a doorway leading to the upper bedroom.

Upper bedroom (3.9m x 3.5m)

A lovely bright dual aspect double bedroom. The angled ceilings contribute to the cottage ambience. The views are tranquil looking out to the horses grazing peacefully and lambs careering around the fields. To the other side watch the seasons change as the crops are sown and harvested. Carpet.

Ensuite (2.2m x 2.6m) (at widest)

An ample bathroom containing a three-piece white suite comprising WC, with hidden cistern, a modern rectangular basin inset to bathroom cabinets, and a bath with rectangular mixer tap and hand shower attachment. With wood effect vinyl flooring and black speckled backsplash to the bath and sink area, the contrast with the white walls is striking.

Bedroom 4/Study/Mezzanine sitting (3.6m x 3.9m) (at widest)

This lovely mezzanine area, with a glass balustrade, overlooking the open plan living, could be utilised for a multitude of purposes. Currently used as a 4^th bedroom it would be equally suited as  study, playroom, snug or TV area separate from the living room.

Garden and Grounds

Immediately surrounding the house is a large, manicured area of lawn with a circular driveway, stone chip parking area and patio area of lockblock to the front. Immediately next to the garden area are several outbuildings. A large Knapp agricultural barn measuring (30ft x 45ft) with a concrete base, and 15ft wooden hayshed, was constructed in 2019. The barn could suit a multitude of purposes including storage of agricultural machinery, a large workshop/garage or further development into stables and tack room. A 30ft storage container painted green has been developed into a forging workshop and extended providing yet another secure watertight storage space with a concrete floor. The overall acreage of the property extends to approximately 7 acres and is sub divided into multiple paddocks to enable rotational grazing or separation of animals. Various run-in shelters. An original Dutch barn, as yet undeveloped, measures approximately 60ft x 15ft with a steel roof this also may have the potential to be further developed into stables of further storage.

The village of Brodie lies equidistant between Forres and Nairn, approximately 5 miles from each. Schooling, shops and health services are available in both, with the beautiful beaches of the Moray Coast lying within a few miles.

Please note that areas and dimensions are provided as a guide only and may be approximate.