When you come upon something by chance, yet it seems like it was meant to be, that’s said to be your destiny – or kismet.
Taking its name from an old Arabic word, Kismet Villa, is a rather lovely bungalow which sits above Fort William and enjoys wonderful mountain and loch views.
Owners Joanne and Gavin Allday had been toying with the idea of swapping their busy, hectic lives in the Lake District for a home in the Highlands but viewing Kismet Villa – and instantly falling in love with it and its location – made their minds up.
Destiny had played her hand.
“When I saw the house and heard it was called Kismet it felt right, like the house had been waiting for us,” said Joanne, 40.
“We had holidayed on the west coast for several years and loved it there but never thought we’d be able to find work, but there’s actually far more work here than you realise.
“I ran a marketing consultancy company in the Lake District and it was through a client that we found Kismet Villa and made the move. I got a contract with the University of the Highlands and Islands for two years so thought we’d at least try it for a couple of years. That was five years ago. Since moving here, we’ve never looked back.”
Kismet Villa sits within a quiet cul-de-sac, Hillside Estate, which as the name suggests enjoys a hillside position in the heart of Fort William. The detached modern bungalow is in excellent condition throughout, thanks to many hours of hard work put in by Joanne and her husband, Gavin, who works for Highland Council.
“The house had been empty for four years when we bought it and while it was structurally sound, it was rather unloved,” said Joanne.
“We lavished it with TLC, put in a new heating system, new kitchen and carpets, and refurbished and redecorated throughout. We spent a lot making improvements but there’s still more to do, especially in the garden which is huge.”
Joanne’s being modest – the house is in mint condition and ready to welcome new owners. The accommodation here includes a sizeable kitchen which has been fitted with a good range of floor and wall-mounted units and appliances such as a dishwasher and washer/dryer.
The living room is warming and inviting and there’s a further reception room. The main reception rooms all have large windows which fill the rooms with natural light and give stunning views of Loch Linnhe.
The bungalow also has a family bathroom and six bedrooms, three of which have en-suite shower rooms.
“We let out two of the en-suite bedrooms at the front of the house to long-term professional lodgers so they have good facilities and lovely views,” said Joanne.
“Letting out a couple of rooms has allowed us to meet some wonderful people who have enriched our lives and gone to become good friends, long after they’ve moved on.”
Outside there are large, mature gardens which are readily manageable, and off-road parking.
“Regular visitors to the garden include a great variety of birds, pine martins and deer, while the house is close to Cow Hill so you really have a wilderness on your doorstep yet you are only five minutes from the town centre. It’s amazing how quickly your stress levels drop as soon as you get here.”
Kismet Villa would make a lovely, large family home but also lends itself to offering bed and breakfast accommodation or would be suitable for someone looking for a home which they could rent out to holidaymakers.
“It was never part of the plan to leave here and we’re quite sad about it, but due to financial restructuring my job came to an end. I now work for the Cromarty Port Authority, so we’re looking to move to Inverness and would even consider doing a part-exchange with someone looking to more from Inverness to Fort William.
“We’ve loved living here and would love to see someone buying the house who loves it as much as we do,” said Joanne.”
The bungalow is on the market at offers over £235,000. A plot of land adjacent to it is open to negotiation with owners.
Contact: McEwan Fraser Legal on 01397 600 006.