It’s not every day that you can practise putting in your back garden followed by a spot of badminton, unless you happen to live at Ranworth in the lovely town of Banchory.
This beautiful five-bedroom home at Burnett Park East is owned by golf fanatic David Mitchell, who has 14 years of very happy memories living here.
The 72-year-old drilling consultant is hoping to downsize since his wife, Edna, passed away several years ago.
He isn’t sad to be leaving, however, and believes a young family will breathe new life into the place.
“We’ve had enormous fun here over the years,” said David.
“My four grandchildren all live in the States but when they visit every summer it’s pretty busy.
“I’ve already bought a small place round the corner; I couldn’t bear to go too far, and like many people, I’ve fallen in love with Banchory.”
Ranworth is tucked away down a private road.
A key feature is the stunning porch which was designed by an architect and added on after David and Edna moved in.
Spacious and with a sloping pine ceiling, the porch leads to an L-shaped hallway where there is an open staircase.
The lounge/family room is the heart of the home, and provides the ideal spot for any new owner to throw a housewarming party.
This room overlooks the garden and is south facing with windows and doors running the full length of the room.
There is a cast-iron multi-fuel stove set on a slate hearth, perfect for winter nights.
“It heats the whole house and can also heat the water if needed,” said David.
“In the summer, we open the double doors then sit in here with a coffee.”
The kitchen has an extensive range of units and appliances including a double oven and combined grill.
A charming archway leads to the dining room which will be ideal for more formal occasions.
There is also a lovely sitting room.
Three bedrooms can be found downstairs, one of which has an en suite bathroom and there is a further guest bathroom.
“Partly the reason why we bought the house is because there was the option of having bedrooms downstairs, that really appealed to us as we grew older,” said David.
“There was plenty of room for family to stay and the master bedroom overlooks the garden.
“This house has been very versatile which is just what we needed.”
There is a beautiful open staircase leading to the first floor, and upstairs has been completely renovated.
“When we moved in, there was just a massive room and a pool table upstairs; we wanted more living space so we split it up into several rooms,” said David.
“It worked really well for us and I love having my office upstairs.”
The office could easily be converted into a bedroom and a further bedroom enjoys panoramic views of the garden.
There is a shower room, large dressing room and storage area – with scope for more renovation.
Head outside for the icing on the cake – particularly if you’re a sports enthusiast.
A contoured astroturf putting green is perfect for those who enjoy a round.
There is a brilliant built-in barbecue, ideal for alfresco dining, alongside a lovely summerhouse and veranda.
“We’ve had so many barbecues here with the grandchildren tearing around the garden, and there’s been a fair few games of badminton and football,” said David.
“It’s a lovely garden and we’ve put a lot of work into it over the years.”
There are extensive lawns with patio areas, two sheds and a coal bunker.
There is plenty of parking on the driveway alongside a double garage and workshop.
The town centre is only a short walk away where there are plenty of local amenities, not forgetting a golf course and further golfing facilities in Inchmarlo.
Aberdeen is only a 40-minute drive away.
“I’m not sad to go because we honestly had a wonderful time here,” said David.
“What I really want to see is a new family having just as much enjoyment.”
Offers should be made in the region of more than £625,000.Contact Gray & Connochie on 01224 649101.