In Scotland, it’s not hard to stumble upon a splendid view, but finding a home wrapped in some of the country’s best scenery is nowhere near as easy.
Enter Gateside House, a four-bedroom home in Lumphanan overlooking the north-east’s most talked-of beauty spot, Bennachie.
Walking along its loosely pebbled pathway, the approach to the detached property is akin to walking inside a fairytale.
Among the cobbles are islands of grass, on which sits an ivory patio bench where it would be easy to spend hours admiring the tranquil backdrop.
Inside the well-kept abode, interiors are in keeping with its setting. The atmospheric sitting room boasts a traditional wood burner and is styled in warm, neutral tones which echo throughout the home.
The country-cottage-style kitchen, which is also on the ground floor, is lined with cream units with wooden worktops, features a green Aga cooking point and a Fired Earth slate floor.
It has ample room for family dining and benefits from natural light which seeps through a wide panelled window with a deep ledge.
The bedroom count makes the home ideal for a family. There is one bedroom on the ground floor, accessed from the garden room, and it has potential to be a study or office if required.
There are a further two double bedrooms and one single on the first floor, each of which overlooks the surrounding countryside, and, acting as a storage area for coats and shoes, the cloakroom on the first floor helps save precious wardrobe space.
Outside the home, the mixed garden features stretches of lawn, herbaceous borders, rocks, mature trees and shrubs. The outside terrace which is adjacent to the garden room, sheltered by a stone wall with granite steps leading to the lawn, is perfect for outside dining and summer barbecues.
For those who like to treat themselves in home-grown produce, there’s a large vegetable patch at the south of the private grounds.
Its location in Aberdeenshire is an area many would dream to live in. It offers a high quality of life, a beautiful coastline and plenty to do on the weekends, with opportunities for fishing, ski-ing and nature spotting.
Close by in Lumphanan there is a grocery shop and primary school and secondary education is available in Aboyne, where residents can make use of the town’s active community which provides shops, a supermarket, banks, hotel and restaurants.
Contact Strutt & Parker on 01330 824888.