Hearing U2’s 1990s hit Even Better Than the Real Thing seemed quite fitting as I finally arrived in Braemar for the first time.
Having seen photographs of the village, I knew what it looked like – but this didn’t prepare me for just how beautiful it really is. And despite Bono’s claims, seeing a photograph was definitely not better than seeing the real thing.
I had travelled to the Royal Deeside village to meet Sandra Geddes, owner of the Auld Bank House and Bistro.
It is one of the most prominent buildings on Invercauld Road and is pretty impressive from the moment you lay your eyes on it.
Sandra and husband Iain thought that too when they found the house and business on the internet seven years ago. The couple were living in Bristol when they decided they fancied a change of scenery.
“I was a dental hygienist and Iain was working as a chef,” Sandra said. “We just decided one day that we wanted to open our own business and started looking around for what that would be.
“We had never heard of Braemar. We just came across the house and business on the internet. We just loved it straight away.”
While the house needed some work, the bistro was already established, although it had been closed for a year.
The three-bedroom C-listed house neighbours a bank and used to be the bank manager’s house. It retains many of its original features, including pitch-pine doors and skirting, sash-and-case windows and high ceilings.
The character of the house has been beautifully complemented by Sandra’s choice in interior design.
Each room has been given a modern touch while still in keeping with the building’s history.
After a tour of the house, I have to say the modern and stylish kitchen and cosy upstairs lounge with an open fire were definitely among my favourites.
And while I absolutely loved the decor of the home, it was the views from each room that really caught my eye.
Everywhere you look there is a reminder of just how beautiful that part of the world is – and whoever buys this great family home will have it all on their doorstep.
Sandra admitted that, while they weren’t looking for a project, she enjoyed putting her own stamp on the house.
“The house needed a bit done to it,” she said. “It was really just updating the decor, which I loved because I really like interior designing. We put in some new fireplaces and a new kitchen. That was quite enjoyable.”
Outside, a timber-decked balcony leads you down to private gardens with relaxing seating areas and secluded corners. A driveway leads to the garage and parking spaces.
Also included in the sale, priced at offers over £380,000, is the bistro – named The Gathering Place. The entire basement is made up of a restaurant with seating for 40 guests and there is also a kitchen, bar area and toilets.
At the moment, Sandra and Iain open the bistro from 6-9pm, four days a week, but the new owners have an opportunity to extend the hours.
If a restaurant isn’t for you, the bistro could possibly be used for a different business or transformed into a home if change of use was granted. It could also be leased out.
There are plenty more opportunities with this home. For example, planning permission was in place previously to build a two-bedroom bungalow in the grounds. While that has now lapsed, it is believed planning could be sought again.
And if that wasn’t enough, the owners of Auld Bank House get the first option to buy the bank building next door if it is sold.
“This is a beautiful house and there are plenty of opportunities here as well,” Sandra added.
“The attic is the size of the upstairs of the house. You could easily make two further bedrooms up there.”
Over the seven years of living in Braemar, the couple have grown to love the peace and quiet of living in a village.
The vast amount of space in the house is also something they have enjoyed. So why are they leaving?
“We’ve just decided the house is too big for just Iain and I,” Sandra said. “We are getting to an age as well where we would like to retire.
“We are thinking about relocating to somewhere near Edinburgh – that’s where I am from originally.
“We’ll definitely miss all the friends we have here. We’ve made lasting friendships here and, although we’ll still see them, it just won’t be the same.
“And my customers and staff, they have all been lovely over the years. I’ve got to know a lot of them. I even get Christmas cards and presents for them. There is a really lovely community here.”
Sandra said she would miss the quiet at night.
“There is no noise except for hearing the Clunie River,” she said. “It’s lovely. Even in the summer when it is really busy, it’s still peaceful.
“My dog Charlie will definitely miss it too. When we first came here, he loved it because he had so much room to run around. He’ll miss all his doggy pals too.”
Auld Bank House is close to a range of outdoor activities including salmon fishing on the River Dee. There is also the Cairngorms National Park, hillwalking and mountaineering.
Nearby there are shops, a primary school, a health centre and excellent hotels.
Contact: Aberdein Considine on 01330 824646.