For many years, Insch and Inverurie have been the heavyweights in the greater Gairoch area for families looking to relocate.
But there is one village nestled in between them that is putting up a good fight for the crown.
Oyne is a small village which lies at the foot of Bennachie and is bursting with charm, character and peace and quiet.
Located just eight miles from Inverurie and three miles from Insch – and a 30-minute drive to Aberdeen – it also has a range of amenities close by.
The quaint area certainly won the hearts of Stuart and Suzanne Lee who decided to build their “forever home” there 10 years ago.
An Aberdeenshire man born and bred, Stuart said he “wouldn’t live anywhere else” other than the Garioch.
At the time, the couple were living in a bungalow in Inverurie but decided it was time to go to pastures new in the hope of finding more space.
Stewart, 47, said: “We were looking at both plots and houses at the time when we came across this development in Berryhill Park in Oyne.
“We had to jump at it really because a lot of the plots in the cul-de-sac were already taken, it was very popular. Lots of the plots we had looked at, and even now, were pretty small, so this was really special. Buying this house was a no-brainer.”
Stuart and Suzanne, who live with their children, Harrison, 9, and Sienna, 6, bought the plot with planning permission, meaning the exterior of the house was already decided on. But it also meant they could have total control over what happened on the inside.
Working with local builder Michael Redford, they created the stunning and stylish four-bedroom detached home, Shannoch View.
Stuart said the process was something he “absolutely loved” and the family has enjoyed the finished product.
And they should be very proud of what they have created – a stunning but very practical home that all the family can enjoy.
From the moment I stepped through the door, I was instantly impressed at the space and flow that has been created with the open-plan design.
Many rooms are sure to entice visitors, starting with the gorgeous Hacker kitchen from Laings of Inverurie. It has been fully fitted with a range of units as well as a central island and still has space for free-standing furniture. Finished in neutral tones, it is a lovely rustic kitchen with a modern edge.
Leading on from here, you will find yourself in the family room, which is flooded with natural light through a bay window at the front and the many large windows making up the adjoining sun lounge/playroom.
Separated by concealed glazed sliding doors, the sun lounge was added around four years ago to provide space for Harrison and Sienna to play.
“Although the kids have their ridiculously huge bedrooms to play in, we wanted them to have somewhere that they could play but be near us at the same time,” Suzanne said.
“It’s a fantastic space and would make a great sun room, especially with the views of Bennachie.
“The open-plan layout has worked really well for us.”
“It’s great because the kids can play in there, I can watch TV in the family room and Suzanne can be in the kitchen, but we are all together,” added Stuart.
Other rooms sure to impress are the spacious and beautifully decorated master bedroom with en suite dressing room and bathroom, three further equally good-sized bedrooms and a gorgeous family bathroom which features an oval bath, a fitted TV – which is to remain – and stereo-sound ceiling speakers.
Outside, the house – on the market for offers over £540,000 – is surrounded by gardens, a large paved patio area and a raised wooden decking area. There is also a tarred driveway and a double garage.
And despite its size, the house offers cheap running costs thanks to eco-friendly additions including LED spotlights, solar panels and solar thermal heating panels.
The house is right across the road from the local nursery, Wee Angels, and Oyne Primary School, making this the perfect location for a family with young children. Secondary education provision is available at Inverurie and Huntly with buses to both stopping at the edge of the development. And there are plenty of other attractions in the village in the form of community groups and social events.
This really is a sensational home, with equally sensational surroundings in the form of Bennachie and the Aberdeenshire countryside. And is a home that the Lees have decided to leave – hesitantly.
“We really didn’t plan on moving from here, this was supposed to be our forever home – we only redecorated three or four months ago,” said Suzanne.
“We found this opportunity that really came out of the blue to buy a plot half a mile up the road. It’s six acres so it has a lot more space, we were thinking about the kids. If it was any further away we wouldn’t have taken it because we don’t want to leave Oyne, it’s a great community,” Stuart said.
Although the new house will be a completely different design externally, inside will be almost a replica of what they have now – a testament to how well this house has worked for a growing family.
“We got this house almost to exactly how we wanted it but we just didn’t want to miss this opportunity,” Stuart said.
“Although the house will be bigger, the layout will be the same as it is here because we’ve just loved it.”
Contact: The Kellas Partnership on 01467 627333.