A Georgian country house set in 14 acres of landscaped grounds near Kinross has the unique option of being sold with or without a thriving equestrian business.
Tillyochie House lies in one of those gloriously tranquil locations. Its long, sweeping driveway comes off an already deserted country lane and the house is plonked right in the centre of its 14 acres of grounds.
It’s far from cut off, though. It’s only a couple of miles from Kinross and the M90, and Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee are all within easy reach.
The Georgian property has been home to Gillie Keith for the past 21 years. Originally from Northern Ireland, the former teacher lived in London then America before settling in Scotland.
The original house is Georgian, but it was extended in the Edwardian era to create the eight bedroom, three reception room, four bathroom home that exists today.
Gillie (61) ushers me in the back door through the pantry to the kitchen. “I should really bring you in the front entrance since you’re a journalist but this is the door everyone uses,” she smiles.
The kitchen is everything a country home’s kitchen should be – spacious, good quality, lived-in and comfortable. There’s a snug off where Gillie and her dogs like to lounge around on sofas.
If you do come in the main entrance you’ll find yourself in a grand reception hall with a beautiful sitting room off. An open fire casts a warm glow around the room in winter and French doors are there to enjoy the garden in summer.
The dining room has original parquet flooring and twin aspect windows to enjoy the views. There’s also a family room with French doors and a fireplace.
Upstairs are seven large bedrooms, four above the original house and three above the extension. The rearmost of these has French doors that open onto a Juliet balcony. An external stone staircase from the extension leads to the ground level and means this part of the house could easily become a self-contained annex.
The grounds are, quite simply, splendid. There are lawns, paddocks, woodland, high quality equestrian facilities including a riding manage and stables, further outbuildings, and a tennis court. The driveway circles the house and has a large parking area.
A summerhouse and greenhouse occupy secluded corners of the grounds: the latter contains a peach tree that still bears fruit every summer.
Gillie has three grown up children in their 20s. She separated from her husband seven years ago and admits it’s past time she moved out of the sprawling house she shares with her five dogs.
“I thought about going back to Northern Ireland but I’ve been away too long for it to feel like home anymore,” she says. “I think I’ll look for something near London with a piece of land for my horses.”
She owns the Tack Room, an equestrian shop run from a row of outbuildings in the ground of Tillyochie House. Prospective buyers not wishing to run or have a shop in their garden needn’t fear, however. “I’m happy for the shop to remain here if the new owners want to take it over as a going concern,” Gillie explains. “But if they don’t the business will relocate.”
Tillyochie House, Kinross, is for sale with Savills for offers over £1.1 million.
