SCOTTISH CASTLE

Location

Linlithgow 3 miles, Stirling 17 miles, Edinburgh Airport 18 miles, Edinburgh 25 miles, Glasgow 30 miles

Description

Vellore House is a splendid castellated mansion house set in over three acres of its own grounds in open countryside close to historic Linlithgow. The house looks out over rolling pasture and there are beautiful views to the Firth of Forth and distant Perthshire hills.

The property is situated midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow, close to both the M8 and M9, giving quick and easy access to both of Scotland's major cities as well as north to Stirling. The property is therefore ideally placed for visiting these historic and important cities, and for touring round the whole of central Scotland. In addition to the excellent road links there are railway stations at Linlithgow and Polmont with regular services to both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The area has outstanding recreational facilities for both adults and children. These range from the leisure centres and swimming pools in Linlithgow and Bo'ness, to dry slope skiing at Polmont and Beecraigs and Muiravonside Country Parks.

The House

Vellore House approached by its own tree lined drive. Originally it was a 17th century farmhouse, part of the lands of Muiravonside owned at one time by Alexander MacLeod, aide de camp of Bonnie Prince Charlie. It was extended in the 1780s by a Major Duncan of the Scotch Brigade, who, on his return from military service in India, remodelled the farmhouse to create a replica of Fort Vellore .

The house has a most distinctive and attractive facade with battlements rising above an imposing central section connecting to wings with arched windows and pepper pot turrets.

The property offers excellent accommodation. There are matching drawing rooms on either side of the central hallway, each with its own working fireplace. The west wing also includes a large family room/TV room, also with a working fireplace. The family room leads into the small sitting room and the games room. The games room in turn leads into the west turret which contains a circular book and DVD library, with stairs up to a study/reading room above.

The property includes a dining room seating 8-10 for more intimate occasions and the great hall which, with its beamed ceiling, contains an 18 foot table capable of seating 24, supported by a pantry.

The large dining kitchen is in the heart of the house. It has ovens, fridge/freezers, sinks and dishwashers, with cutlery and crockery to serve 24. It has both an electric 110cm Rangemaster cooker and a Smeg 90cm cooker. There is also a pantry linking through to the utility and boot room which contains a washing machine, tumble dryer and spare freezer, with direct access to the garden.

Behind the kitchen is an annexe containing two bedrooms, shower room, WC and its own external door.

The upper floors afford generous bedroom accommodation. The front section comprises the master bedroom and bathroom and a second bedroom with en-suite facilities. A corridor leads to three further bedrooms, one of which has an en suite bathroom, a further bathroom, wc and a linen room. There are two more bedrooms and a bathroom on the second floor.

The house in total provides accommodation comprising nine double bedrooms and 6 bathrooms.

Gardens and grounds

Vellore House is set in about 3.6 acres of enclosed grounds with extensive lawns and mature trees bordering onto open countryside. The house is approached by a drive which sweeps past the front of the house, with a wooded area to the left (North) in which the pond is featured, to the parking area at the rear of the house.

To the south of the house is a lovely sheltered terrace. To the west of the house, enclosed between laurel and beech hedges, is a lawn and vegetable garden. To the north is a wooded area containing a natural pond.