BRECHIN CASTLE

About this property

There are about 40 acres of policies including the renowned walled garden, where, in addition to the Castle there are two gate lodges (West and New) and three further estate houses and cottages. The properties are strategically placed around the grounds without compromising the outlook of the Castle. The River South Esk provides the opportunity to catch salmon and sea trout in the Castle Pool. Throughout the policies there is an exceptional array of specimen trees which enhances the designed landscape surrounding the Castle.

Brechin Castle stands proud on a massive bluff of rocks above the banks of the River South Esk. On the site of a much older fortress belonging to the Scottish Kings, the present house was last reconstructed in the early 1700s and incorporates part of the original castle dating back to the 13th century. The building has evolved from a defensive role to its present great house style. Despite its size, the Castle lends itself well to being both a family home and hosting large gatherings in grand style. Built in a period when families were large with numerous children and with a battalion of house staff, Brechin Castle has the potential to be used for a commercial purpose utilising all the space on offer.

There are two entrances to the Castle. The north drive is the principal approach to the Castle, accessed from the imposing entrance gates at the New Lodge. The tarred drive crosses the
Skinners Burn by a single arch bridge, one of two in Brechin, the other being at the Den providing access to the cemetery. The bridges were designed and built in 1856 by John Henderson, son of the Brechin Castle gardener. After crossing the bridge you enter the open parkland which reveals
the fine front elevation of the Castle. The south drive, over which the purchaser will have a right of access, passes through open farmland and forestry before crossing the River South Esk via the Image Bridge before gently climbing up through the estate parkland past the walled garden to join the main driveway. The Image Bridge was built by James Burn of Haddington in 1797.

Upon entering the Castle, you are greeted with Edward’s original panelled walls and impressive columns that were added after the initial restoration. In addition, the ceiling appears to date back to Alexander Laing’s reparations in 1797. The imposing staircase leads up from the ground floor Entrance Hall to the first floor landing where many pieces of traditional artwork, mostly family portraits, are presented. The staircase is very much in its original condition and still retains its striking ironwork balustrades which were installed in 1659.

Accessed from the ground floor entrance hall, the small dining room is accented with a vaulted ceiling and small windows which suggest that this is the site of the original building which dates back to the 12th century. This room was the former kitchen but was converted into a Porter’s lodge by Alexander Edward in the 1711 reconstruction of the house. However, it became the small dining room during alterations in the early 1960s by the 16th Earl and Countess of Dalhousie.

Off the entrance hall there is a security monitor room and cloakroom, bedroom suite with turret room and separate WC. The passageway leads from the entrance hall to the family sitting room which has two full length windows giving access to the sun terrace overlooking the River South Esk.

The principal reception rooms are located on the first floor all leading from the gallery which was restored by the 14th Earl and Countess.

The drawing room is steeped in history and boasts intricate craftsmanship throughout. The 14th Countess of Dalhousie appointed John Keeble of London to produce a design for this room. The detailed woodwork in this room was all created by local craftsmen and above the fireplace one can see the crests of the two families associated with Brechin Castle, the Maules and the Ramsays.

The dining room is fitted in a modest late 17th century style. The walls are attractively panelled and the three large south facing windows look out over the steep banks of the river below.

The little drawing room at the front of the house was previously a bedroom and also a billiard room but was refurbished by the current Earl’s late mother.

Off the gallery there is a passage which leads to the principal bedroom with two dressing rooms and an ensuite bathroom.

There are two further bedrooms and a family bathroom. On the second floor there are a further 12 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms.

At the rear of castle, off the courtyard there is a rustic dining room (shoot room), estate offices, ancillary storage and staff accommodation.

Local information

• Located on the east coast of Scotland, Angus is a county renowned for its heather clad hills, productive farmland, historic castles and attractive coastline. The county of Angus is perhaps lesser known than its neighbour Perthshire, but is equally beautiful, for its varied coastline from Dundee, home to The Discovery and recently opened V&A museum to the Montrose Basin, an incredibly important sanctuary for thousands of waders, wildfowl and migratory pink footed geese each year. Brechin Castle lies between Dundee, recently voted by the Sunday Times as the best place to live in Scotland and Aberdeen, the oil capital of Scotland.
• Brechin Castle is readily accessible by road, rail and air, lying within a short distance of the A90 which connects Aberdeen to Perth and beyond to Glasgow and Edinburgh. The nearest railway station is Montrose (8 miles) which offers three direct services daily to London Kings Cross (scheduled journey time 6 hours and 17 minutes) in addition to a hugely convenient sleeper service. Three airports can be reached: Dundee Airport (31 miles) is the closest and offers daily lights to London Stansted as well as accommodating private jet aircraft. Aberdeen (42 miles) and Edinburgh (84 miles) airports both offer domestic flights to London and many of the UK’s major cities as well as European lights and connections to many international airports.
• The cathedral city of Brechin is on the Castle’s doorstep and offers a selection of shops, garages, health centre, restaurants, hotel and primary and secondary education. Private schooling is available at Lathallan and Dundee.
• High School, as well as Robert Gordon’s College, The Albyn and St Margaret’s School in Aberdeen. Other schools in the general vicinity are St Leonard’s in St Andrews, Glenalmond and Strathallan near Perth.
• Recreational activities are diverse and include fishing on the rivers North and South Esk, shooting on local estates and traditional field sports in the Angus Glens which also have some of the best hill walking in eastern Scotland, together with skiing at Glenshee in winter. In contrast there are ine sandy beaches to the east at Lunan Bay and St Cyrus.
• The area boasts numerous golf courses, both links and parkland play. To the north lie Royal Aberdeen and Trump International at Menie, both well regarded links courses, whilst to the south are the courses of Carnoustie and St Andrews which have both hosted The British Open. More locally, there are challenging 18 hole courses at Brechin, Edzell and Montrose.

Additional information

• The Walled Gardens and Grounds: The walled garden and surrounding policies at Brechin Castle are considered to be one of the finest and most important private gardens in Scotland. In total they extend to over 40 acres of planted policies and include the spectacular 13 acre walled garden which is linked to Brechin Castle by woodland paths through banks of vibrant colours of azaleas and rhododendrons in Spring.
• Under Gardener’s House: The Under Gardener’s House is situated at the side of the rear garden entrance gate. The accommodation is over two storeys with the principal reception room on the first floor overlooking the vine house and the gardens beyond. The accommodation comprises: bedroom with dressing room, kitchen, bathroom on the ground floor and a sitting room and two bedrooms on the first floor.
• Head Gardener’s House: The Head Gardener’s House is incorporated within the rear wall of the garden. The accommodation is over two storeys and comprises: garden room, kitchen, utility and bathroom on the ground floor and three bedrooms on the first floor. The garden room has double doors which open onto the Cherry Lawn and is used as a tea room when the gardens are open to the public.
• Outside there is a range of buildings including a fuel store, shed, store, WC, kennel and dog run.
• The Stable Block and Laundry Cottage
• Situated on the back drive and within 100 metres of the Castle lies the category B listed stable block. The quadrangular building, dating from 1806, is built around a courtyard and is predominantly single storey with a two storey former chauffeur’s flat and stable flat. The stable block is currently used as storage, garages and workshops but there is considerable opportunity for alternative uses to complement that of the castle including leisure facilities, event/exhibition space, office space or holiday accommodation (subject to gaining the necessary consents).
• Adjoining the stable block lies the Laundry Cottage. The single storey cottage comprises a sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a bathroom. To the rear of the cottage is the enclosed drying green (now used as a garden) and access to the back of the stable block to the former laundry rooms.
• New Lodge: The Scots baronial style entrance is flanked by a pair of round towers with conical fish-scale slated roofs and dates from 1852. The lodge itself lies to the west of the entrance and has an open plan kitchen/dining room, conservatory, sitting room, bathroom and shower room on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first floor. On the opposite side of the entrance gateway the matching tower is used for storage. There is an enclosed garden and two garages to the rear of the lodge.
• West Lodge: The original Gate Lodge for Brechin Castle, dating from 1806, is situated at the west most driveway to the Castle and takes the form of two single storey buildings which flank the central gate piers and side arches with the lodge to one side and a small round building in matching architectural style which is currently used for storage. The lodge comprises a sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms and bathroom over a single storey.
• Sporting
• The land surrounding Brechin Castle has in the past formed part of an excellent driven pheasant shoot.
• There is about 470 metres of single and double bank salmon and sea trout fishing rights on the River South Esk which meanders below the castle. The Castle Pool has only been lightly fished by family and friends with no formal records kept but it offers those keen to cast a line the opportunity to fish for salmon and sea trout under the ramparts of Brechin Castle and in the shadow of the remarkable Image Bridge.
• Available in Addition
• A further 197 acres of woodland and farmland, together with three estate cottages and a further 1.2 miles of single bank fishing on the South Esk, as outlined in green on the sale plan are available in addition to the purchaser of Brechin Castle.
• Directions: Turn off the A90 at the Brechin south junction (signposted Brechin A935) and continue for approximately 1 mile before turning right into the second arched entrance. Follow the driveway to the front of Brechin Castle. The postcode is DD9 6SG. AIRPORTS Aberdeen Airport – 0844 481 6666 (www.aberdeenairport.com) or Dundee Airport – 01382 662200 (www.hial.co.uk). RAILWAY STATIONS The nearest railway station is at Montrose. For general timetable enquiries telephone 08457 484950 or visit www.thetrainline.com.
• EPC Rating = D