DRUIDSMERE

About this property

Druidsmere House is an imposing four storey property characterised by its tall red sandstone walls and prominent corner turrets. The house was constructed in 1885 to a design by the architect Andrew Heiton who also designed Perth Railway Station and Fonab Castle. The property, along with its former walled garden and most of the cottages, is Category B Listed by Historic Environment Scotland.

Druidsmere House is situated, along with four cottages (one disused), on a site of about 31 acres. It is approached by a splendid rhododendron lined driveway, and the property is something of a hidden gem being completely screened from the road and having only changed hands a few times in the course of its history. The interior of Druidsmere has a great many fine period features and there are parts of the house where time has stood still, particularly in the bathrooms and dressing rooms where beautifully made cabinets and original sanitary ware are still in existence. There is enormous potential, subject to obtaining the necessary consents, for Druidsmere to be sympathetically modernised to become a magnificent family home, holiday house, boutique hotel or even individual apartments.

A huge solid oak front door opens to the reception hall which has a decorative fireplace with tiled hearth and sandstone surround topped with a tall carved timber mantel. A tripartite archway made of the same carved timber opens to the main stair and also to the remaining accommodation on the ground floor which includes a small kitchen and a living/dining room and breakfast room connected by internal glass doors. A huge open fireplace inset with polished copper as well as dark timber beams, a circular turret room, half tiled walls and large panelled windows give the rooms enormous character. There is lots of scope, subject to obtaining the relevant consents, to create a fabulous new kitchen in this area. Also on the ground floor there is a study, wine cellar, cloakroom, pantry, bathroom and two WCs.

The north wing at Druidsmere has potential to be useful ancillary accommodation or an independent apartment. It is linked to the main house by a corridor, and this is also where the back door to the house is situated. The ground floor of the north wing consists of a kitchen, two double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a laundry room and a wood store. Due to historic water damage, the accommodation on this floor requires complete renovation.

Druidsmere House has two staircases: one at the front of the house which services all the main reception rooms and bedrooms, and a back staircase which also reaches the third floor. The formal reception rooms are on the first floor where both the drawing room and dining room have large windows, decorative fireplaces and quirky turret rooms. These rooms look west towards White Loch and are serviced by a pantry and additional kitchen. On this floor there are also four double bedrooms, three of which have en suite bath or shower rooms and are situated in the north wing. Three more impressive bedrooms, two dressing rooms, a bathroom and a shower room are located on the second floor. On the third floor and accessed only by the back stair is the billiards room. With curved timber beams spanning the striking arched ceiling, a polished timber floor and carved fireplace, it is another superb entertaining room. In addition, there are two further en suite bedrooms, a butler’s pantry and a WC.

Local information

• Druidsmere is situated on the southern edge of Rosemount which is a leafy residential area of Blairgowrie and home to its highly regarded golf course. Being surrounded by mature woodland and positioned at the end of a 200m long driveway, the property is very private despite being so close to a town centre. Blairgowrie is a busy rural town surrounded by the fertile farmland of Strathmore; one of the great fruit producing areas of the UK. There are good local services including schooling, a medical centre, cottage hospital, supermarkets and a variety of independent shops and restaurants. Perth and Dundee (both within 19 miles) offer a more comprehensive range of professional services, high street shops and leisure activities including the V&A museum in Dundee and the Perth Concert Hall. There are railway stations at Perth and Dundee. Dundee Airport (18 miles) has direct services to London, while Edinburgh Airport (55 miles) has a wide range of domestic and international flights.
• Druidsmere’s location is ideal for those who enjoy outdoor activities. There are three golf courses at Blairgowrie (including a championship course) and a further three courses at Alyth. The Perthshire Hills and the Angus Glens are easily accessible and popular with hillwalkers and cyclists, while the many local lochs and rivers provide endless opportunities for wild swimming and watersports. Those who enjoy more traditional country sports can take roe and red deer stalking as well as pheasant, partridge and grouse shooting on nearby estates. The rivers Tay, Isla and Ericht offer first class salmon fishing locally while the ski slopes of Glenshee and the Cairngorms National Park are just 20 miles north.
• All distances and travel times are approximate.

Additional information

• The Lodge is a delightful cottage situated at the entrance gates to Druidsmere. It has a sitting room, dining kitchen and an en suite bedroom. The property is harled with a slate roof and has painted timber fascias. It has a car port and a modest enclosed garden.
• Stables Cottage and outbuildings. Stables Cottage is a 2/3-bedroom cottage situated at one end of the former stables, coach house and outbuildings in the grounds of Druidsmere. The property is arranged over two storeys with a kitchen, sitting room, bathroom and two bedrooms on the ground floor as well as a bedroom with shower room and attic store on the first floor. Attached to the cottage is the former coach house, tack room and stables, with loft above. There are some lovely original features inside the old stables. A corrugated iron barn and carport attached to one end are currently used for storing garden machinery. This building offers great potential for further development subject to obtaining the relevant consents.
• Gardener’s Cottage is located close behind Druidsmere House. It is a charming one-bedroom cottage with a sitting room, bathroom, and bedroom. The cottage has a south facing position in the woodland behind the main house.
• The School House: formerly known as the Engine House and at one time used as a nursery school, The School House is currently empty and requires complete renovation. Most recently it was used as a three-bedroom, single storey property with a sitting room and kitchen. It has a pretty location within the wooded grounds of Druidsmere.
• Gardens and grounds: Druidsmere is set in approximately 31 acres of gardens, woodland and the water of White Loch. The property is approached by a private driveway which is lined with tall rhododendrons. Mature woodland surrounds Druidsmere and its cottages while expanses of neat mown lawn create some lovely open spaces around the main house and the former stables. The former walled garden is now down to grass but much of the original wall is still intact and the dilapidated glasshouse remains in place. The front driveway leads to parking on both sides of Druidsmere House and a back drive loops around the rear of the house, past Gardener’s Cottage, Stables Cottage, The School House and back to The Lodge at the entrance to the property. The grounds to the southeast of the property are mainly woodland and there is a grass paddock at the far southern tip of the grounds.
• White Loch is a very picturesque loch and attracts a variety of wildfowl as well as a family of beavers. Currently the loch is leased to the Blairgowrie, Rattray & District Angling Association who stock the water with trout.
• Viewings: strictly by appointment with Savills: 01738 477525.
• Druidsmere House: Mains water and electricity. Private drainage. Oil fired central heating.
• The Lodge: Mains water, electricity, gas and drainage. Gas central heating.
• Gardener’s Cottage: Mains water and electricity. Private drainage. Electric heating.
• Stables Cottage: Mains water and electricity. Private drainage. Oil fired central heating.
• The School House: Mains water and electricity.
• Perth and Kinross Council Tax Bands: Druidsmere House: H, The Lodge: A, Gardener’s Cottage: B, Stables Cottage: B, The School House: (previously B, but currently uninhabitable)
• Listings: Druidsmere House, The Lodge, The Walled Garden, Stables Cottage and steading and Gardener’s Cottage are all dard fixtures and fittings are included in the sale.Category B Listed by Historic Environment Scotland. The School House is C Listed.
• Fixtures & Fittings: stan
• Photos taken in summer 2021 and brochure produced July 2022
• Directions: From Perth follow the A93 to Blairgowrie. About 1.5 miles after passing The Beech Hedge at Meikleour, drive through Carsie and the entrance to Druidsmere is on the left, through wrought iron gates (signed Druidsmere), a few metres before the right hand turn down Golf Course Road.
• EPC Rating: F
• Tenure: Freehold
• Council Tax Band: TBC