Dowle, Smith & Rutherford

Substantial Grade ‘C' listed, two storey detached house with adjoining cottage, attractively situated in just over 8 acres of non-croft land by the shore at Baltasound on the island on Unst.

The west-facing main house, which is understood to have been built around 1875, comprises three well-proportioned reception rooms and four bedrooms, and retains some original features. A large sun room and utility links it and the cottage which includes a large kitchen / living room, two bedrooms and a shower room.

The house benefits from an oil-fired central heating system and uPVC double glazing. There is also a solid-fuel stove in the main sittingroom and a solid-fuel range in the cottage.

The grounds include a small walled enclosure next to the house with stable & adjoining hay store building, and a small stone jetty.

Unst is connected to mainland Shetland by a regular ro-ro ferry service via the neighbouring island of Yell which runs throughout the day.

A Home Report is available for this property.

Price:	OFFERS OVER £205,000
Entry:	By arrangement.
Viewing:	Please telephone the sellers direct on 01957 711 867.
Rooms:	Main House – Front Porch, Hall, Sittingroom, Dining room, Library, Kitchen, four Double Bedrooms, Bathroom, Toilet, Landing, Sun room & Utility plus adjoining Cottage comprising:- Kitchen / Living room, two Bedrooms & Shower Room.

General

‘Ordaal House’ would make a spacious family home or alternatively due to its size and the layout of accommodation, it would make an ideal B&B, particularly as Unst has many places of interest and stunning scenery, and the adjoining original cottage could be used as owners accommodation. Indeed the property has until recently been used for B & B.

Being the main population centre on the island, Baltasound has a good range of local amenities which include the Junior High School (primary & secondary schooling to year 4), a superb leisure centre / swimming pool, two local shops (one with fuel), post office, garage, hotel & marina.

Attractions on the island include Hermaness National Nature Reserve, Keen of Hamar Reserve, fine beaches at Norwick, Skord & Westing, Muckle Flugga, Muness Castle and the Unst Boat Haven & Heritage Centre.

As the property comes with 8 acres of land and a stable building, it would be of particular interest to anyone with ponies or horses.

It is thought that the adjoining cottage, which was renovated about four years ago, could form completely separate accommodation (subject to any necessary consents required) and perhaps let out separately or for holiday lets.

Some refurbishment is required to the property although some grant assistance may be available. Prospective purchasers should satisfy themselves in this regard, and also with regard to any possible alterations.

MAIN HOUSE

On the Ground Floor:-

FRONT PORCH

(Approx. 2.85m x 1.95m) (9‘4” x 6‘4”) Main entrance on the west side of the house with double glazed uPVC front door leading to a large porch with single glazed windows either side, ‘v’-lined ceiling, part-wood parquet flooring, radiator & glazed inner door to the hall.

HALL

(Approx. 5.5m x 2m) (18‘ x 6‘7”) Spacious hall with original striped pine doors to the three reception rooms & kitchen, and stair with original banister and cupboard below, leading to the first floor. Wood laminate flooring, telephone point & radiator.

SITTINGROOM

(Approx. 5.25m x 3.65m) (17.3‘” x 12‘) Well-proportioned room with dual-aspect to the west & north, original panelled ceiling & picture rail, and ‘Victorian’ fireplace with decorative tiled insert housing a working open fire. Shelved recess & radiator.

LIBRARY

(Approx. 3.45m x 3.45m) (11‘4” x 11‘4”) Former library with window overlooking the voe, ‘v’-lined ceiling, wooden fireplace surround & radiator.

KITCHEN

(Approx. 6.45m x 2.7m) (21‘2” x 8‘10”) Large kitchen with two windows to the rear of the house and access to the adjoining sun room. Modern fitted units provide plenty of cupboard & workspace space and include an inset sink plus separate wash bowl, a stainless steel finish cooker hood and plumbing for a washing machine & dishwasher. The free-standing stainless steel finish ‘Zanussi’ cooker with electric hob & gas oven, and the other appliances including the fridge / freezer are available by separate negotiation. Vinyl flooring & radiator.

DINING ROOM

(Approx. 5.65m x 4.35m at widest points) (18‘6” x 14‘2”) Like the sittingroom, the dining room is a good size and also has a dual aspect including a window facing west. The original panelled ceiling & picture rail remain. Heating is provided by central heating radiator but there is also a solid-fuel cast-iron stove set in a ‘Victorian’ cast-iron fireplace surround. Shelved cupboard.

On the First Floor:-

LANDING

(Approx. 2.35m x 3.9m extending to 5.2m at widest point) (7‘9” x 12‘10” / 17’2”) A large window to the rear of the house provides plenty of natural light to the ‘v’-lined stairwell and the landing. Stripped pine doors, most of which are original, lead to four large double bedrooms all of which have high ceilings and a fitted wash hand basin / vanity unit with mirror & light / shaver fitting over and radiator, the bathroom and a separate toilet. There is also a useful walk-in STORE CUPBOARD (approx. 2.35m x 1.05m extending to 1.65m at widest point) (7‘8” x 3‘6” / 5’4”). Radiator.

BATHROOM

(Approx. 2.2m x 2.2m) (7‘3” x 7‘3”) Lined throughout with ‘v’-lining including to the ceiling, and comprising a white corner bath with ‘period’ style mixer tap / shower fitting, W.C. & wash hand basin. Tiling to the walls around the bath, mirror & light / shaver fitting over the w.h.b., wall mounted ‘Dimplex’ fan heater plus central heating radiator, and slate floor with feature pebbled inset.

BEDROOM 1

(Approx. 4m x 3.4m) (13‘2” x 11‘3”) Rear-facing room with cupboard housing the ‘Megaflo’ water tank.

BEDROOM 2

(Approx. 4.55m x 3.7m) (15‘ x 12‘1”) West-facing.

TOILET

(Approx. 2.35m x 2.2m extending to 2.75m at widest point) (7‘8” x 7‘2” / 9’) With W.C., wash hand basin with mirror & light / shaver socket fitting over & bidet. Radiator. It is thought there would be sufficient space to install a shower if required (subject to consents).

BEDROOM 3

(Approx. 3.8m x 3.6m) (12‘6” x 11‘10”) West-facing.

BEDROOM 4

(Approx. 3.45m x 3.45m) (11‘4” x 11‘4”) North-facing room overlooking the voe.

Back on the ground floor, a door off the kitchen leads to the sun room link between the main house and the original adjoining cottage.

SUN ROOM

(Approx. 8.9m x 2.9m) (29‘2” x 9’6”) Large south-facing single glazed sun room which has just been re-furbished with new timber, glass & roof. Two internal doorways with stable doors lead to the cottage accommodation. It is sub-divided into two areas each with its own external access, including a laundry / utility area at the eastern end.

COTTAGE

The original adjoining cottage comprises an open-plan layout downstairs with a dividing counter separating the living and kitchen areas, plus two combed ceiling bedrooms and a shower room on the first floor.

On the Ground Floor:-

KITCHEN / LIVING ROOM

(Overall approx. 7.65m x 4m) (25‘ x 13‘1”) Large room with kitchen & living areas at either end, each with a window looking north over the voe and their own access from the sun room. The living area has a working open fire and a central heating radiator. The fitted kitchen area has an ‘Esse’ solid-fuel range / cooker, wood laminate flooring & radiator. The free standing kitchen appliances are available by separate negotiation. Stair to the first floor.

On the First Floor:-

LANDING

With laminate flooring.

SHOWER ROOM

(Approx. 1.95m x 1.55m) (6‘5” x 5‘) With white W.C & wash hand basin plus lined corner shower enclosure with ‘Mira’ electric shower. Vinyl tiled flooring & radiator.

BEDROOM 1

(Approx. 3.45m x 1.85m extending to 2.3m at widest point (floor area)) (11‘4” x 6‘ / 7’7”) Single bedroom with Velux window with integral blind, & radiator.

BEDROOM 2

(Approx. 4.2m x 2.9m extending to 3.95m at widest point (floor area)) (13‘9” x 9‘6” / 13’) Double bedroom, again with Velux window with integral blind, & radiator.

External

As noted the site is estimated to extend to around 8 acres as shown on the attached plan. The land is bounded on the north side by the shore where there is a small stone jetty, a dry stone wall on the western boundary, and by post & wire fencing elsewhere. The access driveway serving the house is adopted and therefore maintained by Shetland Islands Council.

The grounds include a wooden STABLE building subdivided into two areas (approx. 3.5m x 3.35m each (11’6” x 11’)) each with double doors, plus an adjoining HAY SHED (approx. 6.3m x 3.05m) (20‘7” x 10‘), both situated in a small walled enclosure on the north side of the house. There is a further wooden shed behind the house.

The parks to the north and east of the house form the remainder of the land which also includes the park between the house and the road.