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A converted steading near Newcastleton offers unrivalled possibilities with two unique properties, plus land
Every so often a property comes on to the market that is quite unlike anything else – which perfectly describes the former Langburnshiels Steading near the village of Newcastleton, a unique conversion into not one but two adjoining properties that open up so many different lifestyle opportunities it almost beggars belief. Also included is an additional quarter-acre building plot with planning permission for a house – and a further 50 acres of land adjacent to the site is available by separate negotiation.
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Given that this area is renowned for outdoor pursuits, with attractions like Kielder Forest Park, Newcastleton Forest, Whithaugh Park/The Rock outdoor activity centre and the 7Stanes mountain biking venue virtually on the doorstep, this property could be an ideal home with income potential from a B&B next door; a home plus holiday let; a combined three-generational family home . . . the possibilities for Langburnshiels are only limited by the imagination.
Langburnshiels, Newcastleton
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Langburnshiels
Dating from around 1850, the conversion has been a grand finale for builder Roland Jones and his wife Gillian – who moved to the Borders with the intention of retiring. Gillian explains: “We actually saw the steading buildings as we were driving to Hawick one day, at which point Roland’s comment was ‘what a beautiful building,’ although all that was there at the time was just the external steading walls and disused cow byres.” “Not long after that, in 2007, it came up for sale and we bought it,” she continues. “We spent a year or so getting planning permission and the last six years have been a real labour of love - apart from the roof, we have done everything ourselves and created two completely new two-storey properties within the original random rubble stone facade, the five bedroomed home we currently live in and a seven bedroomed house next door.”
Featured Property Langburnshiels, Newcastleton, Hawick, TD9 9TZ
Offers Around £730,000 • Details on: Page 8
Although classed as semi-detached, these two houses have separate private driveways and neither overlooks the other – in fact the rural setting gives every window a view of the open countryside. Internally, both homes have been executed to an exceptionally high specification that includes quality fitted dining kitchens with integrated appliances, natural wood finishes, multi-fuel stoves in both living rooms and contemporary bath and shower rooms.
Both have very spacious bedrooms with upstairs Velux windows – with a master en suite in Gillian and Roland’s five bedroomed home, while the larger seven bedroomed property next door has three en suite shower rooms. Tastefully decorated in neutral shades throughout, the couple’s own home, Coopers Cleuch, exudes an immediate feeling of warmth and comfort right from the start.
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“We actually saw the steading buildings as we were driving to Hawick one day, at which point Roland’s comment was ‘what a beautiful building,’ although Entered via a door at the rear of the building, the hall gives access to a spacious living room with windows to the south and east, superb 23ft dining kitchen with a breakfast bar, practical ceramic-tiled flooring throughout and access to the garden, family bathroom with partial tongue and groove wall panelling, and two downstairs double bedrooms with front-facing windows. The hall staircase leads up to three further double bedrooms on the first floor, one of which has an en suite shower room.
all that was there at the time was just the external steading walls and disused cow byres.”
The house next door, simply called The Steading, has a similar albeit larger layout and is entered at the front. Off the hall is a large living room with an archway through to a 26ft dining kitchen fitted with wall and base units on two sides and integrated appliances – an open -plan space easily able to accommodate dining furniture and a family area. From here, a long inner hallway continues to two ground floor double bedrooms and the main bathroom. There are two staircases in this property, one just off the kitchen leading to the en suite master bedroom and bedrooms two and three, while the staircase in the hall gives rise to the two remaining double bedrooms, both of which have en suite shower rooms.
The properties both benefit from attractive private gardens within a scenic but also very private setting surrounded by beautiful Borders’ countryside, while the village of Newcastleton – built as a result of the land clearances in the 1790s when people were forced to move from Old Castleton village – is a lively place where local amenities include a primary school, heritage museum, multi -sport pitches, hotels, shops and a village pub. There is also a nine-hole golf course up on Holm Hill that provides spectacular views of Newcastleton and the Liddesdale Valley. Langburnshiels is a one-off property that truly has to be seen in order to fully appreciate the size and calibre of the two homes here but also the setting, which attracts tourists, walkers, mountain bikers and visitors from both sides of the border and further afield.
Converted Steading