THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Family living at its best - a detached villa in Cardrona, a village that’s about to receive a superfast broadband boost With more people than ever before working from home, having a good broadband connection is not a luxury, it’s vital. And if you want the fastest broadband speed in Scotland, one place to head for is the village of Cardrona. Five minutes drive east from Peebles, Cardrona has had serious issues with broadband speeds in the past but the new superfast fibre optic broadband scheduled to be enabled in March this year will be capable of offering download speeds of up to 40Mb and upload speeds of up to 10Mb - which is likely to further boost the area’s appeal with Edinburgh commuters, many of whom also do work from home. Cardrona, along with Innerleithen, Traquair and Glen, was one of six areas in the UK to demonstrate community spirit in action by winning BT’s Race To Infinity competition in which communities voted to be upgraded to superfast broadband. Jim and Glenda Horsburgh are delighted with the forthcoming upgrade as it further adds to the appeal of their large four bedroomed detached villa on the edge of the village in Leeburn View, which is currently on the market as the couple are now looking to downsize. Built in 2004, the Horsburghs bought the house on its completion having fallen in love with the picturesque rural location on the banks of the River Tweed, which also includes a quaint village store/cafe (converted from an old railway station), a hotel and country club with spa facilities and an 18-hole championship golf course, and outstanding walks and cycle paths in nearby Glentress Forest.
This area is a Mecca for mountain bike enthusiasts and March will also see the opening of a new cycle route between Innerleithen and Peebles, which passes through Cardrona – prompting the village cafe to be extended. And with a golf course virtually on the doorstep, it has equal appeal with golfers. The couple have made a number of significant improvements to the red-roofed property since it was built. One half of the integral double garage has been turned into a formal dining room, the family bathroom upstairs how includes an over-bath shower (in addition to the two existing en suite shower rooms), the gardens have been landscaped to superb effect, and an attractive conservatory has been added at the back of the house, overlooking the rear garden, a safe haven for children and pets that includes a patio and greenhouse, the latter nurturing a grape vine. Inside, the layout comprises a welcoming entrance hall, cloakroom, living room with front-facing bay window and inset Living Flame fire and feature fireplace, separate 18ft dining room, beautifully fitted modern kitchen with access to the conservatory, and an open-plan dining/family room with double doors opening on to the garden. Upstairs, the main bedroom is split-level and incorporates a dressing room with three built-in wardrobes and separate en suite shower room.
28 Leeburn View Cardrona, Near Peebles Guide Price £315,000 Details on page 12
There are three further bedrooms, including another spacious double room with built-in wardrobes and en suite facilities, plus the family bathroom. The interior is decorated in neutral shades of cream and white throughout, complemented by the warmth of wood finishes and mix of natural-coloured carpets and floor tiles – a look that’s classic and contemporary and very easy to live with. The kitchen is well equipped and includes a built-in double oven, gas hob and integrated washing machine, dishwasher and fridge freezer; the dining room has a wall-mounted fire; storage surpasses expectations; and with the additional family room and conservatory, this house has an exceptional amount of living space for a family. Cardrona’s picturesque rural setting belies the fact that the town of Peebles - a Borders gem given the quality of its shops, theatre, schools and sports and leisure facilities - is only a few minutes drive away. Rarely does a location and a property tick quite as many lifestyle boxes as this - and that includes the fastest broadband in the country.
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