THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY
Page 15
A seaside house in Eyemouth with character, charm and space for family living
Puffin House is an absolute gem of a property situated in the heart of Eyemouth, within walking distance of everything from shops and schools, to restaurants, the working fishing harbour and sandy beach. And with four bedrooms and a quirky layout over three floors, it could fit the bill as a profitable holiday letting investment, second home, or permanent family residence. Formerly the harbour master’s house, the terraced property is thought to date from the Victorian era, although it may be even older. The present owners have upgraded the property by investing in new dampproofing and altering the ground floor layout to turn the two downstairs rooms (a kitchen and adjoining dining room) into one openplan space. Original wooden floorboards have been stripped and varnished and the interior is a pleasing mix of characterful original features with modern comforts and conveniences. The layout is unusual in that it has the living room upstairs on the first floor and the large open-plan kitchen/dining/family area off the hall on the ground floor, a bright and wellequipped space that extends the full depth of the property with windows to both the front and rear.
A wall-mounted gas fire (with back boiler) provides a focal point, while the kitchen work area is fitted with contemporary wall and floor units, freestanding electric cooker with overhead extractor, and space for other appliances. There is also a large walk-in cupboard underneath the stairs. Eyemouth beach is partially visible from the front-facing windows of the first floor living room, another bright and spacious space with plaster cornicing and sanded floorboards. Also on the first floor are two good-sized double bedrooms – one with a full wall of built-in mirror-fronted wardrobes – a cloakroom/WC, and main bathroom, the latter with a white suite and over-bath electric shower. Stairs continue up to the second floor - a Velux roof window floods the staircase with natural light – to bedrooms three and four, both sizeable double rooms with built-in wardrobes/storage and roof-top views of the town centre and beach front. Another recent improvement is the loft, which is accessed from bedroom four and has upgraded insulation.
As a place to live Eyemouth has a great many attractions and no shortage of leisure and sporting opportunities, with a rugged cliff-top18-hole golf course, beautiful surrounding countryside. A sandy beach and harbour, where thanks to a deep water extension, the fishing industry has been rejuvenated while the addition of a pontoon attracts leisure and pleasure craft – boats are available locally for hire for sea fishing, coastal sightseeing and diving in one of the few Marine Reserves in the UK. The town also has good schools – including Berwickshire High School – and easy access to the A1, which makes light work of the commute to Edinburgh and Newcastle, while picturesque Berwick -upon-Tweed less than 10 miles away, has rail links to the north and south.
This part of the Berwickshire coast is a great place for outdoor enthusiasts. While you can feed seals just a short walk from Puffin House, nearby St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve, administered by the National Trust for Scotland, offers a walk on the wild side along paths and tracks with dramatic views of the coastline where in the summer months, thousands of nesting seabirds jostle for space on the cliffs. And just three miles north-west of Eyemouth, Coldingham Bay is one of the country’s top surfing and sub-aqua diving destinations.
Puffin House, 8 St Ellas Place, Eyemouth, TD14 5HP
In Region of £180,000 Details on page 40