Location

The Hollies occupies a lovely position on the edge of the small village of Farnell. Situated on the edge of Kinnaird Park, Farnell is well located for the Angus towns of Brechin, Montrose, Forfar and Arbroath. Angus is well known for its range of outdoor pursuits. The glens provide some of the best hillwalking in eastern Scotland, along with skiing at Glenshee. There are local golf courses at Brechin, Edzell, Montrose and Carnoustie. Lunan Bay is a renowned beach on the Angus coast, popular with surfers and dog walkers, while St Cyrus beach is a nature reserve. In addition, there are red sandstone cliffs north of Arbroath, home of the famous smokie. There are many opportunities for walks in nearby Montreathmont Forest and at Montrose Basin, which is also a nature reserve, famed for its spectacular sunsets and migrating geese and duck. Fishing can be taken on the North and South Esks. From the village of Edzell the scenic Cairn o' Mount route gives access to Deeside.
There is a primary school in the village of Friockheim, which also provides local shopping. Further schooling, both primary and secondary, is found in the nearby towns of Brechin and Montrose, which along with Forfar and Arbroath, also provide an extensive range of shopping, business and leisure facilities. There is a swimming pool at the new community campus and High School in Brechin. Private schooling in the area includes Lathallan (Johnshaven) and Dundee High School, both with a dedicated bus service from Brechin. The private schools in Aberdeen are easily accessible by train from Montrose. Both Dundee and Aberdeen are easily reached and provide all the services expected of major cities. Dundee has renowned cultural facilities, including the V&A museum. There is a railway station at Montrose offering regular services to Aberdeen and to the south, including a sleeper to London. There is an airport at Dundee with services to Heathrow, while both Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports have a range of domestic and European flights. Journey times to Aberdeen and its airport have been much reduced by the Western Peripheral Route.

Description

The Hollies is an extremely well presented house with lovely gardens and grounds, situated on the edge of the small village of Farnell, to the south of Brechin. It was built in the mid 19th century as the station and stationmaster's quarters, and remained as such until the line was dismantled and the station was closed in the 1960s. It was then run as a guest house until the late 1990s. Since then it has been used as a delightful family house with a refurbished bathroom and shower rooms. At that stage the garden room/conservatory and the double garage were added, as was the summer house. More recently the kitchen was refurbished about 7 years ago.

The Hollies is an attractive stone built house, which is part harled, with a slate roof. Evidence of the railway line has long gone, with the conservatory built on what would have been the platform, as are the summer house and garden store. However, the property still retains much of its period charm and character, with the marble fireplace in the sitting room dating back to the days when it was believed to be used as a waiting room. The Hollies is now a bright and spacious house which is double glazed throughout. The conservatory or garden room links to both the hallway and the dining room and as such is an ideal entertaining area. The reception rooms are well proportioned and the kitchen is light and generously sized, whilst the bedrooms upstairs all benefit from their own en suites. The utility room was previously used as a downstairs bedroom when the house was run as a guest house. In summary, The Hollies is a flexible house which links well to its gardens, and is ideal for family living as well as entertaining.

A gravelled drive leads to parking adjacent to the house where a front door opens to a welcoming hallway with cornice and staircase to the first floor. To one side is a double aspect sitting room with a marble fireplace housing an Aga wood burning stove. To the other is a conservatory with an overhead fan, French doors to the garden, and which links to the dining room with its fitted bookshelves and cornice. Also off the hallway is a useful downstairs WC with washbasin, and a fully fitted kitchen with wall and floor units which incorporate a Lamona dishwasher, sink, extractor, Fisher and Paykel fridge freezer, central island unit with wooden worktop and breakfast bar, together with a shelved cupboard and wooden flooring. Beyond is a side hallway with a further entrance door and hanging cupboard. Off this is a shower room with pedestal wash basin, WC and shelved cupboard, and a utility room/boot room which has fitted units with sink, plumbing for a washing machine, Samsung fridge/freezer, a clothes pulley and fitted boot and shoe shelves, together with a shelved cupboard housing a Worcester boiler.

The first floor landing has a hatch with an attic ladder to floored roof space. Bedroom one has fitted wardrobes, cupboards and dressing table, together with an en suite with spa bath, shower cubicle, Grohe super loo WC, wash basin and urinal . Bedroom two has an en suite with shower cubicle, washbasin with vanity unit and WC. Bedroom three also has an en suite with shower, pedestal washbasin and WC.

The gardens are a delight and linked to the house by paved seating areas to both the front and the back. There are expansive lawns, areas of wildflowers, fine trees and a wooded area with a small burn. There is an attached double garage with two up and over doors, power and light, with a log store to the side. A wooden summer house (3.4m x 6.6m) has power and light, and a lovely paved seating area. There is a garden store, divided into two (each 4m x 2.95m). In addition there is a hen house and a wooden tool/potting shed (2.5m x 6.75m).

Directions

From Brechin take the A933, signposted to Arbroath, crossing over the River South Esk. After 1.1 miles take the turning on the left for Farnell. Proceed for 2.2 miles, passing through the village and crossing over the small bridge, and the turning into The Hollies will be found on the right, just before reaching the village hall. From Montrose take the A92 south, and then the A934, signposted to Forfar. After some 4 miles turn right signposted Farnell, and the turning into The Hollies will be found on the left, after 0.2 miles, just after passing the village hall. From Forfar take the B9113, signposted for Montrose. Proceed straight over the junction with the A933 (Arbroath to Brechin road) in Montreathmont Forest, and continue on the A934, signposted for Montrose. After a further 2.2 miles turn left, signposted Farnell, and proceed as above.

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Brechin 4 miles, Montrose 6 miles, Arbroath 11 miles, Forfar 12 miles, Carnoustie 16 miles, Dundee 25 miles, Aberdeen 44 miles.