THIS week's Ayrshire property of the week can only be described as one of the most incredible opportunities the county has to offer.
Monkwood Estate is a simply remarkable country house with cottage, stabling and land situated within a beautiful country estate south of Ayr.
The estate enjoys a remarkable 245 acres of land, and an array of desirable features including a swimming pool, sauna, tennis court and stables.
The estate is comprised of Monkwood House - an exceptional Grade B Listed house dating from the Georgian period situated in a private estate setting by the banks of the River Doon.
This main living includes eight bedrooms, eight bahtroooms and four living spaces.
It is approached from the west via a private tarmacadam driveway which links to the A77 trunk road, past Monkwood Stables and Monkwood Cottage into a tree-lined avenue before reaching a blond gravel turning circle and parking area by the house.
The adjoining lawns are protected by mature broadleaf trees affording the property great privacy and amenity.
The house is typically Georgian in style being two storeys on a raised basement and accessible via stone steps leading to a central pedimented doorway.
It is an entirely manageable property with beautifully proportioned rooms, ideal for entertaining.
To the rear of the main house is a detached double garage with additional storage and oil tank.
Adjacent to this is the fabulous indoor heated swimming pool with glazed frontage and sliding doors making it a pleasurable facility whatever the weather.
The pool is approximately 11m x 5m with a depth ranging from 1.10m - 1.40m and is partially heated from solar panels located on the roof.
Internally there is a sauna, changing facilities, shower room and WC.
The glazed doors open out on to a small paved terrace and lawn adjoining the tennis court.
The setting benefits from the wooded and informal grounds surrounding the house, affording privacy from the other estate properties.
For the keen gardener, a partially walled garden area by the river provides a sheltered setting for a large glasshouse and polytunnel.
Adjacent is an old semi-derelict gardener's cottage which could be redeveloped (subject to obtaining the necessary consents). Various walks and a well maintained riverside path are easily accessible from the gardens.
The estate also contains Monkwood Stables - an outstanding conversion of the original stabling of Monkwood House which dates back to the later part of the 19th century.
The project was sympathetically undertaken in the late 1990s retaining the original stonework and using carefully sourced materials to complement the design.
The house occupies the western, and part of the southern elevation of the traditional U shaped buildings and includes a stunning circular drawing room.
Adjoining the house, and comprising the southern elevation of the U shaped courtyard, is a block of traditional stables with two foaling boxes and a third loose box, a tack room and additional storage.
A separate concrete framed building with insulated cladding comprises Monarch stabling with a further five loose boxes and a hay store.
The stables are all conveniently located adjacent to the outdoor arena which is 45m x 27m.
On the eastern elevation of the U shaped courtyard is a three bedroom cottage providing further accommodation.
The estate as a whole has recently come onto the market with estate agents Savills, who are looking for offers over £3,750,000.
You can view the estate in great detail online, at tinyurl.com/MonkwoodEstate.
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