A country house on the banks of the Dee

A grand country house on the riverbank with a prime stretch of fishing is now on the market.

Presented by Stutt and Parker, Waterstone House and Fishings, in Banchory, Aberdeenshire, is for sale as a whole, or in two lots.
Lot one is Waterstone House, and is for sale for offers over £1,100,000.

This is one of the finest family homes in Banchory, in a prime location with frontage to the River Dee.

The property is in the heart of the village and was built in 1973 in the former walled garden of the Banchory Lodge Hotel. The house sits in grounds of about two acres and on three sides are the high walls of the garden, whilst to the south three terraces of borders and lawns lead down to the riverbank.

The seller has owned the house since 1999 and has carried out some significant improvements to the property since its acquisition; including a substantial new sunroom, circa 52m², and a triple garage. Waterstone House is approached off the A93 down the shared private road to the impressive black cast iron electric entrance gates, which lead into a gravelled turning area in the grounds.

Waterstone House and Fishings is for sale in two lots or as a whole

The house is entered up steps through a four-pillar portico, which leads to an outer and then an inner reception hall. Doors lead to all the main reception rooms from the central hall. The dual aspect drawing room has a marble fireplace and cornice. Glazed double doors lead to the large sunroom, with its outstanding outlook into the garden.

The high ceiling is a particular feature. The reception hall also has doors to the dining room, cloakroom, study, sitting room and kitchen.

The kitchen has views to the entrance, there are floor and wall units with granite worktops and some fitted appliances. The adjacent utility room houses the heating boiler and leads to the back porch. On the first floor are the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom, bedroom two with ensuite bathroom, bedrooms three, four and five, and a shower room.

Outside, the triple garage added in 2004 is to the east of the house and measures 10.24m x 6.53m, with three electric doors. It also has its own cloakroom and mains gas boiler for hot water in the garage.

The garden is a haven of tranquillity, with the river creating a perfect backdrop. On the walls is a range of fruit trees, whilst in the borders below is a wide range of herbaceous plants and flowers, with neatly mown lawns. Stone steps lead down to the different terraces in the garden. The bottom terrace is fairly flat lawn with impressive fir trees. There is also the Cobbleheugh Bothy, the former boatman’s shelter.

Included in the sale of lot one will be the riverbank and salmon fishing rights in front of the house to the medium filum of the river. This is known as Station Stream pool and catch analysis suggests circa five salmon per annum are caught in this pool.

Inside the spacious kitchen at Waterstone House

Lot two is the Banchory Fishings, for offers over £1,350,000.

The Banchory Fishings are located on the River Dee adjacent to the prosperous town of Banchory. The fishings run downstream from the bridge for about 850 metres, which includes the confluence of the River Feugh, the biggest tributary of the River Dee. Both banks are well maintained and have seen significant investment over the last 20 years. There is good pedestrian access for fishers along both banks and mature trees line both banks.

The fishing hut is located on the south bank in a central location; it is a timber frame building, 6.8m x 4.0m, with a panoramic outlook over the beat. There is a cloakroom and the hut has services connected.

The Banchory Fishings are mostly double bank. Access to both banks is excellent. The banks are well maintained and large parts are mown. The beat extends to about 850 metres on the south bank and 600 metres on the north bank. The beat holds fish waiting to run the spectacular Falls of Feugh.

The beat is traditionally fished by four rods and there are 11 named pools (one on lot one). Fishing is available at most heights and there is an even spread of fishing effort from each bank with easy wading into most pools, unless the water is high.

The five-year average is 154 salmon and 60 sea trout. The best year was 2012 when 543 salmon were caught. The 10-year average is 285 salmon and 75 sea trout. Over the last five years, 770 salmon and 303 sea trout have been caught, of which 56% of the salmon are from the Hotel pool and 16% from Tilquhillie, whilst 30% of sea trout are also caught in the Hotel pool.

The River Dee enjoys international fame as one of the four largest rivers in Scotland, with a reputation for providing in the past some of the finest spring fishing in the UK. It is an attractive river, rising in the Cairngorms and draining an area of over 2,000 square kilometres before entering the North Sea at Aberdeen, having travelled a course of over 90 miles.

Waterstone House sits on the River Dee

The River Dee Board has been active in removing all of the nets from around the estuary and for much of the East Coast of Scotland, including a contribution to the buyout of the Northumbrian drift nets.

Since 1999 there has been a catch and release policy on the river, with over 95% of caught fish being released; one of the best observed policies in Scotland. There has also been, and continues to be, very extensive habitat improvement works throughout the river. All of these works are resulting in greatly improved catch returns, much of the river is fished on a fly only basis, and this is 100% observed on this beat.

The conservation measures being promoted by the Dee Board give great hope for the future health of the river and for the continued improvement of catches throughout the river system. Any improvement in the catches has an immediate effect on the capital value.

The total rod catch in 2010 was 9,289 (including October); the second best return in 44 years. The season opens on 1st February and closes on 30 September. Historically the Dee is renowned for its spring fishing but the Dee’s summer salmon and grilse are the most abundant of the river’s fish stocks, with plentiful runs of sea trout from May. The autumn run starts in August, providing excellent and productive fishing throughout the river for all stock components.

This property has 20.21 acres of land.

The agents will consider offers over £2,450,000.

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