4 bed detached house for sale

East Mains Farm, Craichie, By Forfar, Angus DD8

Outstanding country house, recently fully refurbished and now beautifully appointed, with useful outbuildings and land.

Description
East Mains Farm is an outstanding country house, situated close to Letham. An attractive south facing former farmhouse, with lovely views over surrounding countryside, it was built in about 1830. In about 2005 extensive renovations were undertaken, including extending into part of the adjoining farm buildings, so that the house is now a modern home in an older shell, arranged around a central courtyard, allowing light to flow into the property. In 2022 further insulation was installed and in 2026 some 96 ground mounted solar panels were installed, along with two storage batteries, and two air source heat pumps, reducing running costs and producing a useful income. The house is fully double glazed, energy efficient, and extremely well presented. There is underfloor heating on the ground floor. The heart of the house is the wonderful open plan kitchen/dining/living room. At the front are two reception rooms. A circular hallway, arranged around the courtyard, gives access to two further reception rooms, as well as a fabulous principal bedroom suite, along with an office. Upstairs are three further bedrooms. The flow and size of the house are such that it is both ideal for entertaining, and for modern family living. It looks out over its own gardens. To the west is a paddock, now partly used for the solar panels, while to the east are the range of original farm buildings, currently used for domestic storage and garaging, but have potential for other purposes, such as business, equestrian, conversion etc, subject to any necessary consents. A range of cart ports have been renovated for garaging, while a former bothy now houses the battery storage. All in all, this is a thoroughly modernised and efficient country house, with land and buildings giving considerable versatility. While modern internally, it still retains traditional-style features such as cornices in the reception rooms and bedrooms, and panelled doors.

The drive leads past the steading and garaging, to parking adjacent to the entrance door. This opens to a vestibule with a tiled floor. Off this is a cloakroom which leads to a utility room, both with a tiled floor. The utility room has fitted units with a Zanussi under counter fridge, John Lewis dryer, Hoover washing machine, sink and a walk in shelved larder. From the vestibule stairs lead down to the principal accommodation, arranged around the courtyard, which is ideal for sitting out. Surrounding this is a hallway with full length internal windows, low level lighting, tiled floor and staircase to the first floor. The superb open plan kitchen has units with quartz worktops, a tiled floor and is flooded with light from remote controlled velux windows. Fitted appliances include a neff five burner gas hob with extractor, combination microwave, warming drawer and oven, along with a Liebherr fridge and freezer. An island unit has a sink, neff dishwasher and breakfast bar. There is ample space for informal dining and seating. A dining room, currently used as a gym, has a wooden floor, while a library has fitted bookshelves and a wooden floor. Linking the hallway to the garden is a front sun porch. Either side is a sitting room and a living room – each has a fireplace with woodburning stove and wooden flooring. The principal bedroom has a dressing room with fitted wardrobes and a tiled en suite with freestanding bath, shower cubicle, washbasin, bidet and WC. The office has wooden flooring and adjacent is a WC with washbasin and tiled floor.

The fine oak staircase leads up to the first floor landing, with a hatch with attic ladder to partially floored roof space. Bedrooms 2 and 3 face south, while a tiled bathroom has a bath, shower cubicle, washbasin and WC. Bedroom 4 has a tiled en suite with shower cubicle, washbasin and WC.

Adjacent to the entrance door is a car charging point, and two air source heat pumps. A plant room houses the controls for the solar and heat pumps, while adjacent is a store, and two garages. Opposite is a stone built garage block with a slate roof, with a store, triple car ports and a workshop/garage. A stone built former bothy with a corrugated roof houses the two batteries. In front is a paved terrace, ideal for sitting out, with steps to the garden, mainly in lawn with some pretty flower borders and trees. A side garden was used for growing vegetables.

The original stone built steading with a slate roof, comprises an open fronted store (approx. 4.6m x 3.9m), former courts (approx. 13.6m x 11.7m and 15.1m x 16.3m), and L shaped barn (approx. 15.8m x 4.9m and 10.3m x 5.5m). A grassed area has a brick built store with a corrugated roof (approx. 10.4m x 4.6m) and a stone built shelter with box profile roof (approx. 3.7m x 3.7m). In all the grounds extend to 4 acres.

Location
East Mains Farm, near Craichie in Angus, is most conveniently located just to the south west of Letham, in attractive rolling countryside. Lying to the north of Letham is Dunnichen Hill, which is the reported site of the Battle of Nechtansmere in 685 ad, when the Picts reclaimed this part of Scotland. East Mains Farm is only 4 miles from the Angus town of Forfar, and 10 miles from Arbroath and Carnoustie. The A90 dual carriageway (at Lochlands) is only 4.5 miles away and provides fast access north to Aberdeen and to the south. Dundee is easily reached, while journey times to Aberdeen and its airport have been much reduced by the Western Peripheral Route.

Primary schooling is found in the nearby village of Letham (1.75 miles) which also has local shopping including a post office, convenience store, craft shop, chemist and baker, along with a hairdresser, pub and hotel. The well known Milton Haugh farm and coffee shop is close by. Forfar, the county town, provides extensive shopping and business facilities, together with secondary schooling at the new community campus which has a swimming pool and leisure centre. Carnoustie and Arbroath also provide extensive shopping, business and leisure facilities. Private schooling is available at the High School of Dundee, with a bus from Forfar and the Kinnettles junction on the A90. Dundee offers all the facilities expected of a major city including an excellent range of shops and professional services, together with good leisure facilities, two universities and Ninewells Hospital. It is an established centre of excellence in education and life sciences, and its renowned cultural facilities include the V&A museum.

There are local golf courses at Forfar, Barry and Arbroath, with the renowned championship course at Carnoustie within easy reach. Fishing can be taken on the nearby North and South Esks. The Angus Glens provide some of the best hill walking in eastern Scotland, with skiing at Glenshee. There is a pleasant sandy beach at Lunan Bay, while Arbroath, famous for its smokies, has a marina. Crombie and Monikie country parks are nearby and have lovely walks, together with other activities. Balgavies Loch is a nearby nature reserve, while loch fishing is available locally at Rescobie. There are equestrian facilities at Bractullo Mill (Letham), West Drums (Brechin) and at Inverarity.

There are railway stations at Arbroath, Carnoustie and Dundee with mainline services to Aberdeen and to the south, including a sleeper to London. Aberdeen and Edinburgh Airports provide a range of domestic and international flights.

Approximate Distances - Letham 1.75 miles, Forfar 4 miles, A90 (Lochlands) 4.5 miles, Carnoustie 10 miles, Arbroath 10 miles, Dundee 15 miles, Perth 36 miles, Aberdeen 53 miles.

Postcode for Sat Nav - DD8 2LW
What3words - /// found.balconies.mystery

Square Footage: 4,981 sq ft

Acreage:
4 Acres

Directions
Turn off the A90 dual carriageway at Forfar. From Forfar take the B9128 signposted for Muirdrum and Carnoustie. Proceed through the village of Kingsmuir and continue for a further 1.8 miles. At Craichie turn left, signposted Bowriefauld and Letham, and after 0.4 miles turn right at the cottage with a sign for East Mains of Craichie. Proceed down the farm drive, past a further cottage and bear right.

Alternatively from the Lochlands junction, (A932) on the A90 just to the south of Forfar, turn off signposted Arbroath. Then take the first right signposted Ladenford and Lour. Continue for 3.2 miles and at the T junction with the B9128 turn right signposted Muirdrum and Carnoustie. In Craichie turn left as above.

Additional Info
Viewings - Strictly by appointment with Savills .

Services - Mains water and electricity, private drainage, lpg for cooker, two Samsung heat pumps, 96 ground mounted solar panels (maximum output of 42kw), two Sigenergy battery storage units in bothy (36 kwh).

Local Authority & tax band - Angus Council tax band G.

Fixtures & Fittings - Fitted carpets, curtains and light fittings are included.

Photos taken and brochure produced June 2026.

Access - The neighbour has a right of access over the drive to the cottage and steading to the rear, which is not owned, and to the field.

Servitude rights, burdens and wayleaves
The property is sold subject to and with the benefit of all servitude rights, burdens, reservations and wayleaves, including rights of access and rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cable, drains and water, gas and other pipes, whether contained in the Title Deeds or informally constituted and whether referred to in the General Remarks and Stipulations or not. The Purchaser(s) will be held to have satisfied himself as to the nature of all such servitude rights and others.

Offers
Offers, in Scottish legal form, must be submitted by your solicitor to the Selling Agents. It is intended to set a closing date but the seller reserves the right to negotiate a sale with a single party. All genuinely interested parties are advised to instruct their solicitor to note their interest with the Selling Agents immediately after inspection.

Deposit
A deposit of 10% of the purchase price may be required. It will be paid within 7 days of the conclusion of Missives. The deposit will be non-returnable in the event of the Purchaser(s) failing to complete the sale for reasons not attributable to the Seller or his agents.
Important notice


Savills, their clients and any joint agents give notice that:

1. They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact.
2. Any areas, measurements or distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidance only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise.

Our ref DRO260605