Circa 1850 Scottish Architect David Bryce-Designed Portmore Estate

£14,450,000 | 1850 | 17,234 Sq. Ft. | 18 Beds | 13 Baths | 3,459 Acres

Peebles, Scottish Borders, Scotland, United Kingdom

Portmore Estate is a highly desirable Scottish Estate extending to some 3,459 acres (1,400 hectares). Centred on Portmore House, a Category A-Listed country house, the estate sits within beautiful and well-tended policies with restored walled garden and Victorian glasshouse, a parterre, parkland fields, mature deciduous woodlands, farmland and hill ground, together with the reservoir to the north. The estate provides great seclusion and amenity, nestled discreetly in the rolling Borders countryside.

The farming enterprise is run from Boreland Farm, which lies to the south of Portmore House and includes a farmhouse, cottage and practical range of modern and traditional farm buildings. The highly regarded pheasant shoot, which ran for many years, has very recently ceased following the retirement of the keeper. In addition to a lower ground floor flat within Portmore House, there are five further residential dwellings on the estate; Primrose Cottage (Gardener’s House), Hillhead Cottage (Keeper’s House), Portmore Lodge and both 1 & 3 Skiprig Cottages.

Portmore Estate is situated in a most private and highly scenic rural setting, a short distance from the village of Eddleston and about 5 miles to the north of Peebles in the Scottish Borders. Eddleston is a delightful conservation village with a thriving community with a primary school, village hall and the Horseshoe Inn. The historical Royal Burgh of Peebles, on the River Tweed, offers an extensive range of services including independent retailers, supermarkets, banks, medical centre and both primary and secondary schools.

Portmore House is a Category A-Listed Scots baronial house built in 1850 and designed by the Scottish architect, David Bryce. Constructed of red sandstone under a principally slated roof with lead additions, it has a central tower together with turrets on the western elevation, crow step gables and sash and case windows. The South Wing was partially rebuilt following a fire in the 1980s. Portmore House offers well-proportioned rooms which are light and bright with a wealth of period of features including wood panelling, fine cornicing, panelled doors and fireplaces and the original organ in the hall.

Portmore House provides beautiful principal reception rooms and extensive bedroom accommodation with a most welcoming kitchen with practical ancillary rooms. The accommodation extends to a billiard room on the lower ground floor, a playroom and a 2-bedroomed caretaker’s flat. Adjoining the principal house is a practical range of outbuildings lying to the north with a partly covered cobbled courtyard adjacent. The accommodation of Portmore House lies over three principal floors comprising

The gardens at Portmore are a notable feature of the estate having been carefully restored and developed under the current ownership of the last 40 years. A tree lined drive leads from the entrance lodge to an extensive gravelled sweep to the front of the house with lawns and backdrop of fine deciduous specimen trees. To the east lies the parterre with a stone edged canal and fountain which are set in the grass terraces and surrounded by yew hedges.

The Walled Garden is exquisite and lies to the north of the house, extends to about 1.5 acres and since 1987, has been extensively restored by the current owners. Its original traditional style has been complemented by a more contemporary approach, resulting in an outstanding and significant garden of considerable note. It benefits from a southerly aspect, is enclosed by a whinstone wall and wrought iron railings with a Victorian glasshouse and brick outbuildings on the north side. The garden is symmetrically laid out with gravelled paths, lawned areas, hedging, herbaceous borders and specimen shrubs and trees.

To the east is the Water Garden with a stream and number of pools interplanted with specimen shrubs, trees and herbaceous planting. Lying beyond is a woodland walk with a fine collection of azaleas, rhododendrons and spring bulbs completing the superb horticultural features at Portmore.

Emma Chalmers • perth@galbraithgroup.com
Galbraith Group
Photography Credit: Galbraith

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