Moray Cottages and Auchanhandoch Farmhouse, Dufftown, AB55 4DR

Offers Over

£495,000 (Freehold)

Highly attractive, lifestyle business set in a beautiful elevated position with panoramic views

Superb trading location close to the charming village of Dufftown on the Speyside whisky trail

The subjects include an attractive 2/3-bedroom owners’ farmhouse and a barn conversion creating two substantial luxury self-catering cottages, with two and three bedrooms.

The business trades profitably enjoying high occupancy levels offering a leisurely home and income opportunity

Spacious grounds extending to circa 1.9 acres and various outbuildings. There is planning consent (lapsed) for a substantial extension to the farmhouse

DESCRIPTIONMoray Cottages is a most desirable business and lifestyle opportunity set close to the charming and popular village of Dufftown in the heart of the Speyside Valley. The subjects extend to about 1.9 acres, comprising attractive garden grounds for both the self-catering cottages and private garden area for the owners. The property sits almost 1000 feet above sea level and is set in a peaceful and totally rural location, with glorious views, surrounded by countryside. The superbly redeveloped barn

was converted by the current owners in 2005 to form two self-catering units named Mill Cottage and Stable Cottage.

The owner’s accommodation (Auchanhandoch Farmhouse) comprises a traditional three bedroom farmhouse, which is located slightly above the cottages to the side and at a distance which assures privacy. Dating from the 1900s this is a most comfortable family home, with the potential to extend subject to the necessary permissions.

THE BUSINESSThe vendors trade the business whilst enjoying the opportunity to engage in separate employment options. Trading as Moray Cottages, since December 2005 this is a well-established business which trades most of the year round. Moray Cottages is a member of Visit Scotland (4* graded); A member of Dufftown 2000, a local business group promoting the area, and a member of the ASSC. The cottages enjoy higher than

House Kitchen

average annual occupancy rates and strong guest loyalty with approximately 45% of the bookings in 2017 being repeat guests. Moray Cottages enjoys 100% excellent reviews on Trip advisor. The cottages are an ideal base for exploring the wider region. Catering for groups, families and single travellers, the business has an excellently well-maintained website plus they utilise various portal web sites generating a steady stream of customers. The cottages are presently let for full weeks or shorter-term lets. The vendors trade at a very leisurely pace which suits their lifestyle choices. New owners could, if so desired, drive the business more fully and develop the site further subject to consents.

House Staircase

House Dining Room

LOCATIONThere is no shortage of visitors to this part of Scotland. The property is two miles from Dufftown which is the Whisky Capital of Scotland with its 7 distilleries, including the globally famous Glenfiddich Distillery. This area attracts visitors from all over the world.

The area also has excellent transport links and being almost equidistant between Aberdeen & Inverness airports it is an easy place to get to and from. Moray has few equals in terms of what it offers visitors. From the empty beaches on the northern coast to the Cairngorm national park in the south, visitors can enjoy a wide range of attractions year round. The cottages make an ideal base from which visitors can enjoy the host of activities and attractions that abound in Scotland’s North East.

REASON FOR SELLINGOwned and operated by our clients since 2004/2005, they have now brought the property onto the market to allow them to retire from the hospitality sector.

THE COTTAGESThe business trades with two letting cottages; Mill Cottage and Stable Cottage. These properties were converted from a barn in 2005 and there is an area to the end of the barn which could still be converted with suitable planning consents. The units are semi-detached with separate access, parking and garden area

House Bathroom

MILL COTTAGEThis three bedroom 4-Star graded holiday cottage is stone built under a pitched slate roof and is formed over two floors. The cottage sleeps five and comprises; sitting room with open fire, well equipped kitchen, cloak room, family bathroom with bath and shower, plus two double bedrooms, one of which is en-suite, and a single downstairs bedroom. The property has central heating and is double glazed, with Wi-Fi throughout. Internally the cottage is finished to a high standard where attention to detail by the owners is clear to see. The modern and well equipped kitchen is spacious and has plenty room for a dining table and chairs. The comfortable lounge has an open fire and TV/DVD player. The garden is fully enclosed, equipped with garden furniture and barbeque, with ample parking space for two cars.

Mill Cottage Kitchen

Mill Cottage Sitting Room

Mill Cottage Kitchen

Mill Cottage EntranceMill Cottage En-suite

Mill Cottage Master Bedroom

Mill Cottage Family Bathroom

STABLE COTTAGEThis two bedroom 4 star cottage adjoins Mill Cottage and is of a similar construction being part of the same converted steading. The cottage sleeps four comfortably in two double bedrooms and includes a hall, sitting room with open fire, a well-equipped and modern kitchen with a dining table and chairs, cloak room and a shower room. Stable cottage offers the same quality finish as Mill Cottage and the same facilities. Both gardens are enclosed and offer ample parking.

AUCHANHANDOCH FARMHOUSE The farmhouse dates from the 1900s and offers a comfortable family home with modern touches but managing to retain some of the period features, such as cornicing and fireplaces. Entrance is via a bright porch which leads into a spacious hall, the property comprises; 2/3 bedrooms, kitchen with oil fired rayburn, dining room, sitting room, cloakroom, new shower room and utility room. The property has oil fired central heating and benefits from a large garden to the front and rear, plentiful parking plus spectacular views from all of the windows.

GROUNDSA signposted entrance leads onto a well-made track that winds ½ a mile up the hill to the property. The grounds are set mainly to lawn although for the keen gardener there is plenty of scope to develop more formal planting. There is a productive vegetable garden and soft fruit cage. Outbuildings include two useful stone barns a chicken house and a pump house. There is lapsed planning consent for an extension to the farmhouse should the buyer wish to add space and make their ideal home.

SERVICESThe subjects benefit from mains electricity. The farm house and cottages have private water supplies and private drainage. All the properties have oil fired central heating. The property enjoys a reasonable broadband speed and there is a wireless Wi-Fi providing broadband service to the cottages from the farmhouse.

TRADEMoray Cottages is a successful lifestyle business trading profitably from 12 months operation. Full accounting information will be made available to seriously interested parties subsequent to viewing.

Stable Living Room

Stable Master Bedroom Stable Twin Bedroom Stable Family Bathroom

Stable Kitchen

HOTELS GUESTHOUSES LICENSED RETAIL OFFICES INDUSTRIAL UNITS

17 Kenneth Street Inverness IV3 5NR

Telephone 01463 714757

www.bedandbreakfastsales.co.ukContains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database 2014

WEBSITEwww.moray-cottages.com

PRICE Offers over £495,000 are invited for the heritable property complete with goodwill and trade contents (according to inventory), excluding personal items.

EPC RATINGSThe EPC ratings are as follows; The Farmhouse is ‘E’, Stable Cottage is ‘D’ and Mill Cottage is ‘D’.

FINANCE & LEGAL SERVICESASG Commercial Ltd is in touch with several lenders who provide specialist finance to the hospitality trade. Paul Hart (Director Commercial Sales) will be delighted to discuss your financing requirements with you and make an appropriate introduction. We have access to a large team of legal experts who can act in all legal matters arising to include conveyancing and licence transfers.

DIRECTIONSSee Map.

OFFERSAll offers should be submitted in writing to ASG Commercial Ltd with whom purchasers should register their interest if they wish to be advised of a Closing Date.

VIEWINGAll appointments to view must be made through the vendors selling agents:

ASG Commercial 17 Kenneth Street Inverness IV5 5NR

Tel: 01463 714757

Mob: 07799 896931 Paul Hart

Mob: 07557 785879 Jackie MacGregor

E-mail: info@asgcommercial.co.uk

Web: www.asgcommercial.co.uk