A beautiful Arts-and-Crafts home in a town with a beach, castle and award-winning ice cream
Described as ‘one of the most lovely houses in Broughty Ferry’, Melfort offers prime accommodation in a wonderful coastal location.


In 1927, Dundee architect and businessman George Morton decided that he was to build himself a house. The location he chose? Broughty Ferry, four miles east of Dundee itself, and a place which boasts a beach, castle, museum, and one of Scotland's very best ice cream sellers: Visocchi's Cafe, which has been a local institution since 1954.
It's also a spot with a mixture of large Victorian villas and quaint fishermen’s cottages, and thus made an ideal spot for Morton's proposed house, Melfort, which is a substantial family property designed and built in the Arts-and-Crafts style. This handsome home is currently on the market via Savills for offers over £1 million.
Fully detached, harled and with a slate roof, the property has been ‘thoroughly modernised’ in recent years, but retains a wealth of period features.
As well as seven bedrooms and four reception rooms, the house comes with a variety of different styles and spaces for entertaining.
The owners recently installed a games room and gym, as well as a brand new kitchen, while a pitch-pine staircase in the heart of the house and wooden flooring throughout preserve the character.
As well as being a great home for families, it's also idea for golf enthusiasts: the property is almost perfectly equidistant between the Open Championship venues at Carnoustie, along the coast to the east, and St Andrews, which is 20 minutes or so away once you've crossed the Tay Bridge into Fife.
The town is home to a number of great pubs and restaurants, supermarkets, shopping facilities, a library, the Royal Tay Yacht Club, as well as primary and secondary schooling (Eastern Primary and Grove Academy are within walking distance from the property).
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The transport links are equally as excellent, with train stations in Broughty Ferry and Dundee, linking to the north and south — including a sleeper train to London. Dundee airport also flies to London City airport, Belfast City and the Shetland Islands.
Melfort is currently on the market via Savills for offers over £1 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
Villa Crusoe: A glorious Devon house, with a private beach, for sale for the first time
With links to Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, the property will 'meet the requirements of even the most demanding of castaways.'
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The shortlist celebrating Britain's best museum gift shops
Our Friday morning news review on museum shops, beech trees, ash dieback, and a rail replacement service you'll be happy to see the sight of.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Villa Crusoe: A glorious Devon house, with a private beach, for sale for the first time
With links to Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, the property will 'meet the requirements of even the most demanding of castaways.'
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Exotic gardens that delight and surround a Grade II-listed manor for sale in Cornwall
Trenarth Manor is a property steeped in history that is reflected in its thoughtful interiors and glorious grounds.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Keira Knightley's Black Doves home is up for sale — and it's a beautiful villa in the neighbourhood dubbed 'South London’s answer to Notting Hill'
The five-bedroom mansion in London’s up-and-coming Crystal Palace stars as the home of Keira Knightley’s character, Helen Webb.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A sublime Huf Haus in West Sussex with some of the finest gardens in the county
Whitehanger in the Marley Heights was built in 2011 and is 'functional, affordable and easy to maintain'.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
World-famous Junction Beat on the River Tweed is up for sale for the first time in 50 years
Break out the rod, tackle and chequebook, as one of the world's most celebrated stretches of salmon angling hits the market.
By James Fisher Published
-
A $26 million Hollywood mansion that might be Beverly Hills' prettiest
The former home of supermodel Christina Estrada is a tremendous Italian-style home just off Sunset Boulevard.
By James Fisher Last updated
-
A five-bedroom family home that would host the perfect Henley party
Church Field in Fawley is spacious and magnificently well appointed, both inside and out.
By James Fisher Published
-
Five classic country houses for sale, from an equestrian home to a manor with a wisteria-draped pool, as seen in Country Life
Our pick of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a house with a beautiful outdoor pool,
By Toby Keel Published