Anyone embarking on the restoration of a dilapidated historic house needs staying power and a well-honed sense of humour, as Allan Duguid and his wife, Jacqueline, discovered when, in 2009, they bought the secluded, 245-acre Straloch House estate near Newmachar, 10 miles from Aberdeen, five miles from the city’s airport, and for sale with a £2.95m price tag via Galbraith.
Once part of a 6,000-acre estate, at its heart stood Category A-listed Straloch House, a handsome, classically symmetrical Georgian mansion, built in about 1780 on the site of the former castle of Straloch and by then in need of serious renovation.
Undaunted, the Duguids installed themselves in the west wing as they set about repairing the roof of the 13,000sq ft main house and its matching wings, installing new central heating and new timber windows throughout, followed by a complete refurbishment of the interior.
It was a massive operation that took five years to complete, and, today, Straloch House is again a pristine country house with a total of three main reception rooms, 15 bedrooms, a billiards room and a gym.
The results — as these pictures show — speak for themselves, but the agents put it rather well in their listing: 'The entire scope of work has been completed to an exceptional standard, for which Straloch House and its stature deserves, thus allowing any potential buyer of Straloch House Estate the rare opportunity to acquire a historic mansion house in impeccable condition.'
The grounds are equally worthy of mention, surrounding the house with rolling wooded grounds, well-tended lawns, and a two-acre walled garden. It means that Straloch House can be home to Mr and Mrs Duguid, their two daughters and grandchildren, each family having their own separate domain.
Now, following Mr Duguid’s retirement, the time has come to downsize, and the Straloch House Estate is for sale through Galbraith in Aberdeen.
Straloch House is for sale at offers over £2.95m via Galbraith — see more details and pictures.
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
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
-
The King's favourite tea, conclave and spring flowers: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 22, 2025Tuesday's Quiz of the Day blows smoke, tells the time and more.
-
London is the place for me* (*the discerning property buyer)With more buyers looking at London than anywhere else, is the 'race for space' finally over?
-
London is the place for me* (*the discerning property buyer)
With more buyers looking at London than anywhere else, is the 'race for space' finally over?
-
What's a 'wellness village' and will it tempt you back into the office?The team behind London's first mixed-use ‘wellness village’ says it has the magic formula for tempting workers back into offices.
-
A mini estate in Kent that's so lovely it once featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain'The Paper Mill estate is a picture-postcard in the Garden of England.
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London homeBehind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtowerOn Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in KentGrade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attachedUpper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
