bspc property guide feature property

THE BSPC PROPERTY GUIDE / FEATURE PROPERTY Page 13

Ravenscraig, 9 BrierylawSt Abbs, Berwickshire

Offers Around £235,000Details on page 32

Location, location, location . . . the mantra for a

semi-villa in the picturesque fishing village of St Abbs

While the Scottish Borders region isrenowned for scenic locations, thepicturesque fishing village of St Abbs, onthe Berwickshire coast, has to be one ofthe finest.

And unlike many idyllic waterfront locations,it’s also accessible, within easy reach of theA1 to Edinburgh and Newcastle, whilenearby Berwick upon Tweed has a mainlinerail service north and south of the border.

Historically known as Coldingham Shore, as the fishermen who worked here camefrom Fisher’s Brae in neighbouringColdingham, the village officially becameSt Abbs in the late 1890s after the nearbyrocky promontory, St Abbs Head.

Nowadays St Abbs and neighbouringspectacular Coldingham Bay, whichhas one of the finest sandy beaches inScotland, are world-famous centres forscuba diving, the unusually clear water andunderwater scenery being recognisedofficially in 1984 when the area becameBritain’s first Voluntary Marine Reserve.

Up again, off the second floor landing, oneof the attic rooms has Velux windows tothe front and rear, plus a wash-hand basinand vanity unit. While this room hasaccess to eaves storage, the other front-facing attic room has a door leading to afurther attic area, most of which is floored.The space and potential in this house isexceptional - and quite unexpected.

On the ground floor, the entrance vestibuleis a charming feature with a front-facingwindow, wood-panelling, cornice and tiledfloor. A part-glazed front door opens intothe main reception hall where the mosaic-tiled floor is another eye-catching feature.

Off the hall is a formal dining room, whichhas a feature fireplace and wood floor, anda good-sized 19ft dining kitchen with fittedunits, two electric hobs, double oven,stainless steel sink and multi-fuel stove.There is also a large bathroom fitted with a four-piece suite, and a family room.

Ravenscraig is a deceptively spacioussemi-villa in one of the village’s most scenicspots, an elevated setting with unrestrictedviews over the harbour and out across the North Sea and only a short walkfrom Coldingham Sands. The house hasaccommodation over three levels andincludes three reception rooms, large diningkitchen, two bathrooms, shower room,three bedrooms and two sizeable atticrooms, all of which makes it an ideal familyhome, albeit in need of upgrading andgeneral decoration. There is an attractivefront garden, an enclosed rear courtyardwith two outhouses, and a side drivewayleading to an attached single garage.

The layout is unusual in that it has rooms in unexpected places, such as thebedroom and shower room off a rear upperlanding, an excellent arrangement for aguest suite. The main sitting room, whichhas windows at either end (those at therear of the property revealing superb sea views of the sea and harbour), is upanother level off the first floor landing alongwith two further bedrooms (one with fittedwardrobes and a wash basin) and abathroom.

The village has a local communitycentre, rowing club and lifeboat station- nearby Coldingham and Eyemouthhave a good range of shops and otherfacilities - while the new St Abbs VisitorCentre, which opened in March 2011inthe old village hall, precariously perchedon a cliff edge, is a free resource forvisitors and local alike and highlightsthe history of the village as well as thegeology and local flora and fauna.

Ravenscraig’s interior is in need ofupdating but all the basics are here,including oil fired central heating anddouble glazing. Given a makeover, itwould be a stunning permanent homeor holiday home in one of the country’smost desirable seaside locations. A win-win situation if ever there was one.