Historic country house with stunning hillside setting above conservation village.

Blairlogie Castle was originally the seat of the Spittals, a family of merchants to the Scottish Kings. The family’s history dates back to 1367 when Robert Spittal was tailor to Margaret Tudor. The estate was granted to Alexander Spittal in about 1543 and the front portion of the house dates from this period. The house bears this date and his initials with a Fleur de Lys and his wife’s initials with a Scottish thistle above the windows on the west side. Tailor’s scissors can be seen carved above the window above the front door. The east wing was added in about 1582 by Adam Spittal, Alexander’s grandson. In 1892 an addition was made to the back of the house by General Hare which includes a wing of bedrooms and bathrooms. This addition has been marked by the initials JH, AH and MH 1892 above the door at the back of the house. The sundial in the garden between the house and old stables was also added at that time. Blairlogie Castle sits above the conservation village of Blairlogie at the foot of Dumyat in the Ochil Hills. The property commands magnificent views over the Forth Valley to the Wallace Monument. Blairlogie is a small village or Scots “clachan”. It is the earliest of Scotland’s officially designated Conservation Areas. The village is picturesque, with an eclectic cluster of white houses, mainly of the 18th and 19th centuries, though some are older.

The present day house is a property of outstanding character which retains many original features and is listed Category A. The property offers comfortable rooms and a sensible layout for modern family occupation. The main entrance has a vaulted hallway and a wine cellar off to the side. Also on the ground floor is a sitting room with an arched 16th century stone fireplace with a solid fuel stove and aumbry recess. The kitchen has a four oven gas AGA, wooden cupboards and a Belfast sink. Beyond the kitchen are a utility room, back door and WC. There is a panelled central hall on the principal floor which connects to the drawing room, dining room and pantry. The drawing room has a decorative panelled ceiling, stone fireplace, 16th century oak aumbry and a studded door to spiral stairs up to the library. The dining room has brightly painted ceiling panels and a fireplace with stone surround. The pantry has fitted linen and glass cupboards with painted doors. There are also two bedrooms and two bathrooms on this floor. The wooden carved staircase rises to the second floor. The library at the top of the house has a ceiling made of ship’s timbers. There are three more bedrooms and a bathroom. One of the bedrooms is currently used as a study. Off the back stairs is a loft bedroom or studio. COTTAGE The cottage is connected to the house by an arch. It is open plan with a living room with solid fuel stove, kitchen area with fitted cupboards, shower room with sauna and galleried bedroom with coombed ceiling. STABLES The former stables are built of stone under a tiled roof and provide useful ancillary accommodation. The former stalls have a panelled ceiling. The studio has slotted side windows. There is a large store room. GARAGES Below the stables is a single garage with sliding wooden doors. To the side is a flat roofed double garage with sliding half glazed wooden doors. GARDENS Blairlogie Castle is set in 2.6 acres of south facing gardens which are laid out in terraces and are protected by mature trees. There are many unusual plants and specimens in the garden. In front of the castle, enclosed by a castellated arch, is a gravel sweep. Between the castle and the old stables is a flat garden with a central sundial surrounded by hedges and herbaceous borders. A gate and steps lead up to lawns to the north of the house. There is a lawn with a stone summerhouse above and a south facing vegetable garden with fruit cages to the side. There are mature apple and plum trees in a small orchard. A gate at the top of the property leads onto the hill, from where a path leads to the top of Dumyat. Below the house is a terrace with a garden store and a large greenhouse. There is a barbecue area and a flat lawn surrounded by shrubs and herbaceous borders. Below this terrace are trees and banks of azaleas and rhododendrons. Running down the eastern side of the garden is a woodland area featuring azalea and rhododendrons with a burn and waterfalls. This passes under the drive which leads down to the front gates.