Russell Mains Farm is a handsome collection of high quality homes on the site of a former steading in a quiet corner of Fife.
Just outside the village of Springfield and a 15 minute walk to Cupar, the houses were built on a site formerly occupied by a derelict steading. Award winning developer Carriden Homes completed the development around five years ago.
Planning rules stipulated the houses had to occupy the same footprint as the steading had. However they have been cleverly designed not to overlook one another and each home feels very private.
The Barn is an attractive four-bedroom link detached home that has been substantially upgraded in the short time since it was built.
Its handsome exterior is clad in stone and timber and the roof is tile and slate.
Alasdair Wilson is the second person to have owned the Barn. He bought the house towards the end of last summer.
I visit in the middle of the second summer heatwave. A sprinkler is keeping the garden green and lush.
A pair of sun loungers are laid out on the decking ready for some relaxation. The patio doors are wide open to let the air circulate.
Impressive kitchen
The previous owners ripped out the original kitchen. In its place they installed a high end German kitchen at a cost of around £50,000.
“All the previous places I’ve lived in have had normal B&Q kind of kitchens,” Alasdair smiles. “This is the first time I’ve ever had a really expensive kitchen. I don’t know if I’d spend my own money on it but it is fantastic.
“It’s just really well thought out and usable. From the layout of the cupboards to the extra deep worktops and the instant boiling water tap, it’s really well designed. I’m going to miss it.”
A doorway leads out into the central hallway. The previous owners reconfigured this area, taking away a wall to create an open plan living/dining room.
The large L-shaped space has numerous windows, patio doors on to the decking and a wood burning stove.
“There’s underfloor heating downstairs but I do enjoy having the wood burner on in the wintertime,” Alasdair explains.
“The house is very well insulated and because this is an open plan room the heat flows around and warms the whole house.
“I’m not a fan of open plan kitchens, so it’s nice to have the kitchen in a separate room but the living and dining room as one open plan area. It makes it a good house for entertaining as well.”
A utility room has a door to the double garage and another door to the garden. There is a ground floor WC which has plumbing for the addition of a shower if required.
A downstairs bedroom is used as Alasdair’s home office.
Spacious bedrooms
The stairs lead up to a spacious landing which has enough room for a sofa or a couple of reading chairs.
The principal bedroom is very big and has built in wardrobes and an en suite shower room.
Another en suite bedroom has windows looking across countryside towards the Lomond Hills. A third double bedroom sits next to a family bathroom.
All told, the Barn has almost 280sqm of living space, meaning there’s plenty of room for all but the largest family.
The Barn also has an environmentally friendly and efficient air source heat pump. The ground floor has underfloor heating with the upper level having radiators.
“It’s an efficient system and the house is always nice and warm,” Alasdair explains. “I found the heating costs to be quite low last winter so hopefully the energy price rises won’t have too much of an impact.”
Attractive gardens
The Barn has a large driveway and double garage. The garden is landscaped with a lawn and decking.
Since moving in, Alasdair’s biggest input into the house has been to overhaul the garden. “It had loads of astroturf when I moved in,” he says. “No matter what the weather was like it was always soggy and wet.
“I lifted that and found the decking was in good condition. It’s been stripped and oiled since then.”
On the scorching hot summer’s day I visit a pair of sun loungers are laid on the deck.
“On days like this it’s like having an extra room,” Alasdair continues. “Because there are doors on to the decking from the living room and the kitchen you can move from inside to outside very easily.
“The other thing I did with the garden was the flower beds. I dug up all the borders and grew all the flowers from seeds.
“It took ages and it’s only in the last couple of months that I’ve really seen the rewards of all that work. The garden is one of the things I’ll miss most about this place.”
Transport links
Russell Mains Farm is surrounded by fields and countryside. The River Eden flows by just 50 or so metres away. There is a riverside path that provides a very agreeable route to walk into Cupar.
“What I love about the location is the feeling of being in the middle of the countryside but with excellent transport links,” Alasdair says.
“You can walk along the river into Cupar. There is a bus service at the end of the road. And Springfield Station is a short walk away. It has two direct trains a day into Edinburgh.
“Quite a few times I’ve gone into Edinburgh on the early train, enjoyed an evening out, caught the last train back and walked home.”
Alasdair has only lived at Russell Mains since last September. “I moved here for work and in March I received a job offer that I really couldn’t refuse. I thought about it for quite a long time but in the end I had to go for it and I’ll be moving back to Glasgow.
“The only downside is losing this place. It really has felt like home and I will miss it a lot.”
The Barn, Russell Mains Farm, Cupar is on sale with Thorntons for offers over £525,000.
Conversation