A country house for sale for the very first time that's a blank canvas for a new owner to move in
Whitehill has been in the same hands ever since it was built at the turn of the 20th century — yet from its immaculate presentation inside you could be forgiven for thinking it was a new-build. Penny Churchill tells more.


For sale for the first time in its history — at a guide price of £1m through Galbraith in Kelso — is the imposing country house of Whitehill, at Mellerstain in the Scottish Borders.
It was built in the 1900s as part of the Earl of Haddington’s historic Mellerstain estate — Mellerstain House, one of Scotland’s great buildings, is nearby.
While it's a century old, Whitehill doesn't look it: the house was refurbished six years ago, and is now a light and spacious house that offers generous family accommodation, including three reception rooms.
Among these spaces is a drawing room so large that you could be forgiven for thinking it's a small ballroom, with the curved bay window adding real grace and charm.
There are two kitchens — a trend we've noticed more and more of late — as well as separate utility room and pantry, accessed from one of the three hallway areas.
There are six bedrooms in total, and while only one is en-suite bathroom — a master which also has a separate dressing room — there are four bathrooms, so you're unlikely to find yourself queuing outside a door in the mornings, towel in hand.
In addition one of the bedrooms has the same curved bay window which mirrors the one in the dining room below.
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 grounds are lovely. There is a large, landscaped garden with a stone sundial, mature woodland to the north of the house and a paddock.
As well as the main house, the property also includes a separate three-bedroom cottage with its own garden, and also outbuildings with potential for conversion — subject to all the relevant permissions — for residential use.
The village of Gordon is the nearest settlement of any size, but Kelso isn't far away — nor is Edinburgh, for that matter, with the A697 and A68 within relatively easy reach. There's also the railway station of Tweedbank offering a rail link to the Scottish capital that takes under an hour.
Whitehill is for sale via Galbraith at £1m — see more details and pictures.
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
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'We started thinking: if we were going to design a bike for Aston Martin, what would it look like? And then we simply couldn’t stop': Aston's new bike has everything you could ever dream of — except a price tag
The new Aston Martin .1R bicycle, a collaboration with manufacturer J.Laverack, leaves Paul Henderson stirred rather than shaken.
By Paul Henderson Published
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country Life
Something for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
By Toby Keel Published
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
By James Fisher Published
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mould
A new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
By James Fisher Published
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham Estate
With 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back home
At first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificence
Womersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigree
The Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
By James Fisher Published
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central London
Felmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
By James Fisher Last updated