The secluded Dumfries estate on the market for the first time in a century

A stunning walled garden has beautiful flowerbeds, lawns and gravel walkways. The estate’s 28 acres include grazing paddocks and is bounded by the Urr Water to the west, where there is a beat of single bank fishing.

The estate also includes an apartment in the main house, plus two substantial cottages, a stable block and outbuildings in the grounds.

The striking house, which has a façade of traditional stone with polished raised margins and quoins, was built as part of the nearby Kilquhanity Estate, and bought by Major James Campbell whose initials JAC, along with the date of 1816, lie above the front entrance.

The military connection continued with the next family, according to the current owner, Rob Brown. He says: “My grandparents bought it in the mid-1930s. My grandmother was a Galbraith who grew up at The Barony, which is now part of the agricultural college just outside Dumfries and so had a local connection.”

Robert’s grandfather was a Gordon Highlander and while he died before Robert was born, he does have memories of his granny at the house. “I remember being presented to her, I was probably about eight years old, and I think I found it rather intimidating.”

The couple had three sons, and Robert’s father, their middle son, also joined the Gordon Highlanders.

Walton was then inherited by Robert’s uncle, Jeremy Brown, who spent a lot of his working life in Asia, but retired to the house in the 1980s. A bachelor, he lived there with housekeepers and a part-time gardener.

The grounds are as spectacular as the house. The lawned garden is flanked by mature trees, rhododendrons and azaleas, providing a riot of colour in May and June.

The B-listed 19th century walled garden sits on the bank of the Urr Water and features beautiful flowerbeds, lawns and gravel walkways, and a lean-to glasshouse. There is a vegetable patch, cutting garden and further nursery area for young plants and shrubs.

Situated off the drive to the north-east of the house is a stable block with a cobbled central courtyard, accessed through an archway with a dovecot above, and is also B-listed. There is a further row of traditional buildings set apart from the courtyard on the eastern side. Given the scale and architectural character, they could offer potential for conversion for alternative uses for the next owner.

The substantial main house has 19th century additions and is over three storeys. The ground floor has a drawing room, dining room, nursery, study and gun room. The main rooms are bow-ended with south-facing aspects across the unspoilt rolling countryside towards the Urr Water.

A pantry area features a dumb waiter, used to bring meals up from the basement kitchen. Robert says: “That was definitely used by my uncle, who never cooked himself.”

There are six bedrooms, a dressing room and three bathrooms on the first floor, with two attic rooms on the second floor which could be used as further bedrooms. The basement flat has three bedrooms, a living room, bathroom and kitchen, and has historically been used as staff accommodation.

Robert has owned the house since his uncle passed away two years ago. He says his highlight is: “The walled garden which is a really special place, very quiet and next to the river with no traffic noise.” 

While the house is grand as it is, there is room for upgrading, for instance creating en suite bathrooms. 

Robert says: “The house is big, but if a family bought it they may want to use the downstairs flat for a nanny, or the rooms could be converted for use – you could create a gym for instance. And the house is very well proportioned, it doesn’t feel huge.”

He admits to feeling a bit of a wrench to sell it after such a long connection, but he currently lives in Portugal, and has a young family. He says of Walton: “It should be lived in and the house and gardens should be appreciated all year round.”

For more information, contact Savills on 0141 222 5874.