Highland romance

A visit to the Highland town of Brora led to an unusual holiday romance for Mary and Alastair Fortune – because it was the area which stole their hearts, writes Susan Welsh

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LIKE a lot of visitors, Mary and Alastair Fortune fell in love with the Highlands during a holiday in Brora.

That visit sparked many a long discussion as the couple who were living in North Berwick at the time, considered relocating to the Highland town in Sutherland.

Dr Fortune, who has been the star of a television series which followed her adventures as a flying doctor in Australia, explained: “We came here on holiday and thought it was the most beautiful, peaceful place we had ever visited.

“We began to talk long and hard about the possibility of moving and, after much consideration, we decided to go for it after a job came up in Brora.

“My husband, Alastair, is from a farming background and the family ran a catering business in Edinburgh. We wanted to run a guesthouse, so his background was ideal for this.

“Our son, Tom, was just a baby, and my job as a GP meant I often worked unsociable hours, so buying a house which we could turn into a guesthouse allowed us to have one parent at home, which was ideal as we had already decided there was no way we were bringing up a latch-key kid.”

The family moved into temporary accommodation until Glenaveron, a gorgeous detached Edwardian house, came on the market.

“The house is fascinating and full of character,” said Dr Fortune.

“It has previously been a dental surgery, a doctor’s surgery and the private home of the local doctor.

“The most fascinating aspect of it is that, although there is a plaque on the side showing it dates from 1904, the house has only been on this spot since around 1910.

“It originally stood a stone’s throw away on a site now occupied by the Royal Marine Hotel, which our garden backs on to.

“I understand that, after building it, the original owner decided he wanted another house there, so had Glenaveron taken down, brick by brick, and rebuilt a few hundred yards away.

“The original owner’s son was also a tennis fan and within the gardens there was a full-size lawn court, so I’m guessing he wasn’t short of money,” joked Dr Fortune.

Since moving into the house on Golf Road, Alastair has done a superb job creating a warm and welcoming home offering comfortable, but upmarket, bed and breakfast.

“Alastair does an incredible job here and must have cooked thousands of eggs since moving to Brora,” said Dr Fortune.

“The business now has four stars from VisitScotland and five stars from the AA and is in the top 10% of AA five-star guesthouses in the UK.”

But when all is said and done, the house is very much a family home for the couple, 16-year-old son Tom and 14-year-old Golden Labrador Sandy.

“Since moving in, we have carried out a host of renovations and added two extensions, including an all-year, all-weather conservatory, which is a great room for entertaining,” said Dr Fortune.

“It has underfoot heating, but is also off the kitchen, which is always nice and warm because of the Aga.”

Ground-floor accommodation comprises entrance vestibule; hallway; sitting room; dining-room; lounge; kitchen; conservatory/sun room; utility room; boiler room, and bedroom with en-suite.

Upstairs, there is a large galleried landing area, four further en-suite bedrooms and storage space.

The house has plenty of original features, including the staircase, leaded glasswork, raised skirtings and cornicing.

“We knocked down a few walls to make changes and now every bedroom has an en-suite facilities.

“My favourite bedroom is one we jokingly refer to as the Ambassador’s Room, as I once took a call from the American embassy asking if they could book rooms for Philip Lader and his bodyguards.

“Thinking it was someone pulling my leg I was quite cheeky, until I realised it wasn’t a hoax and that the American ambassador to the UK, a chap who was a good friend of President Bill Clinton, was coming here.

“He stayed here several times, along with his enormous bodyguards, as he was walking in stages from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.

“He was a lovely chap so, in honour of him, we renamed the main guest bedroom the Ambassador’s Room.”

Making the decision to sell Glenaveron was another big one, but the family feel the time is right to downsize, although they intend staying in the area.

“Brora has everything we need, so we have no intention of leaving here, although I may well be returning to Australia for a time to work in an Aboriginal hospital in the Outback,” added Dr Fortune.

Selling agent Strutt and Parker is seeking offers over £440,000 for Glenaveron, Golf Road, Brora. For further details, phone 01463 719171.