Detached house for sale in Symbister, Shetland ZE2

Overview
Beautifully presented, three bedroom detached house, originally the school, and later the schoolhouse, ‘Livister’ is a set in an unusually large site extending to just over two acres on the island of Whalsay, enjoying a southerly aspect and fine views over the Loch of Huxter.

This double-glazed property provides well-proportioned accommodation arranged over two floors including a living room with a cosy stove, a large double bedroom, kitchen / diner, bathroom, utility room and porch on the ground floor, plus two further good-sized double bedrooms and an office or potential box bedroom upstairs.

Heating is provided by Dimplex Quantum storage / panel heaters.

Externally, the site provides a huge amount of outdoor space with plenty of scope for growing your own etc. Included is a large outbuilding with power although this requires some attention.

Whalsay is connected to Mainland Shetland by a seven day a week ro-ro ferry service. Although providing a ‘get-away-from-it-all’ rural location, the island benefits from an excellent range of amenities including a leisure centre with a swimming pool, Junior High school, a couple of shops, and even an 18-hole golf course.

The furniture is available by separate negotiation.

Client Video:-

General Information
‘Livister’ is situated just outside the village of Symbister, the main settlement on the island of Whalsay, one of Shetland’s larger outer isles which is situated off the east coast of Mainland Shetland. Often referred to as the ‘Bonnie Isle’, the island measures approximately 5 miles long by two miles wide and is home to a population of around 1000. The island has some magnificent scenery and the Ward of Clett, the highest point, provides superb views of the east coast of Shetland.

Whalsay boasts an excellent range of amenities way beyond the level one would expect to find in a similar remote location, these being centered in Symbister a short distance from the house, and including a Junior High School (primary and secondary education to year 4), a couple of general stores including a post office, and a doctor’s surgery. The island also has an excellent range of sporting facilities including a leisure centre with a heated swimming pool, games hall, fitness suite & squash court, an all-weather sports field, plus Britain’s most northernly 18-hole golf course at Skaw. There is also a café, a gym, a snooker hall, a marina and a boating club.

A ro-ro ferry service runs throughout the day, seven days a week, from the ferry terminal at Symbister to Laxo / Vidlin, about 20 miles from Lerwick, crossing time of approximately 30 minutes.

The Loch of Huxter is situated just in front of the property and is great in the summer months for paddle boarding and kayaking etc.

All the furniture is available by separate negotiation and the white goods are included in the sale.

Accommodation
Entry is via a front porch with south and east-facing windows and wood laminate flooring, the porch providing plenty of space for coats, boots etc., a half-glazed door opening to the carpeted hall with a door right to a large ground floor bedroom, stair to the first floor with storage below, plus doors at the rear to the bathroom and living room.

The bedroom is a spacious and bright, dual-aspect double room again with windows to the south and east, a high ceiling and painted wooden floorboards. The family bathroom to the rear has a white three piece suite, including a bath with an electric shower over, plus a wash hand basin and WC. Heating is provided by an electric panel heater and a wall-mounted fan heater. Windows to the east and north, and vinyl flooring.

Next is the attractively decorated, carpeted living room, another well-proportioned room, again with a high ceiling with cornice and picture rail, this time with windows to the south and west. A stove set in a painted wooden fireplace surround provides a cosy alternative heat source but there is also a storage / convector heater.

A doorway from the living room leads through to the kitchen which is a good-size and has space in the centre for a table & chairs, windows to the south and west, and a painted wood-lined ceiling. The grey fitted units with black worktops include an integral oven and hob, plumbing for a washing machine/dishwasher, a stainless steel sink and grey-tiled splashbacks. A corner cupboard houses the hot water tank. A hatch provides access to loft space. Off the kitchen is a very spacious utility room which provides plenty of room for additional appliances as well as further space for coats etc. And general storage. Three windows to the back of the house, and a uPVC back door.

Back off the hall, the staircase lit by a window to the rear, leads up to a landing with a large built-in cupboard, doors at either end to two further large double bedrooms, and an archway to an office / potential bedroom four. The cupboard is a good size and could be converted into a toilet (subject to any necessary consents required). The flooring throughout the first floor is fitted carpets.

The main bedroom to the left is a generously proportioned room with windows to the south and east. The original fireplace remains an attractive feature although the chimney has been capped. At the other end of the hall is the third bedroom again enjoying a dual-aspect, this room having a fitted wardrobe. Finally in-between is a south-facing room presently used as an office but could be fitted with a door potentially allowing use as a box bedroom.

Rooms Sizes (All approximate)
On the Ground Floor:-
Living Room

4.8m x 3.95m at widest points (15’9” x 12’11”)

Kitchen / Diner

3.95m x 3.45m (13’ x 11’3”)

Bathroom

4.4m x 1.6m (14’6” x 5’2”)

Bedroom 1

4.8m x 3.85m (15’9” x 12’7)

Utility Room

5.7m x 2.2m at widest point (18’8” x 7’3”)

Porch

2.95m x 1.85m (9’8” x 6’2”)

On the First Floor:-
Bedroom 2

4.7m x 3.85m (15’5” x 12’8”)

Bedroom 3

4.8m x 2.85m (15’5” x 9’5”)

Office / Box Bedroom

2.95m x 1.9m (9’8” x 6’3”)

External
As noted, the site extends in total to just over two acres, an unusually large site including around an acre on the other side of the road between the road and the loch, with access to the house being over a shared track.

There is a walled garden area immediately in front of the house which is enclosed by a stone dyke and has heavily planted areas on either side of a path to a larger mainly grassed garden area lying to the south and east sides of the house, the additional area to the east being surrounded by mature planting and including a burn running through it. The site also includes the area behind the house and Hall / Youth Club, and the triangular area to the east of the burn.

Also included is a large outbuilding with power and further area in front of the Hall / Youth Club, the outbuilding being the former school canteen. This huge block-built building measures approximately 14.65m x 4.85m (48’ x 16’) and provides a great space although further work is required. It has garage doors at one end, several windows and a power supply, and the parking area to the east goes exclusively with the house.

The site provides plenty of outdoor space and scope for growing your own vegetables etc., and the erection of a polytunnel, subject to any necessary consents required.

The large site that the house sits on is all on one legal title. Separately the property also has a half-share (with the owners of the community hall / youth club building, this land being on a separate title) to an additional area which includes the route of the access to the house, and the large tarred parking area.

Council Tax
Understood to currently be Band A. Prospective purchasers should however contact Shetland Islands Council directly for confirmation. Details of Council Tax rates can be found on Shetland Island Council’s website at:

Property location
The property is situated 1½ miles from the ferry. Follow the road right around the harbour and up past the shop. At the top of the hill turn left following signs for Skaw and the school, then take the first turning right to Isbister, the leisure centre & school. Drive up the hill past the school and leisure centre to a ‘t’-junction. Turn left to Isbister and continue past the ‘Seater’ houses on the right, following the road until it runs alongside the Loch of Huxter to the right. ‘Livister’ is on the left.