“Utterly charming and rich in character.”
04:33, 25 Apr 2026
It is easy to see why Old Meyen has been described as “chocolate box”(Image: Savills)
An “utterly charming” fortified laird’s house in Scotland with a long history and breathtaking interiors has just gone up for sale and it is the Daily Record’s latest Property of the Week. With a history going back to the 17th century, it is set amidst beautiful sheltered gardens that include a courtyard and a bothy.
Old Mayen, also known as Mains of Mayen, is a charming and scenic five-bedroom house steeped in Highland history that dates back all the way to 1680—with an additional wing added in 1840. The property is currently available to buy through Savills for offers over £735,000.
Old Mayen benefits from a peaceful rural setting in the Deveron Valley, and is situated near to the border between Moray and Aberdeenshire. The lands were bestowed to William Abernethy in the 14th century by King David II of Scotland, with Old Mayen thought to be the oldest surviving home in the area.
According to Savills, Charles McKean in ‘The District of Moray, An Illustrated Architectural Guide’ describes Old Mayen as “chocolate-box” and “picturesque”. The sellers also state that one of the previous owners of Old Mayen was a “celebrated garden designer”.
The exterior of Old Mayen(Image: Savills)
Looking inside, the fabulous home still has a bunch of original features, such as crow-stepped gables, spyholes, stone loops, garderobes, and an incredible circular stair tower with a unique fish scale turreted roof. The older wing has been lovingly restored inside and out and has retained its sense of history, while the later wing offers spacious and well-lit rooms.
The sitting room(Image: Savills)
Among the standouts on the ground floor of the property are the fine wood-floored drawing room, which comes with a fireplace and French doors leading out to the garden, and the library that includes a fireplace with a marble mantel. Elsewhere, the dining room includes a large stone fireplace and the roomy farmhouse-style kitchen benefits from a four oven AGA.
The kitchen(Image: Savills)
The dining room(Image: Savills)
A stone spiral staircase leads up to the first floor landing, from where the five double bedrooms, two bathrooms, and two shower rooms can be found. Three of the bedrooms come with fireplaces, while the family bathroom benefits from a gorgeous freestanding bath.
The master bedroom(Image: Savills)
Moving up another flight of stairs, on the second floor, there is an attic room and workroom that could have a variety of different uses. Overall, the property offers a wealth of space and would make for the perfect family home for those wanting to live in a historic home amidst jaw-dropping surroundings.
Outside, off the kitchen door, there is a lovely little paved courtyard with box hedges, a cheese press, and even a former bothy that is currently being used as a workshop and a laundry and utility room. There is also a greenhouse with a productive vine, while a garage and shed can be found in the grounds as well.
The courtyard(Image: Savills)
The garden(Image: Savills)
There is a kitchen and vegetable garden and a former hen run below the courtyard, while a stone paved terrace is linked to the drawing room. The garden has been laid out in terraced compartments that provide shelter with interlinking lawns and paths, while there is also a small pond and a viewing spot overlooking the valley below.
Old Mayen benefits from all that both Moray and Aberdeenshire have to offer and, despite its rural location, it is not remote or isolated. The area is known for its strong communications with the nearby A96 that links Aberdeen and Inverness, with both cities offering an excellent range of shopping, leisure, and business facilities.
Secondary schooling is available in the nearby settlements of Huntly and Keith, as are local shopping and business services. There are railway stations in both towns and a sleeper service from Aberdeen, while the nearby Aberdeen Airport serves a wide range of domestic and European countries.
Ruaraidh Ogilvie of Savills commented: “Utterly charming and rich in character, Old Mayen is a most attractive property with plenty of living space and excellent outbuildings, along with lovely gardens and captivating views of the Deveron Valley.”
For more information and images, see the Old Mayen listing on the Savills website. Additionally, read on for some of the Daily Record’s previous Properties of the Week:
Comments are closed.