Edinburgh New Town mews is hidden gem

Situated between Charlotte Square and Queen Street, Young Street Lane North is not a thoroughfare even most New Towners are ever likely to have walked down.

Owner of the house at number 24, Heather Burns, was looking for a town property for her family five years ago. She was living in Aviemore but planned to move to the capital and with two of her three daughters studying in Edinburgh, it made sense to relocate the family home here.

She says “My daughter phoned and said ‘You have got to come and see this place, it is like a little cottage in the city’ and I came straight away. We saw it that night and put an offer in the next day.”

You can understand the instant attraction - the house, which is so quietly situated even though it is so central, is a quirky and characterful home, with much more room and storage than the humble front door entrance would suggest.

The mews house had been upgraded and converted by the previous owners although it has a long history as stabling and groom’s accommodation, dating back to the time that big houses were built along Young Street and George Street. The deeds suggest an original date of the 1780s.

The conversion in the last decade makes for a very pretty home; entered through the private door at street level, there is a study and storage on the ground floor before stairs lead up to the main accommodation all on the first floor. Heather says “It made a difference that it had its own front door, I’ve lived in Edinburgh flats with shared entrances before but a main door flat gives you the feeling of shutting out the world.”

Upstairs the flat opens out into a delightful open plan kitchen and sitting room, with a period hearth. French doors open from the kitchen to a little Juliet balcony. There are two bedrooms, one either side of the central public room, and a family bathroom.

The features of the house, as well as the location, are what makes it speical - the stripped stone walls, double height ceilings with exposed beams and a great use of velux windows to enhance the natural light.

Heather didn’t move to Edinburgh in the end, but her daughters lived here during their time at university. She says “I think they thought the best thing about it was its proximity to the Oxford and Cambridge bars.” Since then the family have let it very successfully to professionals working on George Street and Heather believes that it would work well as a holiday let too.

With the family spread out in Aviemore, Barcelona, Australia and Thurso it is time to move on but they will miss the charm and convenience of this lovely flat.

Offers over £245,000 contact Coulters on 0131 603 7333.