The Ford Family immediately saw the potential of this scenic boathouse and brought it back to life!
We asked Callum Ford about this renovation journey, and we were instantly inspired! We feel honoured that he chose to launch The Beach Boathouse as a holiday home for others to enjoy too.
Sold already? Check availability here, or read on to learn more about this fantastic renovation.
What drew you to this property?
My wife and I and our two children enjoy the outdoors and appreciate nature, so it’s definitely the perfect spot for us.
Although we run this as a holiday home through Clark Anderson Properties, we still enjoy staying here ourselves once in a while. We love the area for its natural beauty; the rock pooling at the beach, Arbroath Harbour, Lunan Bay, Montrose Nature Reserve, Bullars of Buchan and, of course, the golf courses – we could go on!
Plus, you have all the city attractions in the transformed city of Dundee, which is only a short drive away. The rare chance to have something front line, directly looking out across the sea, was an opportunity we just could not pass on.
What do you know about the history of the boathouse?
It’s the original lifeboat house dating from the 1800s, which you can see in the photo. It used to be a single-storey property, and the old boats would be pulled out by horse and cart.
During the renovation, we stripped back almost everything in order to fully renovate and modernise the space. We actually uncovered the original arch by chance; it had been hidden away by previous owners. We couldn’t believe it and took our time to restore it with care. It can be seen both internally from one of the bedrooms as well as externally. The photo shows the very same arch with a cart that would hold entire boats during the late 1800s.
How was the renovation process?
The biggest change we carried out was removing the large window upstairs and obtaining planning permission for a glass fronted balcony, which we are so happy with.
We then installed 3m patio doors to really capture the panoramic views across the sea. The living room is now upstairs, meaning spectacular views are guaranteed, even when lying on the couch, and the extra first floor height really does provide amazing views! Since then, dolphins and even a whale have been spotted right in front of our Beach Boathouse!
The kitchen was in desperate need of updating too, and we’re so pleased with how it turned out. Washing the dishes now, believe it or not, is a task that’s fought over when we stay here as it’s actually a treat just looking out at that gorgeous view.
Tell us about that beautiful dining table in the kitchen!
We decided it would be lovely to have a table that our kids could help create. It just so happened that we have a friend who had previous experience manufacturing resin coffee tables!
The kids collected bits of driftwood, shells and pebbles from the beach and with her help, we were all involved in pouring the resin over them to make the table. After many hours of pouring and sanding, the kids are very pleased with the result, as are we!
Why did you choose to turn this into a holiday home?
We felt that others would love the views, space and location as much as we do, and it’s lovely to hear the stories from guests about how much fun they’ve had staying in the house we brought back to life.
What’s your favourite room/spot in the house?
It has to be sitting on the balcony or in the living room and just gazing over the sea for miles and miles. The view is constantly changing, and the sound of the sea is so relaxing!
Sunrises can be spectacular, and there is so much wildlife to spot right from the living room. There are binoculars next to the window – we love to hear if guests are lucky enough to spot the dolphins too!
Are there any particular attractions or eateries close by that you would recommend?
A strong favourite of ours is Gather deli, which is full of delicious treats as well as wine and gin – it’s dog friendly too!
We’d also recommend Franco’s for cake after a walk along the beach. For food, you have The Rookery, lovely for a special occasion and overlooking the golf course. Maxibell for delicious tapas and Mediterranean dishes, Chillies which is a family run restaurant in the heart of the town, and you can choose from Bangladeshi, Indian and Seafood. DELICIOUS! Not forgetting The Station Hotel for great, traditional pub food.
If you have any questions about the area, please reach out to Clark Anderson Properties, we’d love to help make your trip extra special.
Stay at The Beach Boathouse
Set right by the beach in East Haven, Carnoustie, The Beach Boathouse is the ideal East Coast Scottish retreat!
It’s a short walk into town, where you’ll find fantastic coffee shops, restaurants and, of course; that famous golf course.
