Case Study
Linton Mews, Gourdon
Early arrivals to our Linton Mews development, Ian and Elaine moved from Manchester to Gourdon into their forever home in December 2024.
We sat down with the couple to discuss:
- How a couple from Manchester came across Fotheringham Homes
- Their experience moving into a new home from south of the border
- How Fotheringham Homes beat all expectations
- Why Gourdon is giving them the retirement they dreamed of
"The whole journey has been quite amazing really. And it all happened from driving past."
Elaine, Linton Mews resident
An Unexpected Move
Ian and Elaine always loved coming up from Manchester for their holidays in Scotland, but it wasn’t until an unexpected sighting in Johnshaven that they had ever considered retiring in the north east.
Looking for a change from their usual west coast Scottish holiday, the couple travelled around the east coast in 2021 - driving near the village of Johnshaven. Passing by, they stumbled across the site in progress at The Beaches. Although they didn’t take their interest any further on this trip, what they saw stuck with them, and six months later they were back for a look around.
Michael, Director at Fotheringham Homes, met the couple and showed them around the Johnshaven Showhome. Unfortunately, Ian and Elaine weren’t quite ready to retire yet, but Michael informed the pair that he had some land further up the coast that would soon be under development that might fit better into their plans. After visiting the Gourdon plot, taking in the sea views, and deliberating over a fish supper, the couple put down their name for the waiting list at what would become Linton Mews in Gourdon.
For Ian and Elaine, the location was everything. Coming to the end of more than 40 years of employment, they were craving something new, a slower pace of life. Their Scottish holidays gave them a little piece of what they wanted for a few weeks a year - friendly faces, community feel, fresh air and natural beauty - but moving to Gourdon meant they could experience that all year round.
The Wait Was On
Over the next 18 months, Ian and Elaine maintained contact with the Fotheringham team to bring their forever home to life. The couple’s wishes were fairly straightforward - a three-bedroom bungalow suited to their mobility needs. Being big music fans, the couple also wanted a detached home, with plenty of privacy to play their vinyl records whenever they liked.
When they got the site map, there were initially a whopping ten properties that they considered, before cutting down to the final two, and ultimately deciding on a lovely detached bungalow with a sunroom and a stunning sea view. When it came to choosing the finish and design of their bathrooms and kitchen, it was a simple decision. Ian and Elaine went with the same finishes they’d seen in The Beaches showhome, with a few tweaks that made their rooms uniquely theirs.
From there on, “everything went tickety-boo”. Fotheringham Homes’s Project Manager, Tracey, was in touch with Ian and Elaine at every step, giving them regular updates on the progress at their new home, and being available to answer any questions they had, with the couple stating “she was like our own personal assistant”. Ian and Elaine became regulars at many of the local hotels and restaurants as they made frequent trips up to Gourdon to meet with the Fotheringham Homes team and see how their new home was coming along.
"Everything just went tickety-boo all the way, there were no curveballs where we were thinking this isn’t for us."
Ian & Elaine, Linton Mews residents
Going above and beyond
Having lived in four new homes over the years, Ian and Elaine were no stranger to buying a brand new property. But at Fotheringham Homes, there was a difference - “it was second to none”, they both agreed. Snagging was minimal, finishes were excellent and repairs were done quickly and properly by the friendly and tidy workmen, who the couple are keen to sing the praises of. It wasn’t just the build quality - there were numerous instances of the Fotheringham Homes team going above and beyond that really impressed Ian and Elaine.
Moving from Manchester to Gourdon is no easy feat - so the couple did it in stages, bringing up more belongings and with growing excitement on every visit. On one visit, before the house was ready, they even asked the Fotheringham Homes team if they could bring some boxes to make use of the space in their car - and so Ian and Elaine’s Christmas decorations lived at Fotheringham Homes HQ for a few months while the house was finished!
Another standout moment happened when the couple were choosing appliances for their utility room. After telling Tracey the models they wanted, she sourced them at a lower price than they could find themselves. When Ian and Elaine next visited their home - ready to unbox and install their new appliances - they found, to their surprise, that Fotheringham Homes had already had them installed and ready to go!
Eight months in, the rest of their lives to go
Since moving in December 2024, the couple haven’t looked back. Decorating their home with a little help from The Inside Story, the property is filled with personal touches - from ornaments of Elaine’s favourite animal, hares, to framed photos of different aircraft from Ian’s career as an engineer - it truly feels like their forever home.
The stunning sunroom is a standout. Decorated in a nautical style to match their sea view, it has a huge comfy sofa as the focal point, adorned with pillows featuring crabs, anchors and shells. The bright and airy room has large windows that look out onto their green garden and give guests a glimpse of their sea view. A woodburner in the corner provides plenty of heat in the winter, and with a record player ready to spin their favourites, the sunroom truly is a stunning place to relax - it’s no wonder both Ian and Elaine say that it’s their favourite spot in the house!
Most importantly for Ian and Elaine, the Scottish charm hasn’t dulled one bit - if anything, the couple are falling in love with the area more and more each day. Whether it’s popping to the neighbours’ for a cup of tea, trips to Stonehaven for a curry, a stroll down to the local pub for a pint, or a visit to the village hall to watch a favourite local band - The Killing Tide - the pair always have opportunities to embrace slow living.
They’ve enjoyed plenty of Scottish sun, eating their breakfast in their garden each day, where they can take in the sea view and enjoy moments of quiet. Ian and Elaine have been lucky enough to see dolphins from their garden, as well as herds of deer on the hills to the north. After living in a city for so long, they’re relishing the chance to see nature right where they live, breathe in the sea air and see all of the stars at night.
“
From initial enquiry to getting the keys to our new dream forever home, it was an enjoyable experience.
”
Elaine & ian, linton MEws residents
