A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
Girvan, Ayrshire — £1,950,000
18 bedrooms and 18,705 square feet are on offer at this truly beautiful home, the 440-year-old Bargany House.
The agents call it ‘one of the finest Category A-listed mansions in the West of Scotland’, and while it doesn’t have the turrets and castellations typical of its era (it is actually believed to be the first unfortified mansion house built in Scotland) is makes up for any lack of drama with its sumptuous rooms and gorgeous setting.
There is also a list of facilities which simply must be seen, from home office, billiard room and games room to home cinema, playroom, gym and wine cellars.
For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures and details for this property.
Kingussie, Highlands — £12,000,000
The Balavil Estate is almost 7,000 acres of the Highlands, centred on this classic country seat within the Cairngorms National Park.
While its wild and remote enough to fulfil anybody’s fantasies, it’s also surprisingly accessible: the main A9 is close by, giving excellent links to Inverness with its rail service and airport.
For sale with Landfor. See more pictures and details for this property.
Biggar, Scottish Borders — £3,600,000
A sumptuous property with turrets, battlements and magnificent views, Hartree House is a sprawling 14-bedroom property in over 22 acres of grounds.
The estate itself dates back to the 14th century, though the main house itself is a blend of Georgian, Victorian and 21st century — the latter courtesy of total refurbishment, some new addittions, ground-source heating and solar panels.
It’s the beauty of the place inside that we’re most struck by, however, not least the graceful hallway with its green walls and parquet flooring.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures of this property.
Dunbeath, Caithness — £25,000,000
The simply magnificent Dunbeath Castle is just the beginning at what is one of the greatest private estates we’ve seen for sale in a long, long time.
The agents note that an offer has now been made, though the sale doesn’t appear to be complete yet — which means we can still dream about winning the EuroMillions and swoop in should things not pan out.
There is coastland, moorland, farmland and woodland among the 28,500 acres in this dramatic setting in the very north of Scotland.
There are also nearly two dozen more houses and cottages included with the estate, which offers an astonishing Highland playground for whoever comes to take it on.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures of this property.
Linlithgow, West Lothian — £2,750,000
An exquisite Scots Baronial mansion, Preston House offers a touch of castle chic without castle headaches: this is no draughty medieval semi-wreck, but a superb home that is both immaculate and full of character.
Thus, sweeping staircases and four-poster beds sit alongside indoor pools and a games rooms, which the grounds are an easily managed four acres. Best of all for those looking for a level of practicality, this glorious property has outstanding transport links: Edinburgh is under 20 miles away and Glasgow isn’t much further.
For sale with Rettie. See more pictures and details for this property.
Fife — £8,000,000
Earlshall Castle, just outside Leuchars — just a few minutes’ drive from St Andrews, and with direct trains to Edinburgh — is a picture-perfect castle that’s been looking for a new owner for a while, yet it’s undoubtedly a splendid property.
The agents describe it as ‘one of the best kept 16th century houses in Scotland’, and the pictures here show the astonishingly good state of everything from external stonework to the barrel-vaulted ceilings within.
The gardens are famous, and one of the great highlights of the place, having been restored to glory by the great Scots architect Sir Robert Latimer.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures of this property.
Auchterarder, Perthshire — £2,400,000
Just down the road from the incomparable Gleneagles, this house is a very 1930s take on the country castle residence, full of Arts and Crafts and Modernist touches.
One thing is certain about Darquhillan, however: it’s as wonderful and secluded a place as you could hope to find, with bright, airy rooms and a couple of acres of gardens and woodland. And if you join the golf club at Gleneagles, you can nip through the woods at the back to play a few holes. (Erm, assuming that the club authorities are okay with that sort of thing, naturally.)
For sale with Savills. See more pictures and details for this property.
Kirknewton, Midlothian — £3,500,000
A rare find, this Grade B-listed baby castle — techically a Scots Baronial house — is in the countryside just a few miles south-west of Edinburgh.
There are six bedrooms and 15 acres of land in a beautiful, well-kept home that’s wonderfully well presented.
It’s an ideal house for outdoor types, with equestrian facilities and paddocks as well as its own tennis court — and all within half an hour of the centre of Edinburgh.
For sale with Ellisons. See more pictures of this property.
Tranent, East Lothian — £1,700,000
Battlements, spiral staircases, stags’ heads on the walls and a barrel-vaulted kitchen in the basement: while some castles are disguised stately homes, Fa’side Castle is the real deal.
Built in the 14th century, it offers fantastic views across East Lothian up to nearby Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth.
There are six bedrooms, a couple of acres of grounds and a 300-year-old barn that’s been converted in to a pair of cottages.
For sale with Savills. See more pictures of this property.
Creetown, Dumfries & Galloway — £9,500,000
Far from your usual castle-buying opportunity, Castle Cary isn’t just a ruined castle by the sea — although it is also that — since it comes with an entire holiday park as part of the deal.
The place has been in the same family for 166 years but now the whole thing is ip for sale, including the holiday park (opened in 1976) complete with its swimming pool, pub, nine-hole golf course and over 100 tent/caravan pitches, all set in 220 acres.
There is a fine six-bedroom main house, while the castle itself is a romantic ruin, dating back to the 15th century.
For sale with Galbraith. See more pictures of this property.
Highlands — £7,500,000
A 1,000-acre estate with a red stone castle at its heart.
Woodland and pasture are part of the landscape, with deer stalking and scope for a driven shoot.
The agents also cite the opportunity to develop further.
For sale with Goldsmith & Co. See more pictures of this property.
Islay, Argyll and Bute — £3,000,000
A splendid castle in a breathtaking location, the 13-bedroom Islay House is a wonderful building set amid grounds filled with flowers; some of Scotland’s best bluebells and daffodils are here.
Islay House has been gorgeously refurbished in the last three years or so, work which has included rewiring and plumbling — things all too often overlooked or patched up.
Inside, the spiral staircase is a particular highlight of a 13-bedroom property with nearly 30 acres of beauty as a setting.
For sale with Knight Frank. See more pictures of this property.
Aberdeenshire — £2.7 million
There’s a confident design vision at work in the Straloch House Estate, 244 acres of land with a Georgian house at its heart which is graceful and grand.
Built in 1780, the main front elevation of this beautiful home looks like it’s escaped from a Jane Austen adaptation, and the front door opening onto lawns and a lake only adds to the effect
For sale with Galbraith. See more pictures and details about this property.
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