Country houses for sale

Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale

We take a look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland.

Kirknewton, Midlothian — £4,500,000

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.

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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.


Biggar, Scottish Borders — £4,200,000

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.


Insch, Aberdeenshire — £1,650,000

This 17th cebntury house set in 36 acres comes with woodland, paddocks and a plethora of outbuildings.

Inside, it’s delightfully decorated and furnished, particularly in the case of the morning room and drawing room.

Yet for all the wonders within, it’s arguably the grounds which really elevate this property, from the towering redwoods and ancient standing stones to the walled gardens dotted with fountains and lawns, all restored by the late Alexander Parkin-Moore.

For sale with Savills. 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.


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.

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.


Ardwell, Wigtownshire — £9,500,000

A rather astonishing 1,637-acre estate up for sale not far from Stranraer, with a huge variety of things to offer.

There is an ancient castle (naturally) to a grand country house, a large number of other properties, a picture-perfect sandy beach with ancient harbour, and much more besides.

Oh, and we almost forgot: the estate comes with a Barony title, so you really can be the lord of your own manor.

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.


Croy, Highlands — £4,000,000

Kilravock Castle, on the River Nairn, is the original seat of Clan Rose, an A-listed, 15th century castle that ticks all the boxes.

As the pictures here show some updating is needed — it’s a former hostel — but the place is so full of wonderful original touches it feels that any project would be rewarding and straightforward, at least in the conception.

Just under 500 acres come as part of the associated estate, incuding nine cottages, an arboretum and fishing rights.

For sale with Galbraith. 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.


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.


Dornoch, Sutherland — £2,500,000

Dornoch Castle dates from the 15th century and is currently run as a 22-bed hotel set within spacious walled gardens.

Great care has been taken to preserve the castles historic character — with original 15th century stonework decorating the walls of the bar area and many of the bedrooms featuring open fires.

The castles launch onto the market provides a wonderful opportunity to run a fantastic lifestyle business that is already well-established and well-renowned.

For sale with Strutt & Parker. See more pictures of this property or request further details from the agent.

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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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