You don't have to be royal to own a castle

By Heather Rose
Posted: 2008/07/12

CASTLES may once have been the preserve of the well-heeled titled brigade, who owned vast areas of land, but these days castles can be home to more down-to-earth individuals - especially t

On the slopes of Finavon Hill not far from Forfar, Savills are marketing Fortesk Tower, a magnificent building with all the exterior hallmarks of an old castle - including four turrets.

But all is not as it seems. For this tower house is a modern building.

It was built in the mid-1990s with an interior very much in line with 21st century living.
The ground floor of Fortesk Tower has a drawing room, dining room, kitchen, two conservatories and a garden room.

On the first floor there are two main bedrooms and a self-contained studio annexe with its own entrance. There are two further bedrooms and three bathrooms, a shower room and three toilets.

The focal point of the 164-acre Fortesk Estate, the tower comes with a low ground shoot, salmon fishing on the South Esk, an Iron Age hilltop fort, organic market garden and Japanese water garden.

The asking price for the Fortesk Estate is offers over £1.5million, although it is also being marketed as three individual lots with the tower house and policies on at offers over £800,000.

Fordyce Castle in Banffshire, also for sale through agents Savills at offers over £800,000, has been the base for a successful letting business carrying starred accreditation from VisitScotland.

Built in the 16th century with a wing added in 1700, Fordyce has undergone a recent restoration programme completed in 2000.

While the owners live in the main section of the castle, the West Wing and the Lady Margaret's Cottage have been used for holiday letting.

Both provide two-bedroomed accommodation. The wing has five-star accreditation from Visit Scotland with the cottage meriting four stars.

To the back of the castle is a four-roomed building previously used as a gallery but, say the agents, could be linked to the castle with planning consent.

The castle also has a bothy which is used for storage. Ruaraidh Ogilvie of Savills, said: "The gallery and bothy offer further possibilities to expand as they are or into some other form of business." The focal point of Fordyce is its Great Hall on the first floor.

A vaulted dining room is on the ground floor with kitchen, utility and shower room. The two upper floors within the castle house four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study and attic.

If you prefer a more modest castle, agents Strutt and Parker have Castle Rock at St Abbs near Eyemouth on their books. Dating from late Victorian times it is a more conventional home - but with a great outlook that spans across the Berwickshire coastline.

Selling at offers over £395,000, the Castle Rock guest house was at one time a Church of Scotland manse. Special features include black Gothic-style windows, mosaic tiles, stained glass windows, cupola, ceiling roses, period fireplaces and wooden shutters.

The ground floor layout includes sitting room, dining room, breakfast kitchen, office, play room, utility and a bedroom with ensuite facilities, plus a toilet.

Upstairs are four further bedrooms with ensuite facilities and a main bathroom with a Jacuzzi. Castle homes carrying prices in line with conventional housing are proof positive that castle living need not be an idle dream for Scots home hunters.

For details: Fordyce Castle and Fortesk Estate: 01356-628628;

Castle Rock: 0131-226-2500


A NUNNERY might not be the first port of call for those on the house-hunting trail.
However, five-years ago the Mount Alvernia Convent in Liberton, Edinburgh, was converted into nine homes after the Order of the Poor Clare nuns moved to East Lothian.

Now the house, which was previously the nuns' chapel, is on the market through solicitors and estate agents Warners at offers over £365,000.

This three-bedroom terraced home comes with an array of unusual features including a cathedral ceiling in the open-plan drawing room and study area linking to a mezzanine level gallery. What was the courtyard is now a communal garden.

The master bedroom comes with a dressing room and ensuite and there is a breakfasting kitchen.

Info: 0131-667-0232; www. warnersol. com


HOMEHUNTERS reserving at Barratt North Scotland's Axiom development at Crieff Road, in Perth, before the end of June can take advantage of up to £30,000 discount and free carpets thanks to deals available on selected plots.

These two-bedroom apartments, from £140,000, come with a top-of-the-range designer kitchens and bathrooms.

Info: 01738-587605; 0845-6049450; www.barratthomes. co. uk