Snap up a 15th century Scottish castle - for less than the price of a London flat
Fancy living out your lord and lady of the manor dreams? A 15th-century castle on the west coast of Scotland, is currently up for sale for £650,000 - less than the average London home.
Kilberry Castle, which has been owned by the same family for almost 500 years, has 10 bedrooms, is set in 21 acres of beautiful grounds and has actual turrets.
Before you book an appointment with your mortgage advisor and start imagining your new #castlelife, it's worth noting that the house needs complete modernisation.
According to the Knight Frank listing, while totally liveable, the castle is in need of significant restoration but that doesn't detract from the covetable original features including a 288-year-old mausoleum.
Read more: Court jester: Seriously, a comedian lives in the Tower of London
Arranged over four levels, connected by a grand wooden staircase and galleried landings, the castle is packed with original features including dreamy Italian marble fireplaces in the library and drawing room, while more unusual nods to the castle's history can be found via the horns and heads adorning the upstairs walls.
Other covetable castle-style features include an elegant dining room, drawing room with sea views, orangery/conservatory, library with fitted book shelves and a billiards room.
The ten (yes, ten!) bedrooms all have superb views over the surrounding countryside and two bathrooms are located in the turrets of the impressive building.
Watch: Martin Roberts explains the stamp duty rules.
The fabulous grounds extend to 21 acres and feature a large walled garden, formal lawns, mixed mature deciduous woodland, the Kilberry burn (stream), three ancient fishing ponds, a Victorian pets' graveyard and chapel remains.
If living in an actual castle doesn't quite provide you with enough living space, there’s also a separate cottage, sweetly named Laundry cottage, which has fabulous coastal views and is currently used as a holiday let.
Read more: A haunted Scottish village can be yours - for just £125K
There is also a private woodland and a plot with recently-renewed planning consent to build a four-bedroom home 'Grand Designs'-style.
The impressive castle sits in 21 acres of land on the Scottish west coast, with stunning views over Kilberry Bay, with its white-sand beach which is a 10-minute walk away over neighbouring farmland.
For wannabe purchasers concerned they might miss the buzz of a big city, Glasgow is less than three hours’ drive from Kilberry Castle, via a picturesque jaunt that takes you past Inveraray Castle and Loch Lomond.
Read more: Entire Welsh village for sale for £1.2m
The origins of the tower house are thought to date back to the 15th century and it has had a number of additions since then, with the final renovation in 1873 with a western wing and billiards room added.
"It’s going to need a full rewiring, a heating system, substantial money spent on it," Tom Stewart-Moore from Knight Frank Scotland who are marketing the castle told Evening Standard.
"It’s a wonderful opportunity for someone passionate about wanting to own a property like this."
On the market with Knight Frank for offers in excess of £650,000, find out more about the history of Kilberry Castle here.
