Brechin Castle has featured on many a page of Scotland’s history books.
Now it’s time for a new owner to create a little bit of history should they buy the castle, which has come to the market at offers over £3 million.
Situated midway between Aberdeen and Dundee, the magnificent A-listed castle is the family seat of the Earl and Countess of Dalhousie.
Built on the site of a much older fortress belonging to the Scottish Kings and incorporating part of the original 12th Century castle, the present building was reconstructed in the early 1700s, evolving from a strategic warrior stronghold to a grand house for the Scottish aristocracy in the 18th Century and beyond.
Occupying a commanding position above the River South Esk and overlooking 40 acres of designed gardens and parkland, everything about it is inspiring – including the approach to it. There’s imposing entrance gates which lead visitors along a long drive which opens out to beautiful parkland from where you properly see the front of the castle for the first time.
Inside, you’ll find a home brimming with architectural and design treasures such as original wall panelling, impressive pillars and a splendid staircase.
Highlights on the ground floor include a small dining room with vaulted ceiling that is thought to be the original site of the 12th Century building; and a family sitting room with two full-length windows opening on to the sun terrace overlooking the river.
The main reception rooms are on the first floor off the portrait-lined gallery which, along with the drawing room, has an elaborate ceiling.
The drawing room is steeped in history and craftsmanship, with much delicately carved woodwork including a “secret” door.
This room was specially designed to display the Flemish tapestries that still adorn the walls.
The dining room, commissioned in the same Edwardian era (early 1900s) but executed in a Jacobean style, can seat 20 comfortably and has three south-facing windows and again, rich wood panelling, while the charming drawing room at the front of the house features a fabulous 39-light William IV chandelier, and was once a billiard room.
This level is also home to a master bedroom with two dressing rooms and an en suite bathroom, two further bedrooms and a family bathroom.
There is no shortage of rooms to accommodate guests in this property as the second floor is home to a further dozen bedrooms and eight bathrooms.
The rear of the castle has a rustic dining room (shoot room), estate office and further accommodation.
Other properties included in the sale are a selection of stone-built, attractive period homes including the Head Gardener’s House; Under Gardener’s Cottage; Laundry Cottage; West Lodge; New Lodge and a B-Listed stable block that could be developed subject to planning.
The gardens and grounds at Brechin Castle are considered to be among the finest and most important private gardens in Scotland. Extending to more the 40 acres, they include the spectacular 13-acre Walled Garden, which includes beautiful roses, topiary hedges, stunning herbaceous borders, a lily pond, and many specimen trees including a majestic Cedar of Lebanon.
In the kitchen garden are Victorian glasshouses including a rare curved peach house.
There is also a seven-acre field with a ha-ha which could be used for grazing horses, cattle or sheep.
Evelyn Channing, for selling agent Savills, said; “To be involved with the sale of a property which is genuinely steeped in history and which has been in the same family for centuries is very exciting. The castle would lend itself brilliantly to a commercial/hospitality enterprise but could equally remain as a much-cherished family home which lends itself to accommodating and entertaining on a grand scale – with ease.
“Perhaps as exciting as the castle itself are the quite extraordinary garden grounds, which despite their scale are incredibly intimate – a wonderful place in which to restore both body and mind.=
“We anticipate interest from all over the globe and in particular from members of the Clan Ramsay – it would be wonderful if Brechin Castle remained the domain of this historic Scottish family.”
www.savills.co.uk