A historic battlefield where one of Scotland’s greatest military commanders suffered his final defeat has gone up for sale.
Carbisdale battlefield, near Bonar Bridge in Sutherland, is on the market for offers over £70,000.
It is the site where James Graham, the 1st Marquis of Montrose, fought his last battle in support of the Royalist cause in 1650.
The 17th century military commander, poet and patriotic Scot, who became known as the Great Montrose, had led his outnumbered army to six successive victories against the Covenanters in the space of a year.
His tactical know-how, leadership and sheer daring helped him to consistently beat the odds, and 300 years on his quote to “win or lose it all” was used to inspire the troops on the eve of D-Day.
However, on April 27, 1650, his small force was defeated at the Battle of Carbisdale.
The battle was a decisive victory for the Covenanter forces against Montrose, with his forces routed almost without firing a shot.
Montrose himself escaped the field but he was handed over to the Covenanters a few days later and taken to Edinburgh to hear his sentence, then hung, drawn and quartered in the weeks after.
Now the battlefield has gone up for sale – offering potential buyers 53-acres of heather moor, pine woodland and open burns and views of of Sutherland.
Estate agents Bell Ingram say almost half of it is designated as native woodland, but a spot could be found at the site to build a family home, subject to planning approval.
The nearest railway station is a 10 minute walk, while the nearest pub is a 25-minute walk or 10 minute cycle ride away.
Joanne Stennett, from Bell Ingram, said: “This is a unique opportunity to own your piece of Scottish history in the form of Carbisdale Battlefield.
“Almost half the ground is designated as Native Woodland by the Forestry Commission Scotland, and there is an opportunity to improve and extend the native species across the whole area to create a significant block of eco-friendly land.
“Alternatively, a mix of amenity and commercial woodland is also possible, with the benefit of current government funding for tree planting.
“No application has yet been made for a dwelling house, but a site could be found, subject to necessary planning consents, for the sensitive development of a family house in keeping with the beautiful surroundings.”
