The ultimate property BOGOF – buy one castle and get another one FREE!

• 18th Century Keiss Castle is a local landmark built over four floors and is resplendent with original features
• Sale comes complete with second 16th century ruins perched dramatically on the clifftops of Caithness

IT is a history buff’s dream – a two-for-one deal on Scottish castles.

For the buyer of historic 18th-century Keiss Castle will also take ownership of its 16th century predecessor, which is perched on the clifftops of Caithness.

But potential purchasers are warned that the castle is ‘now in need of refurbishment, upgrading and modernisation’, despite having to shell out the princely sum of £1.8million.

Historic Keiss Estate, including the 18th-century Keiss Castle, in Caithness is on the market for £1.8m

The castle has generous array of versatile reception rooms offering fine features including original doors, flooring and fireplaces

The sale also covers Keiss Mains Farm, extending to some 786 acres, a four-bedroom farmhouse and two-bedroom gate lodge.

The older Keiss Castle, a cliff-top ruin dating back to the 16th century, is part of the package along with a mile of sea frontage.

The estate is being sold through Rightmove and Strutt and Parker.

It says: ‘Keiss Estate provides a spectacular coastal estate on the eastern coast of the County of Caithness in Northern Scotland with historical interest and boasting a great deal of amenity and scenic grandeur.

‘The estate is centred on Keiss Castle with walled garden and polices. There remains the ruins of the 16th century Keiss Castle on the cliff top to the east of the newer castle, both structures being significant local landmarks. There are ancillary residential properties, being a gate lodge, farmhouse (sub-divided into 2 apartments) a castle apartment and adjacent stores and garages.

‘The estate boasts a significant farm, Keiss Mains which is a productive arable and stock farm with a modern and traditional farm steading. The farm is currently subject to a 5 years lease at a current rent of £23,000 per annum.

‘The estate enjoys approximately 1 mile of sea frontage to Sinclair’s Bay.

‘Keiss Castle is an imposing and significant 18th-century Scottish Baronial property with a wealth of history and retained features of its time. It comprises over 11,300 sq. ft of adaptable accommodation over four floors and lies as the centrepiece of the estate which also includes further residential properties and a let arable and stock farm. The castle is now in need of refurbishment, upgrading and modernisation. The Castle (together with the gate house, walled garden and gate piers) are listed as B grade by Historic Scotland.

‘To the front of the castle are two sets of double doors open to the reception hall with useful cloakroom, and to a generous array of versatile reception rooms offering fine features including bay and shuttered windows and original doors, flooring, fireplaces, stonework and cornice, some of which is in need of restoration. There is a kitchen space and stairway to the rear, a bathroom, and WC, as well as an elegant central spiral stairway and a striking ornate turned staircase.

The older Keiss Castle, a cliff-top ruin dating back to the 16th century, is part of the package along with a mile of sea frontage

Keiss Castle is an imposing and significant 18th-century Scottish Baronial property with a wealth of history and retained features of its time 

‘The expansive first floor houses five further reception rooms, including a snug, formal dining room and family room with feature fireplaces and the grand sizeable adjacent multi-aspect sitting room and drawing room with stunning coastal views. There is also a kitchen, utility, cloakroom and one of nine total bedrooms being well served by a shower room alongside.

‘The second floor is home to seven characterful bedrooms with impressive, elevated aspects, as well as an in-keeping family bathroom with a roll top freestanding bathtub, shower room and WC. On the third floor is an additional family bathroom, bedroom, shower room, cloakroom and three further adaptable spaces including a charming games room with a spiral staircase.’

Adjacent to the castle is a 1.5 storey traditional terrace of buildings constructed of stone and slate, with a paved courtyard to the front. This terrace comprises a two-bedroom apartment with sitting room and bathroom, two garages and a stable.

The farm includes a modern and traditional farm steading which is easily accessed from the main road.

‘A long tree lined private driveway gives access to the castle which sits in a considerable and established coastal location. There is a large area of surrounding lawned land with a handsome stone and turreted wall enclosing formal gardens, which is listed B grade by Historic Scotland, enjoying striking views to the 16th century former Keiss Castle (Ruin) and the coastline with spectacular views over Sinclairs Bay,’ say the agents.

Keiss Castle Estate is situated approximately 8.6 miles to the north of Wick.

The agents also point out that the late Queen Mother’s home, the Castle of Mey is situated approximately 12 miles to the north west of Keiss Estate.

It is the second time in three months a Caithness estate featuring a castle has come onto the market. In June, Savills announced that offers over £25 million were being sought for Dunbeath Estate and its category ‘A’ listed castle.

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