PICTURES: Kilravock Castle visited by Mary Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie for sale at £4m
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A 15th century castle near Inverness which was owned by the same family for centuries has been placed on the market with a price guide of £4 million.
Kilravock Castle at Croy – the ancestral stronghold of the Clan Rose – once received Mary, Queen of Scots and was visited by Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland on consecutive days at the time of the Battle of Culloden.
The A-listed 13-bedroom, 10-bathroom castle and its estate – including nine cottages, a former hostel and games hall, 481 acres of farmland and woodland plus trout fishing rights – is being sold as whole.
It is currently owned by the Kilravock Christian Trust and the sale, which is being handled by property company, Galbraith, is expected to attract global interest.
The Inverness Courier revealed last month that a campaign group has been formed in the hope of buying the rundown castle and its grounds under a community buyout bid as an asset for the people of Croy and Cawdor.
But it is also expected to attract interest from potential buyers looking to turn it into a bespoke home, or a hotel and leisure complex.
Rod Christie, a partner with Galbraith, said it would garner interest from far and wide.
"We would anticipate that given the castle's history together with the property's proximity to Inverness Airport, interest is not just going to be from the local area and Scotland," he said.
"We anticipate interest globally."
But he said it was too early to call what its future role might be.
"It might well end up in private hands as a bespoke residence," he said.
"It was run as a retreat. Who's to say it cannot be used for something like that, or as a bespoke hotel or leisure complex?"
The lands of Kilravock were acquired by the DeRoses of Geddes in the13th century while the original castle, dating back to 1460, was rumoured to be designed by Cochran, a servant of King James III who designed nearby Cawdor Castle.
As well as being an A-listed building, it has hosted an A-list of historic figures including Mary Queen of Scots in 1562, her son King James the 6th (and 1st) in 1598, plus Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Duke of Cumberland on consecutive days at the time of the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Other famous visitors include Scottish bard, Robert Burns, in 1787 and Queen Mary in 1922.
In 1971, the clan's 25th laird, Elizabeth Rose, handed the estate over to a trust which ran it as a venue for Christian retreats. She died aged 88 at Nairn in December 2012.
Mr Christie said he had not sold a property like it during his 20-plus year career and described the sense of history within the castle.
"It is almost the first thing which grabs you – this is a place which has been standing for hundreds of years," he said.
"It is quite awe-inspiring.
"It needs a degree of re-investment but that is for a new owner to decide.
"What you cannot get is this historical importance that is Kilravock Castle.
"There is no question that it needs TLC. But it is a fabulous place."
The building, which was added to over the centuries, offers accommodation over six floors mainly between the original keep and the 16th century adjoining mansion.
Features include a stone-vaulted room most recently used as a chapel, the original banqueting hall complete with oubliette (secret dungeon), a library, the Rose family museum plus a spiral staircase built within the outer wall leading to the roof.
As well as the main castle, there are two adjoining wings providing a further eight bedrooms.
The outbuildings include The Granary which was previously converted for use as a hostel/bunkhouse when the estate regularly hosted youth camps and Christian retreats.
The campaign group, which is looking at the possibility of acquiring it under a community right to buy bid, plans to hold a public meeting next month.
Ideas being floated for its potential future use include a community centre with a café, health spa and gym, study centre for summer schools, nursery for pre-school children, office space or a hotel.
A statement issued by the campaign group today said: "This is a particularly exciting time in the history of Kilravock Castle.
"We are very keen to work with the local community to shape the future of this special place."
