Three of a kind: grand property projects

Orchil Castle, Braco, is a beautiful, historic home but the second floor still needs refurbishment. With a four-bedroom main house, a flat and a cottage, there's plenty of accommodation at a high standard but if it's a project house you're after, there is scope to transform a whole floor. It's on the market in two lots but for the whole package it's offers over Â£1.475 million. Contact Savills on 0131 247 3700.

Jamie Macnab, of Savills, says: “For a really big restoration the decision to buy is often made for romantic reasons rather than practical and it takes a certain mindset to be able to take one on.”

He points to Orchil Castle, near Dunblane, which is currently being marketed by the firm.

The ground and first floor of the building have been refurbished, but the top floors are untouched, leaving plenty of potential for the next owners, or the choice to do nothing at all.

Breachacha Castle on the isle of Coll is a spectacularly situated property overlooking a beach. The current owners live on the top two floors which have six bedrooms, bathrooms and ensuites. The rest of the house is a longer term conservation project. Offers over Â£450,000. Contact Bell Ingram on 01631 566 122.

Macnab says: “In other examples when this is the case, owners have rolled out insulation on the upper floors rather than carpets and left them empty.

“Orchil does offer an opportunity in a staggering setting which might take years of commitment but would result in a unique, awesome house.

“When properties like this are marketed we get a lot of viewers but this will translate to just a handful of serious buyers.”

His colleague, Anna Gardiner, is selling another property which offers a great deal of potential for the right buyer.

Mossfennan House in the Borders is an impressive seven-bedroom period home with six acres of gardens, woodland and paddocks. Although no work is required on the house, there are substantial outbuildings which offer huge potential for conversion. Offers over Â£725,000. Contact Savills on 0131 247 3700.

Mossfennan House near Broughton in the Borders is a large home with a good standard of accommodation already but it also has extensive outbuildings and staff quarters in the house which could be converted into guest accommodation.

Gardiner says: “It is a great deal for the price, plus the opportunity to develop it further in the future.”

Meanwhile Breachacha Castle on the isle of Coll offers the ultimate lifestyle renovation project and there is a lot to be done in terms of conservation.

It is an A-listed Georgian castle situated on the southern end of the beautiful Hebridean island.

The current owners have undertaken a great deal of work to secure the future of the building, using specialist conservation advisers, while living on the top two floors of the house in a six-bedroom apartment.

Will Banham, of Bell Ingram’s Oban office, says: “The fact that Breachacha Castle combines the character of a fine Georgian manor house with a spectacular outlook over a white sandy beach makes this restoration opportunity truly exceptional.

“This is not a project for the faint hearted but this fine building has a fascinating history and really does offer buyers the chance to create a unique holiday home or lifestyle business.”