Scottish castle on market for £500k

Bedlay Castle is around nine miles from Glasgow. Picture: Contributed

Bedlay Castle, nine miles from Glasgow, is up for sale for offers over half a million pounds.

Agents CKD Galbraith describe the property as an opportunity to own the castle as “an affordable reality for many”.

In comparison, a two-bedroom flat in Simpson Loan, Edinburgh, is on the market for offers over £625,000.

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The six-bedroom A listed castle comes with nearly 10 acres of grounds and woodlands -- but agents CKD Galbraith admit it is “missing a moat”.

The castle, which is located between Chryston and Moodiesburn in North Lanarkshire, originally formed part of the larger Bedlay and Mollins Estate, which formed part of the possession of the Cathedral Church of Glasgow, having been gifted by William the Lion in the 12th century.

Bedlay Castle was built by Robert Boyd, the 4th Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock in the 16th century.

The Boyds owned the castle until 1642, when it was sold to James Robertson, who later became Lord Bedlay.

The Robertsons extended the castle, and owned it until 1786.

It has been owned by a number of people since then.

The current owners are still living in the castle, which was put up for sale by them in late 2006 -- but was later withdrawn from the market.

The towers in the western section were added almost 100 years after the castle was built -- providing two two cosy circular rooms across the ground, first and second floors.

The castle includes large barrel-vaulted store rooms, cellars and two smaller larders as well as the main kitchen and living room.

The master bedroom is on the first floor together with a drawing room and gallery, and a large dining room.

A further five bedrooms are split across the second and third floors.

According the legend, the castle even comes with its own spectre - it is said to be haunted by the ghost of Bishop Cameron, who died in suspicious circumstances in 1350.

The sellers notes state that the property does need “fairly extensive” restoration works.

Duncan Barrie, handling the sale for CKD Galbraith, said today: “The sale of Bedlay Castle makes owning a beautiful Scottish castle an affordable reality for many. However the scale of the restoration work required is fairly extensive but would be well worth the investment of time and finance.

“The property is deceptively close to the city of Glasgow, and there is direct access to the A80 to Stirling, Edinburgh and Perth via the M9 and A9; yet the mixture of pasture land and amenity woodland surrounding Bedlay gives a considerable element of seclusion and privacy.”

In comparison, the capital flat near the Meadows is on offer for over £100,000 more than Bedlay Castle.

It comprises two bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, a utility room, a family bathroom and communal gardens and grounds.

All fitted floor coverings, blinds, light fittings and white goods are included in the sale.

The furniture in the flat and an additional parking space is available by separate negotiation.

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