War poet's estate for sale

A HEBRIDEAN estate owned by the family of war poet Siegfried Sassoon since 1949 has been put up for sale.

Isolated Benbuie, on the south-east coast of Mull, is on the market with a 1.65 million price tag.

The 3,925-acre estate includes 1.2 miles of shoreline on Loch Buie, a lodge, cottage and farmhouse, and a small hill, Ben Buie.

The farmhouse was used as a location for filming when thriller Eye Of The Needle, starring Donald Sutherland, was shot on Mull.

Hester Gatty, whose father had owned a large part of Mull in the early 20th century, married Sassoon in 1933 but the couple split before she acquired Benbuie, along with her brother Richard in 1949.

Her son George, who became a successful scientist, electronic engineer and author, spent much of his childhood with his mother on Mull.

He went on to inherit the estate after his mother's death in 1973 and was a popular figure on the island.

Benbuie Lodge stands in a private position to the west of the small village of Lochbuie, sheltered by woodland.

A spokeswoman for Savills, the agency marketing the estate, said: "Benbuie is a rare slice of Scotland for an affordable price."