Monboddo Castle - immortalised by Robert Burns - up for sale

A centuries-old castle made famous by Robert Burns is on the market for less than £800,000.

Monboddo Castle was made infamous by Robert Burns

The poet chased the famously beautiful youngest daughter of the owner of Monboddo Castle near Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire and, following her tragically early death, penned “Elegy on the Late Miss Burnett of Monboddo”.

As well as the connection to Burns, the castle was also visited by Dr Samuel Johnson, and counts among previous owners a man who anticipated Darwin’s theory of natural selection.

The 1635 turreted property boasts five bedrooms, two reception rooms, stone spiral staircase, three acres of land, and stables.

In 1714, Monboddo Castle was the birthplace of James Burnett – Lord Monboddo – who went on to become an eccentric celebrity judge and writer.

Burnett became a close friend of Robert Burns, who visited Monboddo Castle as much to meet the judge’s daughter Elizabeth.

The poet also mentioned Elizabeth in lines from his 1786 poem “Address to Edinburgh.”

When she tragically died of consumption, aged 24 in 1790, Burns penned his elegy.

Property agent Ruaraidh Ogilvie said: “It’s a cracking little castle it is charming and of manageable proportions.”