Where Oliver's Army stayed: Stunning 15th century castle where Cromwell garrisoned his troops during siege could be yours for £3.9million
- Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, Ackergill Tower has previously hosted celebrities from across the globe
- The property in Wick, Scotland, has 32 bedrooms, 31 bathrooms , 10 reception areas and a tree house
- During his siege of Dunnottar Castle, Cromwell used Ackergill Tower to Garrison his troops as he was hunting for the Honours of Scotland
The enchanting castle where Oliver Cromwell is believed to have garrisoned his troops could now be yours for a hefty price tag of £3.9million.
Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, Ackergill Tower is currently operated as a wedding and events venue which features distinguished dining halls and cosy living areas.
In recent years the property, which is currently listed by KnightFrank has hosted Hollywood royalty such as Jack Nicholson and Michael Douglas, as well as British celebrities including Billy Connolly, Twiggy and Jeremy Irons.
The stunning property is located right on the coast and has stunning views of the sea as well as of the well kept grounds
The property in Scotland has previously been used as a wedding venue. This exquisite dining area boasts beautiful chandeliers and a perfectly dressed table
Step outside and you will find a tremendous tree house nestled inside the grounds. This luxurious tree house would make picture perfect wedding photos
The interiors inside the castle are exquisite. This room has a traditional look and is complete with comfy sofas and chairs
However, the property hasn’t always been one of opulent luxuries. The 15th century tower is believed to date from 1475 and over the centuries has been steeped in intriguing history.
In 1651, Oliver Cromwell used Ackergill to garrison his troops during his siege of Dunnottar Castle as he was hunting for the Honours of Scotland.
A legend relates the tale of a young woman by the name of Helen Gunn, who was abducted by John Keith, the original owner, for her beauty. She flung herself, or fell, from the highest tower to escape her abductor’s advances. Supposedly her ghost is still seen.
Then in 1676 the 2nd Earl of Breadalbane and Holland, John Campbell, took possession of Ackergill Tower in repayment of debts owed to him by the landowning Sinclairs.
Oliver Cromwell (pictured above) used Ackergill to garrison his troops during his siege of Dunnottar Castle as he was hunting for the Honours of Scotland
This cosy reception area is one of ten situated inside the property and includes a real log wood fire in the centre of the room
Dining in style: this candlelit dining room would be great for corporate events or even a big family get together
From 1890 to 1986 the estate was run as farmland. At the time it declined in size from 100,000 acres to fewer than 4,000.
The cash generated from small farms rented to tenant farmers did little to support the cost of an ageing, high-maintenance building.
At this point Ackergill Tower was considered to be beyond salvation and put up for sale.
This small cottage is just one of six which is part of the package. The small lawn would be great for summer and on the right hand side of the photo a view of the sea
Many of the fixtures and fittings inside the property are derived from wood. This room is inside the out door tree house and to the left you can see a large tree trunk
The property screams luxury and this gorgeous bathroom is complete with a large tub, a shower, heated towel rack and two sinks
Since then the property has been transformed into a spectacular 32-bedroom mansion which boasts a stunning coastal setting.
In the 19th century the tower was significantly extended and then in the 21st century it was once again renovated to the high standards which can be seen today.
It was significantly extended in the mid-19th century by the famous Scottish architect David Bryce and, in the 1980s, the Tower was restored to its deserved grandeur’.
This cute cottage would be perfect for a weekend away with friends or family and could be rented out as a separate entity
This stunning four poster bed is located in one of the 32 bedrooms in the property, where Oliver Cromwell is believed to have garrisoned his troops
The current owners purchased Ackergill Tower in 2009 and have progressively improved and renovated the property, including the provision of additional accommodation in the adjacent former stables and the creation of a superb conference/ function facility for up to 200 guests.
The property is set in 30 acres of its own grounds with a lease of shooting and fishing rights over an adjoining 3,000 acres.
The beautiful surroundings of the castle are picture perfect. The exterior of the property is in a great condition due to refurbishment works
The castle and its grounds is on the market and could be purchased as a luxurious home or as a business opportunity.
It can operate as either a traditional country house hotel business, a wedding/party venue or as a conference venue.
Some of the properties can be used for self-catering accommodation whilst the main Tower remains as the ‘core’ hotel business.
This cute sitting area is also in the tree house. It is currently the largest tree house in Europe and is extremely spacious inside
Ackergill Tower itself has over five floors as well as a cellar. The surrounding property also boasts the Smugglers Inn Pub as well as six separate cottages around the grounds.
It is also home to large storage barns for logs and garden equipment. Also outside, is a huge tree house, the largest in Europe, which could be a great adventure for children or could be converted into accommodation or a business premises.
Its proximity to the coast is another element which makes this property so desirable.
This spacious room could be the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine or to catch up with friends in a cosy environment
The grounds span a staggering 30 acres and the garden includes a Victoria walled garden, woodlands, formal lawns private gardens and the oval park (the ‘Heart’) in front of the Tower in which two B-listed dovecotes are located. The property also has 31 bathrooms and 10 receptions rooms.
It may seem like it’s in a remote location, but Ackergill Tower is just three miles from Wick Airport which, via either Aberdeen or Edinburgh, provides flight links to London and other airports.
Alternatively there is a scenic drive from Inverness airport or there is a railway station at Wick. The local area offers a range of different attractions and tourist sites and there are strong relationships in place to provide tours and visits that are exclusive to Ackergill Tower.
Fancy being king of your very own castle? Stunning Grade II-listed home dating back to the 15th century goes on sale for £1.5m
- Homeowners have the chance to own a Grade II listed castle home with its own historic turreted towers
- Astwell Castle in Northamptonshire goes on sale for £1.5million with stunning views over the countryside
- The home dates back to the 15th century, but the four bedroom castle would be perfect for a modern family
- The ancient monument even has a stone spiral staircase and a wooden archway carved in 1638, but this property also doubles up as a charming family home in the country just half an hour away from Milton Keynes
Homebuyers can be king of their own castle after a historic house and castellated tower has gone on the market for £1.5m.
Astwell Castle is Grade II listed and a scheduled ancient monument but needs some extensive repair to restore it to its former glory.
The once-grand home dates back, in parts, to the 15th century and was associated with wealthy families, but was largely dilapidated by the late 19th century.
Astwell Castle, near the town of Brackley, Northamptonshire, is just 30 minutes from Milton Keynes. It is a Grade II listed building and a scheduled monument, and potential homeowners could own this historic castle complete with accessible roof towers
This deluxe drawing room shows the historical significance of the castle, with a fireplace and wooden beams above. The once-grand home dates back to the 15th century
The property, which sits in 33 acres of land near the market town of Brackley, Northamptonshire, now offers development potential with planning consent in place for some barns to be converted into two dwellings.
It is on the market with estate agents Knight Frank.
The imposing building is actually the gatehouse that belonged to a former fortified manor house, thought to have been built for Thomas Lovett in the late 15th century.
It stayed in the Lovett family for four generations before passing to the Shirleys by marriage. George Shirley demolished most of the medieval manor house and built a new house beside the gatehouse in 1606.
In the luxury drawing room, above, there is a carved stone fireplace with a coat of arms for the Lovett and Shirley families. The castle stayed in the Lovett family for four generations before passing to the Shirleys by marriage
This kitchen would not look out of place in a normal house, but for a castle complete with turreted towers, the modern kitchen shows how the castle could be a good buy for modern families too. The property has lots of dated architectural features including mullion windows, antique doors, ornate fireplaces, an oak staircase and parquet floors
This room leads out to the beautiful back garden, just yards from the stairs. The house has a reception hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, study, four bedrooms and two bathrooms, which would make it perfect for a modern family
The gardens provide an excellent backdrop to the house, which sits in 33 acres of land. The gardens include a former outdoor swimming pool, vegetable garden and greenhouses, as well as lawns and pasture land
It later fell into disrepair and the hamlet was only occupied by three cottages by the 18th century. By 1874 the manor house had been largely dismantled and stayed in that state until 1958 when the building was restored by Joan Wake.
The property has lots of architectural features including mullion windows, antique doors, ornate fireplaces, an oak staircase and parquet floors.
The tower has a 15th century stone spiral staircase, which leads to two handsome tower rooms that have beautiful views, as well as access to the castellated roof. It has archway timberwork with a carved date of 1638.
The tower has a 15th century stone spiral staircase, which leads to two handsome tower rooms that have beautiful views. Homebuyers can be king of their own castle with this historic house castellated tower rooms, complete with turrets
The beautiful historic stonework, seen close up above, makes Astley Castle both a stunning piece of architecture and a modern family home for new owners to enjoy. The castle needs some extensive repair to restore it to its former glory
This picture shows the property in its entirety with the castle home shown on the right, and the various outbuildings shown on the left. A former outdoor swimming pool is also shown in the far right of the property, perfect for hot summer days as king of your own castle
This beautiful archway timberwork has a carved date of 1638, at the time when Charles I dissolved Parliament and began another year of ruling the country as the monarch alone. Just ten years later, civil war would break out. Now you could own this piece of history
The ancient fireplace in the living room is complete with this carved stone fireplace, which shows the coat of arms of the previous families which owned it. It later fell into disrepair and the hamlet was only occupied by three cottages by the 18th century. By 1874 the manor house had been largely dismantled and stayed in that state until 1958
Beautiful Astwell Castle is Grade II listed and a scheduled ancient monument but needs some extensive repair to restore it to its former glory. The once-grand home dates back, in parts, to the 15th century and was associated with wealthy families
The house has 4,822 sq ft of accommodation with a reception hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
There is also three attic rooms, which could be converted into additional accommodation, along with the tower rooms.
It also has a number of outbuildings including barns, store rooms, stables and car ports, which total another 17,427 sq ft of accommodation.
A deer park was created in the grounds in 1547 and a Second World War bomber plane heading on a mission to Germany crashed near the farm buildings in 1943, killing all ten crew members.
Now the gardens include a former outdoor swimming pool, vegetable garden and greenhouses, as well as lawns and pasture land.
James Way from Knight Frank said: 'Astwell Castle's main appeal is obviously the architectural interest and the ancient monument status.
'Along with that, geographically it's very well located for London and the West Midlands, it's nicely situated in open countryside with good views all around and it's set in the middle of 30 acres with a wide range of buildings.
'It does need a significant investment to stabilise the structure of the tower and update the house for what people want in today's world.
'The owners will have to work closely with conservation officers but with the right investment they're going to have a pretty special property.
'It's very striking as you approach it through narrow country lanes. If someone likes the idea of living in their own castle, this is the perfect property.
'With the outbuildings it could also be ideal for running a business or as extra accommodation for extended family or a residential business.'
The property also comes with outbuildings. There is great development potential with planning consent in place for some barns to be converted into two dwellings
The floor plan, above, shows the 4,822 sq ft of accommodation in the house, with a reception hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, study, four bedrooms and two bathrooms
This floor plan shows the location of the rooms in relation to other buildings. It also has a number of outbuildings including barns, store rooms, stables and car ports, which total another 17,427 sq ft of accommodation
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