A sprawling Scottish castle is up for sale for a bargain price of $A57,000 — less than the deposit on an average Australian home.
The windswept 19th century castle, Brough Lodge, is located on the island of Fetlar, the fourth largest of the Shetland Islands.
It is accessible via ferry from the Shetland mainland, which itself is an hour and a half flight from Edinburgh or a three-and-a-half-hour flight from London.
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But there is a catch to the real estate buy, it requires millions of dollars of restoration before it is liveable.
The Brough Lodge Trust, which is selling the property, says it is looking for “a philanthropic entrepreneur” who can transform the castle into a 24-bedroom retreat, and has already received several expressions of interest.
“Several potential investors have been in touch with our selling agents, some of them travelling to Fetlar to view the Lodge and talk over the possibilities with trustees,” trust director Drew Ratter said.
“One potential buyer has put forward a detailed proposal and we are exploring it with them, but we would nevertheless still be interested to hear from other philanthropic entrepreneurs, as we would wish to achieve the best possible outcome for both the building and the community in Fetlar.”
The island is home to about 69 people, according to the Fetlar Community Association website, and the castle is nestled into the hillside, overlooking Fetlar’s grassland and rugged cliffs, as well as the surrounding islands.
The Trust hopes the retreat will attract guests who wish to partake in various cultural activities, including textile making — which Shetland is famous for — yoga and guided wildlife tours.
“The vision is simple but effective: Brough Lodge, a category A-Listed Building set in approximately 40 acres of land, will be transformed into a world-class retreat that will delight all who visit it,” the Trust said on its website.
“Under the plans we have developed, the building’s historic character would be fully respected. New accommodation, sensitive to its setting, would offer up to 24 double bedrooms and other essential facilities, including an elevated dining room.”
The hope is it will also provide up to 14 jobs for the island community, where there are traditionally few employment opportunities.
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