A castle that was built in the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, burnt down by a pirate and has been in the same family for five centuries has gone on the market for offers over £650,000.
Kilberry Castle - which dates back to the 15th century - has a wealth of original features including a 288-year-old mausoleum.
It sits in 21 acres of land on the Scottish west coast, with stunning views over Kilberry Bay and out to the islands of Islay, Jura and Gigha.
The four-storey tower house now needs a buyer 'with deep pockets and great imagination' to carry out a complete refurbishment.
A castle that was burnt down by a pirate, saw action in the English Civil War and has been in the same family for five centuries has gone on the market for offers over £650,000
Kilberry Castle - which dates back to the 15th century - has a wealth of original features including a 288-year-old mausoleum (pictured)
On the top floor is a room decorated with newspaper pages (pictured) from 1885 when Archie Campbell was confined to his room for several months with scarlet fever
It sits in 21 acres of land on the Scottish west coast, with stunning views over Kilberry Bay (pictured) and out to the islands of Islay, Jura and Gigha
The four-storey tower house now needs a buyer 'with deep pockets and great imagination' to carry out a complete refurbishment. Pictured: The dining room
The castle (pictured) has no heating system apart from open fireplaces and will need new roofing, plumbing and rewiring too
It is thought the castle (a living room, pictured) may have originally been built as a defensive fort to guard a church from Viking raids in 800 AD
The Campbell family took up the management of the land around 1550 and Kilberry (a room, pictured) has been in the family ever since
In the basement of the castle are the former servants quarters, wine cellars and store rooms (pictured)
The B-listed tower house has over 13,00 sq ft of accommodation over four floors (one pictured) with five reception rooms, ten bedrooms and four bathrooms
The castle burnt down in 1773 during the time of Colin Campbell, who fought in the Battle of Culloden. Pictured: The castle's entryway
It has no heating system apart from open fireplaces and will need new roofing, plumbing and rewiring too.
But the sale includes a three-bedroom holiday cottage and planning permission to build a four-bedroom house.
It is thought the castle may have originally been built as a defensive fort to guard a church from Viking raids in 800 AD.
The Campbell family took up the management of the land around 1550 and Kilberry has been in the family ever since.
In 1513 the castle was attacked and burnt by Captain Proby, an English pirate, and during the civil war - from 1643 to 1645 - it was besieged by a Royalist contingent from the islands.
The castle burnt down in 1773 during the time of Colin Campbell, who fought in the Battle of Culloden, and lay semi-derelict until 1843, when John Campbell restored the ruins and added the tower.
In 1513 the castle (pictured) was attacked and burnt by Captain Proby, an English pirate, and during the civil war - from 1643 to 1645 - it was besieged by a Royalist contingent from the islands
The castle (pictured) burnt down in 1773 during the time of Colin Campbell, who fought in the Battle of Culloden, and lay semi-derelict until 1843, when John Campbell restored the ruins and added the tower
The sale includes a three-bedroom holiday cottage and planning permission to build a four-bedroom house
In the 16th century the estate covered up to 30,000 acres but it was subdivided and sold off over the years with Marion Campbell selling the final five farms in the 1950s. Pictured: The entrance hall of the castle
The grounds include mature mixed woodland, a large walled garden and a small river with three fishponds. Pictured: The castle
Tom Stewart-Moore, from estate agents Knight Frank, said: 'I get to see lots of castles and tower houses and what I like about this (pictured) it is a big impressive building with lots of history but it's not a massive rambling castle'
It was renovated again in 1873 and its heyday lasted until 1908.
In the 16th century the estate covered up to 30,000 acres but it was subdivided and sold off over the years with Marion Campbell selling the final five farms in the 1950s.
The B-listed tower house has over 13,00 sq ft of accommodation over four floors with five reception rooms, ten bedrooms and four bathrooms. In the basement are the former servants quarters, wine cellars and store rooms.
On the top floor is a room decorated with newspaper pages from 1885 when Archie Campbell was confined to his room for several months with scarlet fever.
There is also a three-bedroom cottage that was the original Victorian laundry for the castle, which is now used as a holiday let.
The castle sits in 21 acres of land (pictured) on the Scottish west coast. It has stunning views over Kilberry Bay
A collection of 26 early Christian and Medieval gravestones on the castle grounds are now housed in a shelter just outside the property (pictured) - and are in the care of Historic Scotland
All the bedrooms and reception rooms are beautifully proportioned in the castle (one room, pictured)
The family have decided to sell because there's no one to take it on. Pictured: One of the castle's bedrooms
The three-bedroom cottage - that was the original Victorian laundry for the castle- is now used as a holiday let (one of the bedrooms, pictured)
The holiday let's bathroom is bright and airy. The rental property is the perfect additional income for the castle's new residents
The grounds include mature mixed woodland, a large walled garden and a small river with three fishponds. There is also a mausoleum used by the Campbell family since it was built by Dugald Campbell in 1733.
A collection of 26 early Christian and Medieval gravestones on the castle grounds are now housed in a shelter just outside the property - and are in the care of Historic Scotland.
There is a secluded beach a ten-minute walk away over neighbouring fields.
Tom Stewart-Moore, from estate agents Knight Frank, said: 'I get to see lots of castles and tower houses and what I like about this it is a big impressive building with lots of history but it's not a massive rambling castle.
'It is going to need someone with deep pockets and a great imagination to refurbish it but it will make a wonderful property once it's done.
'All the bedrooms and reception rooms are beautifully proportioned and the end product would have a real wow factor.
Estate agent Mr Stewart-Moore said: 'I wouldn't be surprised if we had interest from someone thinking they are part of Clan Campbell. It could be someone Scottish or with a Scottish connection, but certainly someone passionate about historic buildings is going to fall in love with this.' Pictured: One of the castle's bathrooms
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The castle is secluded and is accessible via a long driveway. The property has been in the Campbell family for 500 years
The castle's kitchen needs some work but is bright and spacious with plenty of potential. It also has some original features
One of the bedrooms in the castle is seen here. It has no heating system apart from open fireplaces
The castle is nestled in woodland and has views over Kilberry Bay and out to the islands of Islay, Jura and Gigha
The basement (pictured) features the former servants quarters, wine cellars and store rooms
'The history that goes with it is fascinating - it has been in the Campbell family for 500 years.
'There's a wonderful snippet which refers to one of the children being confined to a bedroom with scarlet fever, their equivalent of Covid basically, and he and his nurse papered the walls with cuttings from newspapers, which is still intact today.
'The family have decided to sell because there's no one to take it on, they're looking to downsize and decided it's time to find a new owner to see it through the next 500 years.
'I wouldn't be surprised if we had interest from someone thinking they are part of Clan Campbell. It could be someone Scottish or with a Scottish connection, but certainly someone passionate about historic buildings is going to fall in love with this.
'The location is really special too. It's close to the coast, has a lovely walled garden and is really private. It's a nice package and a wonderful opportunity for someone.'
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