A castle built for Robert the Bruce’s brother is set to go up for auction – with bids starting at £149,000.
Muness Castle on the Isle of Unst was built in the 15th century for Laurence the Bruce, the half-brother of the King of Scots.
It is the most northerly castle in Britain, on an island believed to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island.
Bids for the ruined castle, which comes with 160 acres and a collection of largely derelict cottages, will open at £149,000.
Seals, dolphins and puffins are the closest neighbours with a small village 3km away.
It also comes with a baronial title and gold mineral rights, and will be sold by Future Property Auctions on Thursday.
The Grade A listed castle was sold last week but owners revealed the sale didn’t go through and said the property will now go back to auction.
Owner Gavin Farquhar bought Muness Castle for £65,000 in 2014, according to reports.
Mr Farquhar, who owns Ecclesgreig Estate at St Cyrus, Aberdeenshire, had planned to open a tourism business at the castle.
But he said he is no longer interested in pursuing the vision given Scottish Government policies on rates and empty building taxes.
He said: “We have had some pretty serious people interested.
“It was an interesting opportunity for us and we wanted to run a tourism venture on the estate, but we have zero interest in doing that now.”
Historic Environment Scotland maintains Muness Castle, with the property described as a ‘splendid example’ of tower house architecture.
It was originally built for Laurence Bruce of Cultmalindie – an unpopular sheriff who is remembered for the oppression of the Shetland people.
The castle was set on fire by privateers from Dunkirk in 1627, though it was reoccupied afterwards.
It was sold by the Bruce family in 1718 and fell into ruin.
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