£3.25m Berwickshire, Scotland. Gothic Ayton Castle is For Sale
Ayton Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland is For Sale with Edward Douglas-Home of Knight Frank.
Our Description
Ayton Castle, often described as Scotland’s finest baronial-style residence, was designed in 1845 by James Gillespie Graham, the country’s foremost Gothic revival architect. Constructed in striking red sandstone with turrets, crenellated parapets and crow-step gables, the castle is an outstanding example of Scots baronial architecture. Set primarily over two storeys with a dramatic five-storey Great Tower, the castle has benefited from significant recent works by the current owners, including rewiring, re-plumbing, redecoration of principal rooms, and the creation of a formal garden and miniature railway. The castle is approached via a lodge and sweeping driveway through mature woodland, opening into an impressive entrance forecourt.
Inside, the castle retains its grandeur with a main hall, gallery corridor, formal reception rooms, and a private chapel. The kitchen is well positioned for service and entertaining, supported by a butler’s pantry and domestic quarters. The first floor provides twelve bedrooms and six bathrooms, with further family bedrooms on the second floor, while the Great Tower houses additional upper levels. Secondary accommodation is found on the lower ground and basement levels, including storerooms and former service areas. Beyond the main house, the estate also includes a substantial portfolio of cottages, gate lodges and stable flats, many let under residential tenancies, providing useful income.
The estate extends to over 160 acres of Category B-listed designed landscapes, including formal terraced gardens, sweeping lawns, woodlands and the celebrated Upper and Lower Pinetums. Historic features such as a 16th-century dovecote, 18th-century icehouse and the Category B-listed stable block—equipped with stables for nine horses, tack room, stores and workshops—add to its appeal. Ayton Castle is not only a masterwork of Gothic revival architecture but also a historic and income-generating estate of significant scale and importance.
Key Selling Points
- Scotland’s finest baronial-style castle, designed in 1845 by James Gillespie Graham
- Imposing red sandstone construction with five-storey Great Tower and Scots baronial detailing
- Recent upgrades including rewiring, re-plumbing, redecoration, new gardens and miniature railway
- 12 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms on the first floor, plus additional family rooms on the second floor
- Formal reception rooms, private chapel, and spacious main kitchen with butler’s pantry
- Extensive secondary accommodation: estate cottages, gate lodges, and stable flats providing income
- 160+ acres of Category B-listed designed landscape with formal gardens, lawns and woodland
- Historic features including a 16th-century dovecote and 18th-century subterranean icehouse
- Category B-listed stable block with nine horse stalls, tack room, staff facilities and garages
- A rare opportunity to acquire a major Gothic revival masterpiece with historic and estate value