YOU could live out your fairytale dreams, as a 17-bedroom Scottish castle with servants quarters and a railway line has gone on the market.
Tucked away in the peaceful countryside close to Berwick-on-Tweed, the unique property features stables and a private chapel.
Ayton Castle, nestled in the countryside near Berwick-upon-Tweed.[/caption]
A historic 17-bedroom castle in the Scottish Borders has gone on the market[/caption]
.Ayton Castle even has a private railway[/caption]
Transport yourself to the early 19th century with the stunning baronial-style architecture, designed by leading figure in the Gothic revival movement, James Gillespie Graham.
Priced at the hefty sum of £3.25m, Ayton Castle has nine bathrooms, and sits on a 160 acre plot of land.
The sandstone castle is primarily over two storeys, but also features a five-storey ‘Great Tower’ which has turrets and a parapet.
Other highlights include a breakfast room, two lodges, estate houses and a stable yard with three flats in it.
On the first floor, there are 12 bedrooms and six bathrooms, and if you head upstairs, you will find the remaining bedrooms and bathrooms.
The property has a stunning garden[/caption]
Inside the grounds there is also a stable block, which has room for nine horses, a workshop, tack room, and a double garage.
Horse riding enthusiasts will be pleased to discover that there is also an outdoor area for dressage training and horse riding, as well as a barn for storing hay and straw.
One of the most unique features of this property is the 600m railway, which takes visitors on a journey throughout the grounds.
The quaint train track has its own platform, ticket office, engine shed and a joiners shop.
The historic castle has previously been used as a wedding venue in the past, and would also make a perfect Airbnb escape.
The rural castle is just two miles from the stunning Berwickshire coast, and close to the village of Ayton, whihch as a pub, a shop and a primary school.
It is also just seven miles from Berwick-upon-Tweed, where you can easily hop on a train to Edinburgh, which is 51 miles away.
The A1 is also easy to reach from the castle, which gives you easy access to the airport (58 miles away) and Newcastle Upon Tyne (73 miles away).
5 Tips to Get on The Property Ladder
Saving for your first property is tough, but it is possible. Here are a few steps for first-time buyers.
1. Cut back on luxuries and start saving
Consistent monthly saving is the best way to accumulate enough money to get on the ladder, for a deposit and purchase fees. To do this, you need to take a look at your monthly outgoings and think about what can be cut out – holidays, new clothes, weekly takeaway.
Using a savings calculator can help you to establish how long you will need to save for a deposit. Based on your income, you can figure out a realistic amount to save each month.
2. Have a realistic property search
Set a budget for the property price you would like to buy, and think realistically about the location and size of your property. While we all may want that house with a view or extra bedroom, can you afford it?
3. Research Help To Buy and Shared Ownership schemes
The government has introduced a few ways to help first-time-buyers get on the property ladder and they’re great for those on lower incomes or to buy a property in more expensive areas like London.
4. Consider buying with another person
Investing with somebody else you know is a sure way to get onto the property ladder. You only need to save half the amount you would otherwise, so you can work towards getting your property sooner.
You can invest with a friend, family or partner. Naturally, it is a big step and a huge commitment so be open and honest about what you expect from living together — if you haven’t already.
5. Talk to a mortgage broker and get your documents in order
A mortgage broker can tell you exactly how much you can borrow for a mortgage, what you will need to pay monthly and in upfront costs.
GSC Grays, the estate agents for the property, said: “An iconic Scottish Castle with land, extensive secondary accommodation and limitless potential.
“Ayton Castle is widely regarded as Scotland‘s finest baronial-style building and was designed by James Gillespie Graham, Scotland‘s leading Gothic revival architect of the early 19th century.
`’The Castle is a magnificent example of a Scots baronial house, primarily over two storeys, with a five-storey ‘Great Tower’.
“The castle is built of squared and snecked red sandstone with sandstone ashlar dressings, corbelled eaves with rope-moulded corbelling to the turrets, crenellated parapets, crow-step gables and roll-moulded stone sills.”
The property is priced at £3 million[/caption]
It features a library[/caption]
The property would make a great wedding venue[/caption]