If you've ever fancied yourself as a tartan-clad lady or laird striding around Scotland's wee bit hill and glen, and you have a spare couple of million in the bank, then Forter Castle in Perthshire may be the perfect property for you.
The castle was originally built in 1560 as a fortified home for the Ogilvys of Airlie but it fell victim to the fierce inter-clan fighting of the times, and in 1640, after many years of feuding, it was set on fire by the neighbouring Campbells.
Over the next three and a half centuries, it remained derelict and exposed to harsh Highland weather conditions which caused further erosion to its already fire-damaged and crumbling walls.
Wild northern winds whipped up huge piles of debris which blocked the castle entrance, and, with no roof to impede them, two great oak trees took root in what had once been the Great Hall.
With no apparent interest in the ruined castle, it looked as if it would simply be left to rot. But rescue was on the way from, of all things, a Sassenach.
Restoring Its Glory
It must surely take a certain type of person to buy a ruined castle with the aim of putting it back together again, and Robert Pooley is a prime example of that sort of determined individual.
Having already built up a successful business empire - he is the man behind Pooley's aviation company - he obviously felt in need of a new challenge, and in 1988 he purchased the ruins of Forter for the sum of £15,000.
Right from the start, it was Robert's intention to restore Forter Castle to as close to its original form as possible. He started by gathering together a team of experts to research the initial castle designs by observing intricate details in the ruins for clues.
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Fire scarring in the floor work, for example, helped them determine the layout, and the irregular split levels of the two upper floors were identified by studying fixtures in the stonework and the position of windows and fireplaces.
Once the castle designs had been established, specialised craftsmen from around Scotland were hired to commence the massive restoration and rebuild project which would cost around £1 million and take two long years to complete.
The end result, however, is a fully restored castle built using local stone and as close in its construction method to the original as possible.
Rendering the finished product even more special was the fact that it reached its unofficial completion target of 7 th July 1990 - significant because this was 350 years to the day after the castle's destruction - and the Pooley family held their own clan gathering to celebrate.
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New & Improved
So what's in this Englishman's castle home? Generally, the layout of the castle is typical of similar fortified structures of the period: an L-shaped tower house built over four floors.
There is a vaulted ground floor with a stone staircase leading to a Great Hall on the first floor, continuing onto second and third floors divided into bedroom and bathroom accommodation, and finally an attic and further bedroom; altogether there are five bedrooms.
There is, however, one deviation from the original castle layout on the second floor.
Whereas back in ye olden days, this would normally have been subdivided into two or more bedrooms, Robert decided not to split the space at all but to leave it as one massive master bedroom.
The decision worked. Now known as the Laird's Room, the bedroom runs the entire length of the castle, sharing the same dimensions as the Great Hall - an expansive 30 by 20 feet - creating a room fit for a modern-day king or queen.
Forter Castle comes with three acres of grounds surrounded by a stone wall; as you'd expect from Robert Pooley, this has also been repaired according to its original construction.
And the castle's spectacular setting amidst heather-carpeted hills with views of the River Isla makes it clear to see what prompted Mr Pooley's restoration vision.
Interior Re-design
In 2003, Forter's history changed yet again when Robert decided to rent it as a holiday home to allow others to experience a taste of castle life.
His daughter, Katharine, who is now the co-owner with her father, volunteered for the challenge of re-designing the interior.
Rather than an all-singing-all-dancing Scottish theme, she paid homage to the castle's homeland throughout but also used influences from other countries she has visited such as China, Australia and France.
All of the rooms have impeccable décor and finishing touches, often antique, and the future buyer of Forter Castle will benefit from this exquisite, eclectic taste as furnishings are included in the price, as are the fully modernised fixtures and fittings.
Not only that, but they will also inherit an original work of art: an intricate roof mural depicting the castle's fascinating history which was commissioned from local artist, Jenny Merredew, and adorns the vast ceiling of the Great Hall.
Future of Forter
John Coleman of Knight Frank in Edinburgh has been looking after the sale of Forter Castle. So far, he's seen a lot of buyer interest, and he anticipates that the closing date for offers will be sometime in March.
John is unsure if the future owners will follow in the Pooleys' footsteps. He says: "We've had some buyers looking at letting it out while others want a private family home. It could go either way."
What he is sure of, though, is that whoever owns it next will own something quite unique: "Having been fully restored from a ruin in 1990, Forter Castle is, effectively, a 17-year-old 16 th century castle fit for modern living. It really is very special."
Any one interested in contributing to the next chapter of Forter Castle's history can arrange a viewing through Knight Frank, Edinburgh (0131 222 9600).
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