Victorian castle hotel close to Yorkshire Dales and Lake District reduces its asking price to £2m

Currently operating as a 12-bedroom hotel, the owners have had the countryside property on the market in recent years as they look to start their retirement.

It was previously on the market for £2.5m in 2015.

Originally built in 1841 as a Victorian gentleman’s country residence in the heyday of the 19th century gothic revival movement and an early cousin to the likes of Balmoral, the castle is in the centre of the British Isles, with easy transport links north, south, east and west.

It sits at the centre of a small working estate where the owners raise cattle, sheep, and pigs.

Originally bought in 1997 as their primary family home, Simon and Wendy Bennett have since developed the property from a three-bedroom guest house into a 12-bedroom boutique hotel, and separate five bed owners’ cottage, sympathetically renovating the building during their tenure.

Mr Bennett said: “Although Augill Castle hasn’t seen battle, it has battlements, turrets and towers aplenty and has even had royal guests with Queen Victoria staying here on her way to Balmoral.

“We’ve really enjoyed our reign here however now would be the right time to abdicate from the throne, and hand over the castle’s keys to a new dynasty to take on the mantle.”

The main castle includes a grand oak staircase, vaulted ceilings, leaded mullions, turrets and towers but is also intimate enough to feel like home.

The castle also features painted stained glass gothic windows and Jacobean oak panelled walls and flooring which dates back to the mid-17th century.

The castle includes a 46-cover restaurant called The Music Room, a conservatory bar, library, and drawing rooms, which could be used for afternoon teas and events.

There is additional accommodation in the Victorian stables and coach house which provides the option to run the whole property as a hotel, a mix of B&B and self-catering or to live like royalty in the main castle and let out the remaining buildings to guests.

The location is on the doorstep of England’s finest grouse moors, and the grounds lends itself to glamping and events, or further extension off the accommodation subject to planning approval.

Neil Thomson, from commercial real estate firm Colliers, is handling the sale. He said: “Augill Castle is a unique opportunity which could be tailored to a wide range of investor demands.

"It’s a boutique hotel with period features and grand grounds located at the sweet spot of the Eden Valley, between two of England’s greatest national parks.

"Simon and Wendy have looked after the property and it would be easy for new owners to come in and make the business their own, taking advantage of all the various elements the castle and the grounds have to offer.”

There are six international airports within a two-hour drive of the castle and there is also plenty of room to land a helicopter in the 12 acres of private grounds.

Augill Castle has won a number of awards over the years it has been a hotel, including finalist in Cumbria Tourism’s Taste Awards, winning Visit England’s Guest Accommodation of the Year and a coveted César Award from The Good Hotel Guide in 2016.