If you want to get in touch, reach out to me here: bit.ly/Contact_Philip or by email at philip@philipwells.com Let us know where you'd like us to tour next!
True -- and I hear you, but most of my audience is in the US, and it's what comes most naturally to me. I'll try to throw more metric in there for you though. I do recognize the superiority of the metric system@@lppoqql
I went the nc500 during a heatwave last September and it was 25-30c for the week only had 1 day of rain :D It was raining for weeks after so I was quite fortunate
It really is a huge estate, and beautiful land. I think we calculated that if the new owner explored 5 new acres a week it would take 100 years to explore it all. If you focused just on the land then it is priced at just over $1,000/acre- and then you get the castle and 20 outbuildings for free.
The person that acquires this estate is likely to be one that doesn’t want to do anything w/ the land other than own it, as a means to diversify their asset portfolio
No way I found out about Dunbeath castle a few months ago and was obsessed with the front enterance and kind of wanted to know more about the place, crazy to see that it's now on sale and there's a complete high quality tour of the interior now
I'm so glad you found the video! I just changed the thumbnail in your honor :) High Quality? You're too kind! We're trying to continually improve the quality of our tours. Thanks for watching.
It would be like a dream to visit a place like Dunbeath castle. This tour makes me imagine if I could live there and what a mysterious magical experience it would be.
Tbh i have seen many luxurious modern homes which i think is just steel boxes videos in YT but this one really feels like home for sure no doubt... Nothing more luxurious than comfort and peacefulness ....
Thanks for watching! I've been in a lot of these "steel boxes" and can confirm that it felt really nice in there. Another video you might like of ours is the San Francisco Mansion -- the green room, the dining room and the bedroom floor were all fantastic. It was a historic turn-of-the-century home that was built to last.
You're not buying a property, you're buying a village! Thank you for the tour and sharing the amazing vistas, this property is an amazing legacy and best wishes to whoever volunteers to take up the role of caretaker.
I could imagine myself in the garden in the summer, reading a nice book. And listening to my music and just enjoying nature or taking a nice long walk on the property. This is heaven. Honestly, this is beautiful my heart flutters when I see this.
Love your down to earth manner in which you have to show this beautiful historic castle. The castle is something an ordinary citizen like myself could never afford but so enjoyed your tour. Thank you!
@@philipwellsrealestate it’s lovely, it can feel a bit isolated at times, but Inverness isn’t too far away for a day trip. The views as you saw are stunning and the dunbeath estate is absolutely great, love walking up to the little white cemetery winding along the river past the prisoners leap which is just gorgeous!
This is absolutely beautiful, this is the house and estate i would live my entire life in. A fantastical garden almost emanating magic, a medieval castle beside a clean seashore, your very own river to spend time with your wife and children. What more could someone ask from life? I'm only 17 but, if by any chance this is still on sale a few 10 years later, I'd definitely work my ahh off to buy it. I hope for the best to whomever buys the estate, but my toxic trait wishes for it to remain until I can.
Never seen a more perfect property. Scotland and the whole British isles are truely incredible. im from South Australia and we have the beautiful Adelaide hills which doesnt even come close compared to how nice this is! wow
Thanks! I'm glad we did it justice. It was truly beautiful. I don't see too many property tours in Australia, maybe we should get out there. Where are the bigger companies? I haven't looked into it much at all but could consider adding it to the schedule.
Agreed! I dont see many tours of properties in Aus either and its not like we lack in great architecture@@philipwellsrealestate id say if you were to come to Aus, look into Tasmania! they have properties and estates that are incredible and unique compared to the mainland. Thanks for the response.
My calculations put any danger thousands of years away- the volcanic rock that the castle sits on luckily has a very low erosion rate, around 1/1000th of a meter per year. Thanks for watching! We have some other great properties coming up.
in 2004 i remember downloading severel pictures of this castle with only one interior picture which was a white hallway with deer antlers on the walls ..it is interesting to see interior after 19 years
Beautiful Estate with a lot of history and pride. It's hard to believe you could buy all this instead of a meaningless penthouse in NYC. A place where you can live with your family surrounded by all this breathtaking nature.
Yes and no. The very far north of Scotland is a bleak and dark place for most of the year. This is not a place to live year-round. Caithness is isolated and a long drive from schools, so it's not great for families. There's also the right-to-roam laws in Scotland which mean you don't need to own this land to enjoy it. You can just rock-up, and as long as you're being respectful to the owners and the land, you have every right to enjoy it for free. I'd save my 30 mil for a Bahamas beach house and spend 1k on a visit here
@@richardconway9445 Not to mention the upkeep, you are going to have quite a few staff, Main groundskeeper and helpers, Housekeepers, chef. You are going to be into that property for at least a couple of million a year. I am sure it's similar to running a mega yacht or more. You also have to take in to consideration the locals and make sure you respect the property in a way they are happy. A 32 million dollar Apt in New York, you and do what you want and no real significant upkeep.
@richardconway9445 very informative. I didn't think about that. Yeah, I know someone in Inverness and there is not much going on either.... and this is even further north. This right-to-roam is something I wouldn't like, but in reality I don't think you would notice it if someone walks somewhere on your 28.5k acre estate. I don't know what kind of property tax regulations they have over there... but nevertheless it is a spectacular estate. Than rather a nice French estate... if you want to have some history in your residence.
@@Alster763 A $30m NYC apartment will have about $18k per month in taxes and building fees. Over 30 years that means you need to find $65 million (current rate, inflation for the rest).
Wowwwwww amazing 😍 Wonderful Castle Property ❤❤❤I love this peaceful Quiet place Overlooking Amazing Views of Ocean and Landscape My Dream Home For my family and to live there In One of Kind Beautiful Nature ❤️❤❤❤thank you Philip I love this House Beautiful 😍 Classic Unique Castle 😍 Godbless From the Philippines 🇵🇭🙏🙏👏,👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤️♥️👍thank you for your wonderful walk around Property tour.
I’m not Scottish and I’m not wealthy but if I were, this would be THE place to purchase. Such an amazing property. Owning such a large piece of the country with a majestic castle. Spectacular.
I thought so too. We have another pretty exciting estate coming up -- would love to hear what you think of it from a value perspective. Thanks for watching and for writing in!
id probably do same but make it into like a hotel or something like that, too big for a place to make it as a home. Is good when u have like 6+ kids but honestly would be a wonderful hotel, just need some touch ups and its all good. you can also build some sort of boarding house for the staff when u hire them, maybe put in some saddle for horse back riding. definitely worth investing if you got plenty of money because the views are just to die for.
So in Hershey Pennsylvania, the Hershey family built a huge garden with plants and flowers and trees from all over. It’s gorgeous and open to the public for a small fee. They even have a butterfly garden.
I would never think that a breathtaking property like that will be for sale ever, but instead it will be kept in the family and passed to the next generations. The price is surprising for that type of property. In the US there are not properties like that and certainly if there were the price will be many times over (overpriced...). It is a dream place to live. It deserves to be the home of a family that appreciates every corner of that home and it's surroundings. That is more than a stunning property, it is home for an ecosystem with a large biodiversity of animals and plants. It can very well be a self-sufficient estate and provide jobs for the residents in the area. Thank you for sharing this property. My wishes for you are that you find the right buyer soon.
You are exactly right. I wonder if it was already sold once by the original family. It should stay in the family but sometimes the heirs are not interested in the up keep. My family farm in Virginia has been in the family for over 300 years I hope to keep it going. It is only 8700 acres.
@@howelltaylor6774 Yes, sometimes the heirs do not want the responsibility to keep such a large estate or they have disagreements on who will take over. I am sure your family property is beautiful. I visited Virginia Beach once when I was living in New Jersey, in the late 80's. It was summer and I loved the weather and the food. I ate so much grilled lobster tail that when I went home after the vacation I did not wanted to even see lobster tails for a while. Lol. The prices of seafood were much better then.
@@howelltaylor6774 Only 8700 acres...That is not a small property in this time in the US. Is there any historical building open to the public in that property? The time I went to Virginia I also went to Colonial Williamsburg. I was fascinated by the historical houses. I like everything that is historical buildings, antiques, anything and everything old. But the prices to get inside the houses were very expensive.
@@PablaMMoore The most famous property associated with my farm and family that is open to the "public" all the time is "James Madison's", "Montpelier". Check it out. Cheers .
Like all castles in Scotland they are also steeped in both happiness and tragedy. The owner of this caste sadly was found dead at his English estate the same day Savills listed it.
I was curious if anyone would mention that....I don't think that even with all the money in the world I could live with that hanging over it, it was so sad. As with most parts of Caithness and Sutherland there is a lingering memory of unspeakable poverty and tragedy, as well as the amazing beauty.
I watched for about a minute and a half before I realized you are American. Ha! This place is incredible. I can't believe this property is for sale. Four miles of coastline... And the gardens... I would spend so much time out there, when it isn't raining, of course. Does the castle come furnished? I can't imagine trying to furnish it. You guys did a great job showing it. I still can't believe the price. Why is is it priced so low? The history alone is worth so much more.
Thanks David! This region was one of my favorite places to visit and I can't wait to return. I'd love to do a more extensive tour with the outbuildings and exploring some of the Brochs nearby.
I think you mean God's own country.😂 My brother in law fae the Highlands greets new comers, tourists, visitors even if they are family from England and abroad with that term. He's deadly serious, too. Trying to be very humble as well as very proud. Great fun. 😂
@user-sc7oc7ib5m I've got the giggles. A friend of mine hosted a total stranger from Australia on behalf of a friend. The woman was treated to the finest things in life from the get-go, taken to the most iconic locations, but she continually disparaged Scotland. After 5 days, my friend had had enough. She stopped her car, drove back home, and told the woman to pack her bags saying...I want you to leave my country right now. She left. 🤣🤣🤣
Amazing property and absolutely beautiful in the summer but Caithness is such a grim , cold ,windy place in the winter and that’s coming from someone who has lived in Caithness all their lives.
I’m glad that this video is getting served to people who actually live there- I hope I did your beautiful area justice in the presentation. We had a great time in your corner of the world.
I spend parts of most winters in Caithness, never been in the summer, and I always find it so wonderfully warm, with the bonus that it's the only place in the world you can dry your washing in the rain- due to the wind :) Dunbeath not so much maybe but over towards Reay and Tongue it's simply warm and beautiful. I went 'south' for the first time last year and it was bone chilling :)
Thank you, what an incredible production of a video! I feel happy to have found this channel so early. I believe it will inevitably blow up in popularity, good luck!
It is a beautiful place. I have been inside the castle a few times. My mum worked there for Stanton Avery from Texas when he owned it followed by michael Jackson. Mr Avery gave me a huge Lion floor rug complete with the head. great promotion of such a lovely estate.
I know that Mr. Avery (the inventor) owned it at one point. But did Michael Jackson? I thought that he made a trip out to look at castles but never bought one. That sounds like quite the rug.
We’re hoping to come back, if the new owner gives us permission. I want to see how many secret passageways we can find in the castle… and stay in one of the cottages overnight! That would be a ~45 min video
Lived in Caithness my whole life (24yrs) and had no clue about the castle, Dunbeath is somewhere you normally pass through quickly on the way down South. Stunning footage though, arguably nicer than the Castle of Mey!
C wow, that was really entertaining to watch. I mean for $32 million. I think it was €25 million for the money when you really think about it I mean 28,500 acres that’s a nice chunk of property we can do all the gardens for me really just took my breath away. They were just awesome. I loved it. I had to spend $32 million I’d buy it. Gardening is my big thing, the gardens, the greenhouse that’s why he’s been spending all my time right there.
Thanks Scott! I loved the gardens, too- that's something you don't see every day. It felt pretty magical in there, and smelled so good. The property is priced at around £1,000 per acre, which is priced better than most farmland and ranch land in the states. We explored as much as we could but since it is over 44 square miles we could only cover so much.
The coastline has changed very little in 600 years. In another comment I posted a report you could take a look at. They looked at historical photos and depictions of the castle and it hasn’t changed much. As an architect, Mr. Vandelay, you should know that volcanic rock erodes at the rate of .1-.5CM/year, so there should be many hundreds if not thousands of years before any extra work would need to be done.
Wow! What a place. And such a responsibility to maintain. The one thing that concerns me is the cliff edge it is on. I am assuming the rock the house is on is completely stable. it is just a thought and question. it is a beautiful house. Great video, Jeff❤
The issue with Dunbeath is it's remoteness. There is absolutely nothing around Caithness. The closest supermarket is an hour away, there are no amenities, limited services like doctors, dentists etc. and in Winter the roads are frequently impassable. It rains almost constantly and it can get really wild and windy. The East coast doesn't have anywhere near the same character or allure as the West does, which is why services aren't as developed. That said, it's a gorgeous property, but coming from a local, there are better investments for someone with that kind of money to be had elsewhere, especially if the plan is to develop the estate further.
Thanks for this insight from a local! Maybe I’d feel differently if I lived there for years, but the windy and inclement weather would be part of the appeal to me, and the remoteness is part of the sort of romantic draw if the cliffside castle. I imagine it could be a retreat and a cozy fortress against the wind and the rain, all with a roaring fire, delicious food and stories told while the wind and rain continues outside. But I’m partial to stormy, moody weather. My aunt was a lighthouse keeper and maybe it’s in my blood.
I imagine the type of buyer who could buy this property will likely spend most of their time at their estate on the french riviera/saudi palace/dacha, and this would be more of a prestige showpiece in their portfolio of properties with an occasional visit here and there.
Your description sounds ideal to me! As long as there is staff, being away from people, services, etc sounds idyllic! The property is amazing!! Both castle and gardens!!
@@EllieLamont-sw4hl It literally does, because I live in Toremore and was born in Helmsdale. The only thing we have is a SPAR that only stocks foreign weird brands and is a rip-off. The closest major supermarket is is in Wick. And Dunning is absolutely nothing like Dunbeath, it's literally 15 minutes from a major Scottish city where there is every single amenity you could want.
This is absolutely gorgeous. I almost can't believe that there is such a property with such grandeur and beauty to it. Thank you so much for sharing this. My ancestry is from Scotland. I am the 27th Great Grandson of 'Johnny of Gilnockie'. Thank you again, Max Armstrong
It really is. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a coastal property this big for sale in the states, either. That said, I do have a lot of US tours coming up. Thanks for watching, and your input Jonathan.
This place is perfect. No neighbors except wildlife. I'd make it an animal sanctuary and spend my days on horseback--a rescue horse from the abuse of the racetracks. I'd never leave.
There is a lovely paved trail that didn't quite make the cut, with huge trees and a manicured forest below. I can see you riding your horse there, and then up to the highlands...
@@philipwellsrealestate I don't have that kind of money, but if I did, I'd seriously look at it. It actually is a strong value given the acreage. So....what are property and personal taxes like in Scotland for one who could afford this? Or would they run it thru a trust or a version of LCC? Does the no building rules apply to adding a barn? Or workshop? Or is it in terms of no building in terms of commercial development? Which, of course, would be a travesty.
@@weirdshibainu You wouldn't be allowed to build on the land, it would ruin it. You could easily get plenty other plots of land near the sea/rivers etc if you wanted to build property though.
I feel like you need at least half a million to be able to live in a place like that. The costs must be insane, it's not just you pay for this castle and now you never have to worry again. Renovations, restrictions on what you can do since it's probably deemed a heritage site etc etc But man can you imagine raising kids in a place this beautiful.
Thanks Robbie! I appreciate it, and am glad you are enjoying. What other types of properties would you like to see on here? We are planning our next 6 months of tours currently.
The map was a labor of love by Kadin McGreevy- thanks for noticing! I think it helped tie the video together and give some scope to the huge property. I’ll have to look up “Undying”
I agree- especially the drawing room! I imagine most of the furniture could be purchased, but not the art. If you’re interested I can connect you with Luke French and Evelyn Channing at Savills and we can get a definitive answer.
Seems It would be worthless, or a lot less, with out the history the furnishings provide. Your buying history, it must come complete. Imagine the copper ware in the kitchens...
The location is a massive up and down Unless you have an helicopter the biggest city nearby (Inverness) is around two hours or more driving. Castle is the far north east of Scotland sitting between a cliff and the A9. No phone signal till you drive down Dunbeath which is a small town sitting in a chasm of a cliff. It s very nice and beautiful but honestly I hope you like the countryside and windy days. By the way I have been in the castle and pass by many many times. No many delivery drivers in Scotland xD
@@philipwellsrealestate just have to find a way to divide the actual castle and buildings, maybe a community center or museum all run and owned by property owners???
It's an interesting thought. If you worked with the various preservation boards and the county I bet you could get something done, and maybe even some funding. You'd want to avoid the ATED (Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings) that is triggered when a company owns property more than 500,000. Perhaps you could look at how Dunrobin castle is owned and ran. The gardens and tours could generate significant income, and there are lots of outbuildings as it is for various owners to live in. I love the creativity! @@Jg02468
A mini Balmoral. even if this estate was given free to me i would not be able to afford its proper care, and most people i know would consider me to be a wealthy person. i would think the taxes alone would be ruinous. truly unique in the world and a national treasure.
The sad thing is, this castle is so close to the edge of the cliff that there’s a good chance that it will be claimed by the sea in the not too distant future! Also, sad to hear that the current owner took his own life just hours after putting this up for sale 😢
I don’t think much has changed in the last 500 years- fortunately volcanic rock doesn’t erode so quickly (about 1/1000th of a meter per year). So I imagine it’ll still be here for another thousand years. But before buying it’s worth hiring a professional structural engineer for such an investment! “In the late 16th century, 'Dun Beth', was encircled on its landward side by a moat (Pont, 1654). A description of 1726 mentions that the Castle 'stands upon a rock, the S. point of it is always washen with the sea and some parts of the E. and W. sides of it are also washen therewith.' (Morrison 1996, p.68).”
It’s been there for 500 years…..define not too distant future. Any way you slice it, a buyer willing to drop 30 million on a castle can armor the coastline and resolve the erosion pretty simply.
Agreed. Also, not sure if you saw in some of the other comments I dropped a link to a shoreline report that has images of Dunbeath from the 1820s (I believe, I'm not an my desk at the moment) and the shoreline looks pretty unchanged since then@@Matt-yg8ub
