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LIVE LIKE A KING
Inside the humble three-bed home that could be yours for £290k – but it hides an incredible secret
We reveal what the affordable flat looks like inside
A CHARMING three-bed flat has come onto the market for an affordable £290,000 - but you'll have the opportunity to live like a king in a multi-million pound home.
The cosy property is part of a grand castle on the outskirts of Scotland’s Edinburgh - and it's on sale for the price of a typical home in the UK.
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The three-bedroom flat is part of an imposing fortress in Bonaly, an old village just over five miles south west of Edinburgh’s city centre.
The historic building has a high tower and turrets, and sits at the foot of the Pentland Hills, surrounded by stunning grounds that include a stream.
It is called Bonaly Tower and sits on the site of a seventeenth century farmhouse that once stood at the centre of the village of Bonaly.
The farmhouse was the country residence of Lord Henry Cockburn, who extended the property into something with a little more grandeur.
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The peel tower was reportedly added to the building in 1839.
Bonaly Tower was said to be the venue for frequent meetings of the ‘Friday Club’, a group of leading Edinburgh literati, which were hosted by Lord Cockburn.
It is certainly an impressive venue for such occasions, being set in beautiful private gardens.
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These gardens include a decorative wrought-iron gate and recesses filled with statues.
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One of the statues is of Shakespeare, which was reportedly salvaged from the demolition of the Theatre Royal in Shakespeare Square in 1860.
Several other pieces of decorative stonework appear in the garden including urns, some bird baths and a plaque depicting Edinburgh Castle.
The flat is being advertised for sale via Glenham estate agents, which is inviting ‘offers over £290,000’.
The average price of a property in Edinburgh is £349,405, according to Zoopla.
It is around £20,000 higher than the average value of a home in Britain, which currently stands at £329,628.
Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla, said: "While a lot of us might aspire to live in a castle, it's rare that the opportunity arises for one to have that happy ever after at such an affordable cost.
“The property is ideally situated, enjoying excellent public transport links that make commuting into Edinburgh fast and convenient while idyllically nestled at the foot of the Pentland Hills.”
The flat for sale comes with three bedrooms and a Victorian-style bathroom.
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The entrance is a large wooden door, which leads to a hall, living room, kitchen and a separate shower room.
Natural materials continue to be showcased inside the flat with plenty of wood furniture, painted brick walls and wooden beams on the ceiling.
There are decorative sash windows, and a wood-burner sits in the living room.
Outside, there is a double garage and two allocated parking spaces for the flat at the front of the property.
The flat covers an area of 762 square feet, the equivalent of almost 71 square metres.
It sits beside the 290-hectare Bonaly country park, which has a ski centre, pony trekking and trout fishing nearby.
Bonaly has access to good transport links, with easy community via the city bypass and motorway.
The property is also between 1.5 and 2.3 miles of four train stations, including Wester Hailes, Slateford, Kingsknowe, and Curriehill.
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Other facilities nearby include several schools, such as Bonaly primary school, Firrhill high school and Merchiston Castle School.
As well as being well served by amenities, the sale of the flat represents a rare opportunity to live in a historic Edinburgh landmark.
Balmoral Castle
BALMORAL Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, near the village of Crathie.
The vast property is situated 6.2 miles west of Ballater and 6.8 miles east of Braemar.
The estate and castle are privately owned by the Royal Family and are not the property of the Crown.
The existing house on site was found to be too small, so the royals purchased the estate in 1852.
In its place, the construction of the current Balmoral Castle was commissioned.
William Smith of Aberdeen was the architect, although his designs were amended by Prince Albert.
Historic Scotland classified the castle as a category A listed building.
The new castle was completed in 1856, with the old castle demolished shortly thereafter.
Successive Royal Family members added to the Balmoral Estate, and it now covers an area of approximately 50,000 acres.
As well as the main castle, there are 150 other buildings on the estate, including Birkhall, the estate of King Charles, Craigowan Lodge, and several other cottages.
Balmoral is a working estate, including grouse moors, forestry, and farmland, as well as managed herds of deer, Highland cattle, and ponies.
Since 1987, an illustration of the castle has been featured on the reverse side of £100 notes issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The crimson-coloured notes are the largest denomination of banknotes issued by The Royal Bank of Scotland and are still in production.
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