'Fairytale' Scottish castle beside beautiful loch on sale for £2.6million

Daily Record

17-07-2025

The castle, now listed with Knight Frank, has five bedrooms and luxury features like a gym, sauna, and glass-walled dining room
A historic Scottish castle by a beautiful loch with a story stretching back more than 800 years has hit the market. The "fairytale" Couston Castle is up for sale for a cool £2.65 million.
The restored 16th Century castle near Aberdour in Fife sits on 5.37 acres of landscaped grounds overlooking the tranquil Otterston Loch. The striking property combines centuries of history with exceptional modern upgrades
Offering a rare blend of heritage, privacy and luxury less than an hour from Edinburgh, Couston Castle is described by estate agent Knight Frank as an 'outstanding fairytale castle' that has been 'maintained to the highest standard'.
Inside, it features five bedrooms and a wide array of bespoke features, including a gym suite with sauna and wet room, a vaulted sitting room with a rescued fireplace, and a stunning glass-walled dining and living space finished with Caithness stone flooring.
The state-of-the-art kitchen is fitted with Gaggenau appliances and dual islands, ideal for entertaining or family life.
Additional highlights include an office, cinema room, oak-panelled drawing room and a luxurious principal suite with a copper bath. There is also a bunk room, multiple en suites and a guest or staff flat above a triple garage.
Outside, the beautifully maintained grounds include an orchard, a play area, outdoor kitchen, dog kennels, a gardener's compound and a two-storey barn with modern utilities.
A stone and gravel courtyard connects the buildings, all thoughtfully integrated into the historical fabric of the estate.
The castle's story begins in the late 12th century, when Robert de London, the illegitimate son of King William the Lion, granted Couston and other lands to Roger Frebern. By the 16th century, a fortified castle stood on the site, equipped with artillery.
In the following century, King James V issued a charter to James Logan of Couston, during whose tenure the building was remodelled into a form close to its present-day layout.
In the 1660s, the castle was home to Reverend Robert Blair, a professor at Glasgow University and former tutor to King Charles I. Exiled from St Andrews due to his covenanting views, Blair lived out his final years at Couston, dying there in 1666.
Over time, the castle fell into disrepair. Much of it was dismantled in the 1840s for farm building materials, leaving behind only partial ruins, including a 17th-century stair base and doorway.
It remained largely forgotten until the 1980s, when businessman Alastair Harper bought the site and commissioned architect Ian Begg to restore it.
Using original stone from Otterston Loch and salvaged rubble, they painstakingly rebuilt the structure, preserving the historic layout. Their work was recognised with a Saltire Society Award in 1988.
The current owners have since added further refinements, including contemporary bathrooms, a modern kitchen and luxurious high-end finishes throughout.
These developments have transformed Couston Castle into a unique, multi-level family home that is both rooted in the past and designed for modern living.