The once grand estate is available for an opening bid of £255,000
Achnashellach Lodge can be bought for less than a London flat(Image credit: Plotfinder)
In a remote corner of the Scottish Highlands, a forgotten estate is up for grabs for a starting price of just £255,000, less than many one-bedroom flats in London.
Surrounded by mountains and thick woodland, Achnashellach Lodge hasn’t been lived in for years and presents a challenge for those looking at renovating a house and also looking for a bargain.
The 19th-century stone-built lodge, once a Highland shooting retreat, includes 15 bedrooms, grand reception rooms and it sits on nearly 18 acres of land and is available on Plotfinder.
A once-grand lodge in need of a complete overhaul
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The home was built in the 1860s(Image credit: Plotfinder)
Moss creeps across the slate roof, one wing is in a state of disrepair, and the interiors haven’t seen modernisation for decades(Image credit: Plotfinder)
The house does not have heating with remnants of a once-functioning hydro system drawing water from the nearby River Lair(Image credit: Plotfinder)
Achnashellach Lodge in Glen Carron, Wester Ross, is a rare find: a large, late-Victorian estate house that has remained largely untouched in recent decades.
Once used as a shooting lodge and later a guest house, the property has been empty for years and the Victorian house requires renovation througout. Parts of the building are uninhabitable, and there is no home report due to the extent of disrepair.
The front of the house is in relatively sound condition, but the rear section has fallen into serious decline. Original stonework, wood panelling and fireplaces remain, though much of the interior is stripped back and decayed and the old floors are also in need of renovation.
There is no working heating system, and a hydroelectric power unit - originally installed in the 1920s - has been dormant since the 1990s.
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18 acres, a private river and an empty shell
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The property sits next to a river(Image credit: Plotfinder)
The property includes two large reception rooms(Image credit: Plotfinder)
Many of the bedrooms are in need of repair(Image credit: Plotfinder)
Despite its condition, the lodge retains much of its historic layout. The ground floor includes a series of large reception rooms, a former billiard room, dining areas and a sizeable kitchen all in need of renovation.
There are 15 bedrooms in total, along with seven bathrooms (most in need of replacement), seven utility rooms, a cellar, two reception rooms and even a small ghillie room (room for storing fishing equipment).
The property sits within approximately 18 acres of private woodland and gardens, bordered by the River Lair, which features several waterfalls.
Auction opens 17 April
The lodge is being sold via online auction on 17 April 2025 with an opening bid of £255,000, and you can find more details on the Plotfinder website.
The sale includes full freehold title and vacant possession. Any furniture shown in the auction listing is not included, though may be available by separate negotiation.
Turning it into a home, retreat, or hospitality space would be a major undertaking - but for the right buyer, it’s a rare chance to take on a building of this character and size for less than the price of a London studio flat making it easy to renovate this home for profit.
Plotfinder.net is Homebuilding & Renovating's sister site that has thousands of self build and renovation opportunities from estate agents and auction sites across the UK. Subscribe today and get email alerts for potential plots straight to your inbox.(Image credit: Future)
News Editor Joseph has previously written for Today’s Media and Chambers & Partners, focusing on news for conveyancers and industry professionals. Joseph has just started his own self build project, building his own home on his family’s farm with planning permission for a timber frame, three-bedroom house in a one-acre field. The foundation work has already begun and he hopes to have the home built in the next year. Prior to this he renovated his family's home as well as doing several DIY projects, including installing a shower, building sheds, and livestock fences and shelters for the farm’s animals. Outside of homebuilding, Joseph loves rugby and has written for Rugby World, the world’s largest rugby magazine.
