A 300-YEAR-OLD Scottish castle which inspired the naming of one of Canada’s major cities is on the market for offers over £695,000.
Calgary Castle situated on the Isle of Mull is the namesake for metropolitan city Calgary in Alberta, Canada – almost 4,000 miles away.
The stunning estate was built by Merchant Navy captain Alan MacAskill, who bought the land in 1817 and completed it in 1823.
In 1876, the castle was visited for the summer by Colonel James Macleod, of the Canadian North West Mounted Police.
Macleod is said to have fallen in love with the daughter of the castle and was so smitten that on his return to what was then called Fort Brisebois in Alberta, he changed the name to Fort Calgary.
The then tiny outpost then developed into the city of Calgary, which in Gaelic means “Cala Ghearraidh” – translating to “beach of the meadow”.
The B-listed property’s fascinated history is also said to include a link to the Profumo sex scandal of the 60s. The castle is said to have been owned by John Profumo’s brother, Major Philip Profumo.
The property boasts stunning period features including a crenelated parapet, angled turrets and gothic-style windows.
Overlooking the white sands of Mull’s Calgary Bay, the eight-bedroomed castle sits amongst 27.9 acres of land and features an impressive collection of trees from around the world.
The grounds are also haven for wildlife where golden eagles have even been seen on the lawn and basking sharks, minke whales and dolphins have also been spotted nearby.
The Hebridean castle was put on the market this week for offers over £695,000 by estate agents, Strutt and Parker.
Calgary Beach is frequently listed among the top UK beaches and is just one of the Hebridean island’s popular attractions.
Visitors and locals often attend the annual Tour of Mull Rally in October and the Mull Music Festival in April as well as the Tobermory whisky distillery.
The beach is also 12 miles from the picturesque harbour town of Tobermory – easily recognised for its row of brightly painted buildings lining the main street.
Calgary has a metropolitan population of around 1.4million making it the fourth-largest census metropolitan area in Canada.
The Isle of Mull in Scotland has a population of around 2,800 residents.
Malcolm Leslie, head of residential agency for Strutt & Parker in Scotland, said: “Calgary Castle is a wonderful, secluded property, steeped in history.
“It would make an idyllic home and while it offers the romanticism of island life, its proximity to Tobermory makes it a practical option too.”
