A Scottish castle for sale with an absurdly-romantic vaulted dining room and a greenhouse that Kew would be proud of
Robgill Tower in Dumfries is beautiful inside and out, full of character and boasts the sort of floorplan which you'd normally expect to find on the Cluedo board.

Sometimes it only takes one room to sell a house. It might be a kitchen, a sitting room, a splendid orangery or perhaps a library. In the case of Robgill Tower — not far from the England-Scotland border at Gretna, and on the market at £1.9m via Galbraith — there are any number of possibilities.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Is it the magnificent drawing room, with its huge windows overlooking the beautiful gardens? The almost absurdly-atmospheric vaulted dining room in the basement? Or how about the greenhouse, which looks every inch a shrunken-down version of the sort of hothouse you’d expect to find at Wisley or Kew.
The B-listed Robgill Tower originally dates to 1430, sitting in 37 acres of land that are a mixture of formal gardens, woodland and fields, with a river running through the property — and yes, fishing rights are included.
It’s a beautifully-kept place, with a driveway weaving its way through the lawns and shrubbery up to the main house. And inside it feels just as special.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
The interiors have kept their period character intact, particularly the medieval vaulted dining room, with its exposed sandstone ceiling and log fire.
As pretty as they are, what caught our eye in particular were the names of the rooms on the floorplan. There are separate gentlemen’s and ladies’ lounges, for example, as well as a study, a pantry and a ‘cool cellar’.
There’s a spiral staircase, bedrooms with dressing rooms and bathrooms attached, and a playroom in a curved space on the second floor. The Cluedo board has nothing on Robgill.
The Tower isn’t the only thing that comes as part of the package: there’s a separate two-bedroom lodge and a wide range of other outbuildings, including equestrian facilities and an indoor swimming pool complex.
And while the location is well-removed from Britain’s big cities, it’s not a difficult place to get to: the M6 south and M74 north aren’t far, and the train service from nearby Carlisle makes getting to London, Glasgow or the big cities of the north west a simple task.
Robgill Tower is on the market at £1.9m via Galbraith – see more details and pictures.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
Dawn Chorus: A Blue Plaque for Marc Bolan, holidaying in the Caribbean with Francis Ford Coppola and a history of the National Gallery in 25 pictures
Plus the best of the property pages, and how the railways will save the countryside.
By James Fisher Published
-
Game, set, match: 12 of the world’s most beautiful tennis courts
From Italy to Indonesia, when it comes to hotel amenities, a picturesque tennis court will always trump a 24-hour gym. So, before you book your next holiday, take a look at our pick of the 12 best.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
Five palatial mansions for sale, including one with its own private swimming lake, as seen in Country Life
Sometimes bigger really is better.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Gaze over Cap Ferrat in this four-bedroom French villa
Ignore the wind and the rain. Imagine yourself in this hillside home with some of the best views the Mediterranean can offer.
By James Fisher Published
-
Classical style meets fun and flair in a seven-bedroom manor in Cornwall
At Polstrong Manor, the current owners have combined period charm and elegant modern interiors to create a flamboyant country home 10-minutes from the beach.
By James Fisher Published
-
Two halves make a sublime four-bedroom home in Kent's North Downs
A contemporary extension to a traditional clapboard house brings light and life to Lavington House.
By James Fisher Published
-
The week in property statistics: Service charges reach record high
Plus, how first-time buyers prop up the mortgage market, why you need to move north if you want to live by yourself, and house-price growth slows
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A seven-bedroom oast house for sale in East Sussex, where your dreams can run riot
Unlisted, yet full of character, this property in the High Weald National Landscape is an eccentrically furnished family home that screams fun.
By James Fisher Published
-
Character, history and comfort combine in a four-bedroom farmhouse in Norfolk
Willow Farm near Southburgh is that rarest of things — a perfect combination of period charm and modern elegance in some of England's best countryside.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grade I-listed Georgian townhouse that's part of the fabric of Bath's history
With 5,500sq ft set over six floors in the centre of Britain's most architecturally rich city, there is much to love here.
By James Fisher Published