Bardowie Castle

A once in a lifetime opportunity to acquire this magnificent 'A' listed castle, in a rural setting amidst approximately ten acres of grounds with beautiful south facing gardens including extensive frontage and access to Bardowie Loch. Crucially, Glasgow City Centre is just seven miles from the front door and the prestigious suburbs of Bearsden and Milngavie lie less than three miles to the west.


Lovingly Restored


Bardowie castle is a majestic period home formed around the original stone keep which dates from the early 16th Century, together with substantial additions in the 17th and 18th centuries.
More recently, the property has been meticulously restored and refurbished both internally and externally. Of particular note is the magnificent open-plan family room which is directly accessed from the kitchen, and where you can step straight into the walled garden with spectacular views across Bardowie Loch.


The works include the installation of modern insulation, under-floor heating, wiring, plumbing and engineered double glazed sash and case windows. There are internal vacuum points connected to the centralised turbine, fibre optic broadband, high end kitchen units, bathroom and en-suite sanitary ware. The painstaking refurbishment retains much of the original character yet at the same time beautifully embodies all the advantages of a substantial modern family home.


Features include flagstone flooring, a retractable drawbridge staircase leading to the original Great Hall dating to the mid 1500s.


Externally, the beautiful stonework is complemented by frow stepped gables and battlements along the roor line offering an atmospheric entertaining and dining experience, featuring a high vaulted ceiling with curbed oak beams, 24ft high ceilings and ancient stone carvings within the walls.


This is believed to be the oldest privately owned vaulted, oak beamed ceiling in Scotland and remains intact as it was some 500 years ago.


Grounds and Surrounding Area


Bardowie castle enjoys an idyllic situation on the northern shores of Bardowie Loch surrounded by rolling countryside. The castle lies at the end of the oldest lime tree lined driveway in Scotland, is floodlit in the evenings and enjoys private, lawned and wooded grounds with policies of some ten acres, or thereby.


The generous grounds occupy along the majority of the northern shore of the loch and offer expanses of lawned gardens including the former orchard beyond which the topography of the land hints towards the original location of the castle's moat. There are boating, shooting and fishing rights, a recently resurfaced tennis court and a beautiful walled garden bordering the patio, almost on the water's edge. A summer house is currently utilised as a water ski and sailing changing room and sits next to the jetty and the refurbished boat house sits at the side of the property together with French doors on the loch side and access door at the rear. The rear, enclosed courtyard is accessed via electric security gates and is home to the original stone built log stores, tool store, two separate sizeable garages, a generator room, kennel and courtyard parking for several vehicles.


The highly sought after hamlet of Bardowie is approx. 7 miles from Glasgow City Centre and the nearby suburbs of Milngavie (~two miles) and Bearsden )~3 miles) offer an extensive array of amenities including supermarkets, restaurants, sports clubs and train stations linking to Glasgow and Edinburgh. The area is served by excellent local schooling and is also a convenient destination for those wishing private school tuition with a choice of nearby schools in and around Glasgow including the High School of Glasgow, The Glasgow Academy, Kelvinside Academy, St. Aloysius and Hutchesons' Grammar.


Arterial road networks provide easy access to Stirling, Glasgow and Edinburgh and the location lies within easy reach of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, Mugdock Country Park and all of Scotland's top golf courses. Motorway networks provide easy access to Glasgow and Edinburgh #airports, 12 miles and 45 miles respectively and the private Cumbernauld airport (16 miles).


A Captivating History


Bardowie castle is a category A listed castle of significant international and historical importance, which has undergone extensive restoration and upgrading resulting in one of the most magnificent family homes in Scotland.


The castle was originally owned by the once great Stirlingshire family of Galbraith, whose principal seats in the neighbourhood were Craigmaddie Castle in Baldernock and Gartconnel Castle in Kilpatrick. Both of these are now barely visible with only a few foundation stones apparent. The Galbraiths of Baldernock were the chiefs of the clan and their line ended with Janet Keith, wife of David Hamilton of Cadzow, ancestor of the Duke of Hamilton. The family of Bardowie are a younger branch of the Cadzows and they were endowed with the the Baldernock lands, including Bardowie. There they remained until the early 16th century at which time it is believed that the main tower or stone keep was erected.


The early history of the Hamiltons is a common one in Scotland. They took their share in the various wars of their country, and when not thus employed spent much of their time in feuds with their neighbours. In 1526 they had a quarrel with the Logans of Balvie in Kilpatrick which ended in John Hamilton being killed by them at Blairskaith, not far from his castle at Bardowie. His son and successor, Allan Hamilton, met with a similar fate, being slain by his nearest neighbour.


Colin Campbell of Auchenbowie, the succeeding laird of Bardowie, had a serious quarrel with Walter Graham of Dougalston in 1591, another neighbour. Bardowie Castle has thus probably witnessed many a stormy scene, and no doubt the strength of its walls has been often tested. Robert Hamilton, 16th laird of Bardowie, was the last of the family in direct male lineage and on his death he was succeeded in the estate by his sister Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Buchanan of Spittal and Leny. The family thereupon incorporated Hamilton into their name. John Hamilton, the grandson of Elizabeth, occupied Bardowie for some time thereafter and in 1707 his sister Mary married the gallant Gregor Black Knee MacGregor of Glengyle, Roby Roy's nephew and Chieftain. Rob Roy and his nephew are believed to have stayed in the castle.


EPC Rating F