ONE careful owner, only used at weekends, and yours for the bargain price of £8 million: One of Scotland's oldest inhabited mansions is on the market for the first time in its history.

Buyers have been given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to get their hands on Blair Castle, near Dalry, Ayrshire, after the current occupants decided to sell up and move closer to their grandchildren.

The luxurious estate has been in the same family for almost 850 years and the castle lays claim to being the longest-inhabited mansion of its type in the country.

With roots dating back to the 12th century, recent occupants have still managed to spruce it up with an outdoor heated pool, tastefully screened from the building by trees, and modern facilities for up to 40 guests.

Its Norman tower is reputed to date back to 1105, and it boasts 260 acres of landscaped parkland, plus more than 1000 acres of farmland and fields.

The Blair family can trace its ancestry back to the time of William the Lion, who reigned from 1165 to 1214.

The king awarded the Barony of Blair to the first holder, Jean Francois de Blare, in 1165, and the variant spelling Blair passed down through the generations.

From its origins, the current building is thought to incorporate features dating from the late 13th century.

The Category A property is now in the hands of Luke and Caroline Borwick, who use it chiefly for corporate entertainment, weddings and well-heeled holidaymakers.

The younger generation of the family divide their time between England and overseas, sellers Savills said, and so the Borwicks – descended from the original Baron de Blare – are selling up to join them.

At offers over £8m, the castle and estate are likely to be snapped up by entrepreneurs wanting to run it as a holiday destination or by a foreign tycoon. The ancient castle has achieved five-star status from VisitScotland and generates more than £170,000 a year in income, according to Savills.

Anna Thomas, director of Savills, said: “Whoever buys this prestigious property will become the guardians of an important slice of Scottish history, with the Blair family’s ownership tracing back to the 12th century.

“The castle has been beautifully maintained and offers wonderful business potential as well as the chance to acquire an exceptional family home.”

The estate may also be broken up into as many as 16 individual lots, though options for renovating the Category A main building are limited.

As an added incentive, the buyer will also own two secondary properties – each bigger than the average family home.

While Blair Castle itself comprises 14 bedrooms, the adjacent Stables Cottage can accommodate up to seven guests, while the Carriage House sleeps six.