Traditional Scottish estates often have a tendency to be situated in remote parts of the country that make commuting outwith the immediate area either difficult, time-consuming or both. Not so Barncailzie Estate in Kirkcudbrightshire.

Situated in a quiet yet highly accessible part of south-west Scotland close to the market town of Castle Douglas and just 11 miles from Dumfries, 40 minutes from the M74 and approximately 90 minutes drive from both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, Barncailzie is an estate which boasts all the hallmarks of rural isolation without being remotely isolated.

The centrepiece of the estate is Barncailzie Hall, an impressive Victorian country house standing in mature gardens and grounds extending to around 20 acres. Surrounding the house are long-established lawns flanked by a variety of rhododendrons and azaleas which provide a blaze of colour in the spring and early summer while, to the east, a grass tennis court serves those with energy to spare.

Other natural attractions include a path which leads to a pond and footbridge - the pond created by the damming of Brooklands Burn which meanders through the grounds - plus a productive kitchen garden bordered by yew and beech hedges. There is an orchard and two paddocks amounting to about 10 acres of grazings let on a seasonal basis.

In total the estate extends to 292 acres, available as a whole or in three lots.

Lot one, Barncailzie Hall, gardens and grounds plus a three bedroom lodge house; lot two, parkland extending to around 107 acres of grassland and rough grazing which provides an annual rent of up to #9500, together with an area of mature woodland and a site suitable for one house for which outline planning consent, granted in 1990, has since lapsed and would have to be reinstated; and

lot three, a traditional stone-built three bedroom farmhouse and farm extending to 153 acres let on a full agricultural tenancy for an annual rent of #4000.

Barncailzie Hall is unusual for a variety of reasons. Built of granite and whinstone faced with rich red sandstone, the combination of colours results in an aesthetically pleasing building enhanced by fine masonry detailing and interesting features such as carved figures and a coat of arms. Although the property was last refurbished around 25 years ago and does require a degree of further refurbishment/decoration, all of the original features such as elaborate plasterwork, timber panelling, leaded windows and stone and marble fireplaces have remained intact.

A substantial house with south-facing bay windows in all the principal rooms, the accommodation includes an entrance with Gothic-style archway leading to an outer hall with a Victorian tiled floor and an inner hall, which features a polished wooden parquet floor.

Situated on the ground floor is a large study with a black marble fireplace. The formal bay-windowed drawing room has a white marble fireplace. A dining room with a polished wooden parquet floor has another black marble fireplace, this time enhanced by elaborate plasterwork and a similar-sized sitting room has partly panelled walls and a feature stone fireplace. A French window which gives access to a terrace and the garden, makes the latter a particularly attractive room in all seasons.

There is also a music room, a long narrow room with panelled walls, a polished wooden floor and leaded windows. This room also has a French window for instant access to the gardens.

Completing the ground floor accommodation is a second cloakroom/WC, large kitchen with fitted cupboards and partly tiled walls, a laundry room and staircase access to a large cellar

which provides extensive storage in addition to housing the oil-fired central heating boiler.

Upstairs is a mezzanine level bathroom and landing which features a coved ceiling enhanced by a cupola, while the first floor houses two well-proportioned bedrooms and a larger still master bedroom suite which includes two dressing rooms and a bathroom. There is also a store room with fitted cupboards, plus, off a rear landing, an additional bathroom, access to a tower room, and a fifth bedroom. On the second floor are a further three bedrooms and an attic.

Outbuildings, which are dated 1870 and built from the same mix of granite, whinstone and sandstone as the house, include a wood shed, two stores, a garage complete with loft, and a doo'cot.

Continuing the granite, whinstone and sandstone theme in a style very much in keeping with the main house, Barncailzie Lodge is an attractive property in its own right. The accommodation includes a hall, living room cum dining room with a solid fuel stove, kitchen, shower room and ground floor bedroom, plus a further two bedrooms and boxroom on the first floor.

''Barncailzie is a magnificent estate situated in an accessible and beautiful part of Scotland,'' says William Jackson of selling agents Knight Frank. ''Coupled with a most distinctive and private house surrounded by mature gardens, it is a property which I believe will attract serious interest.''

Offered for sale as a whole or in three lots, the combined asking price is offers over #580,000. Alternatively, lot one is being marketed at offers over #400,000; lot two, the parkland, at offers over #80,000 and lot three, the farm, at offers over #100, 000. Tel: 0131 225 8171

for details.