Haunted former village put on the market for £100,000

● Highlands site thought to host the ghost of the Old Lady of Lawers

A ruined Highlands village reportedly haunted by a soothsayer former resident who predicted the coming of the railways is up for sale.

The Old Village of Lawers, a deserted, ruined lochside village in the centre of Highland Perthshire, is claimed to be haunted by the Old Lady of Lawers. She was the last resident of the manor house on the land and is said to have predicted the coming of the railway and steam ships.

The site, which is currently owned by a retired lawyer who lives overseas, is on the market for offers over £100,000.

However, it is thought that any purchaser would be unlikely to be granted permission to construct a permanent property on the land. An application three years ago to build a one-and-a-half-storey building on the site was turned down after attracting objections from around the world.

The three-acre site comprises ruins – which are Scheduled Ancient Monuments – at each end with an “in-field” in between, on which the villagers historically farmed. The sites also includes ruins of the House of Lawers with its annexed byre and stable and the remains of Lawers Kirk, which dates from 1669.

The house’s last occupant was Lady Lawers, who is remembered for various prophecies, relating to the church of Lawers and the local community, to social and economic changes and to events in the Breadalbane Campbell family. Her predictions included “fire-coaches” crossing the Drumochter Pass, which are thought to be the railway.

She is also supposed to have planted an ash tree at the north end of the church and said that when it grew to the height of the spire the church would fall. In fact, the church was so badly damaged in a thunderstorm in which the ash tree perished that it was never used again.

Jon Lambert, of selling agent John Clegg & Co, said: “The word ‘unique’ is overused but there can be very few times when it is so appropriate as with this chance to be the owner and custodian of an area so rich in history.”

The new owners will need to work with Historic Environment Scotland in safeguarding the ruins. The area is also subject to a conservation agreement with the National Trust of Scotland, which would need to approve any work undertaken on site.