Sheep farmer Gavin Bland bought Skiddaw House privately in 2015, and when he put the building, which dates back to 1829 and can only be accessed by 4x4, on the market in 2021, it became one of Rightmove’s most viewed properties – but with an asking price of £1.5million it failed to sell.Lake District
upland including the summits of three mountains – Skiddaw, Great Calva and Little Calva – and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The land comes with shooting rights and represents a rare chance to purchase an area of the National Park not owned by major estates or the National Trust. Despite the high degree of interest Skiddaw House attracted last time it was up for sale, buyers were put off by its remote location – it’s four miles to the nearest village – access issues and the fact that the youth hostel that has occupied the building since the 1980s still has another five years left on its lease.