Demand for estates in Perthshire and Angus remains at an all-time high, according to an upmarket estate agency.
Despite the introduction of a replacement to stamp duty, property hunters are still looking to the region for posh homes and have spent £17 million on properties in the area.
Among the properties which are currently on the market is Tower of Lethendy, which once reportedly caught the eye of pop superstar Taylor Swift.
It was rumoured the 25-year-old star wanted to turn the £4.6 million 16th Century pile into a love nest to share with boyfriend Calvin Harris, however she later dismissed the possibility.
Among the properties which have been sold in recent months is Fosswell, near Auchterarder, which has its own loch, and Dollerie House, near Crieff, which was sold for the first time in 500 years.
Once part of a much larger estate, the property was owned by the Murray family from 1554 and had never been up for sale before.
Emma Chalmers, of CDK Galbraith, said that 2015 was a strong year for estate sales in Perthshire and that there continues to be demand from purchasers looking to secure an estate.
She said: “The market has endured significant change in recent years and it has taken some time for the introduction of land and building transaction tax, the replacement for stamp duty, to bed in.
“However, estates in Perthshire and Angus have an enduring popularity and perennial appeal and we currently have buyers actively looking for the right property in this part of the country,” she said.
“In the last 12 months, we have sold five estates totalling over 12,000 acres and with a value of £17 million.
“The message to potential sellers is that there are serious buyers and potential exists for private sales.”
“The market in 2016 has so far been very positive and a degree of momentum is starting to build.
“Where country houses are priced realistically, we are seeing viewing numbers rise whilst rural properties offering a scenic location or sought after amenity such as paddocks and woodland are continuing to attract competition from buyers.”