It’s not often that a unique piece of land comes on the market, well it’s just happened and this one is pretty unique. It’s a mountain!

The mountain in question is Blencathra (saddleback) and is the 14th highest peak in the Lake District standing at 2,848 ft. Current owner of the mountain, Lord Lonsdale, has put the mountain up for sale to pay a rather large inheritance tax bill on his late father’s estate.

Blencathra mountain is situated within the Lake District National Park, and therefore subject to planning restrictions. All public and private rights of way are preserved, and there exists a “right to roam” across much of the land. What does that mean? Well, in reality it means the purchaser will be able to do very little to the mountain, there’s no danger of seeing any shopping malls or casinos on the peak!

But you’re not just buying a mountain, the successful buyer will also be entitled to call themselves ‘The Lordship of the Manor of Threlkeld‘ and can apply to the College of Arms for an individual coat of arms!

Now you’re going to need to be rather wealthy to buy this particular mountain, the guide price is £1.75m. If you’re interested you need to send a sealed bid by 2nd July, highest bid wins. So in all likelihood £1.75m is the minimum you would pay.

However, if you don’t have £1.75m, there is another way you can contribute. A website has been set up called friendsofblencathra.co.uk (no longer active), with the purpose of trying to raise the money to buy the mountain through crowdfunding and give it back to the nation in perpetuity.

If you do have (at least) £1.75 million then you can get more information on the mountain itself and how to bid, here: www.blencathra.info

Are you going to bid, or crowdfund? Have you climbed/hiked the mountain? Let us know below…