Co Monaghan: from €285,000Lakeside holiday homes within the historic walls of the Castle Leslie Estate in Monaghan are likely to turn the heads of buyers looking for a county retreat with equestrian facilities.

If horsey pursuits are not enough, there's always the splendour of 17th century Castle Leslie, the owners of which can trace their roots back to Attila the Hun.

The castle has welcomed many well-heeled guests, including Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, who celebrated their wedding here in 2002.

At the helm of the Castle Leslie Estate is Sammy Leslie who has been buying back bits of the estate from family members and outsiders for 15 years to amalgamate the estate and ensure its conservation for future generations. Key to this goal are her plans to develop the estate into a 1,000-acre equestrian holiday destination.

Now for the first time 17 of a planned 70 holiday homes on the estate are on the market. Thirty-eight houses have already been sold to people living locally. Designed as a natural extension of Glaslough village, the houses have carried on the local building traditions and architectural style. Salvaged brick and traditional lime-based paints will be used on the exteriors and the houses are laid out in a village-style format with some fronting the main road of the village and the rest laid out around two squares.

For sale through Property Partners Gartlan, prices at Castle Leslie start at €285,000 for three-bedroom terraced properties with 79sq m (850sq ft). Cottage-style terraced houses with 111sq m (1,200sq ft) are priced from €345,000. Larger terraced houses with 168sq m (1,800sq ft) are priced at €525,000 and others are priced from €695,000.

Fit-out at the Castle Leslie Estate promises to be top notch. Salvaged brick and traditional lime-based paints will be used on the exterior.

Traditional timber panelled doors and over door fanlights will be complemented with natural slate roofs.

A range of kitchen units will be on offer and appliances come as standard. Kitchen and bathrooms come complete with floor tiles, the main reception rooms will be fitted with either semi-solid timber floors or hard wood floors, and bedrooms and stairs will be carpeted. Rooms are spacious while some houses will have views over the lake.

Residents will be welcome to dine in the evening at Castle Leslie, where a major restoration project is underway. The refurbishment of the stunning tearooms and the long gallery has just been completed.

Homeowners will be able to avail of facilities at the major equestrian centre planned for the estate, as well as a spa, restaurants and bars due to be developed at the hunting lodge also on the estate.

Residents will also be able to enjoy classes at the Castle Leslie Cookery School, which is due to open this summer.

Completion dates at Castle Leslie Estate are from September.