The owners of Eden Valley castle have marked 25 years as custodians of the local landmark.

Simon and Wendy Bennett bought the main Augill Castle, north of Kirkby Stephen, in 1998, expanding over the years to own the wider grounds too.

Following the anniversary celebrations, the couple have made the decision to sell the castle.

Mrs Bennett said: "We bought the place as a young couple planning to raise a family in a big house in the country as we had both grown up in rural Devon & Somerset ourselves.

"Our aim was to give our children a fabulous growing up - with that done, it’s time to move on."

The business has made a name for itself as a hotel for guests to stay and for hosting weddings and celebrations, with the restaurant able to host 40 people.

Sitting on 12 acres of land, the castle itself has eight en-suite bedrooms, along with the orangery that has two.

There are three one bedroom estate houses, a two bedroom cottage in the coach house and a five bedroom house further along.

"There is scope to run the estate houses and cottages as self catering, to add glamping or a spa," said Mrs Bennett.

"The possibilities are endless and all for £2.75 million inclusive."

The celebration itself has become a tradition with the team hosting parties every five years for friends, employees, former staff and suppliers.

"We started early to get the best of the light - fabulous weather seems to be a theme with Augill parties," Mrs Bennett added. 

"Then we danced on the lawn, ate and danced some more inside, followed up by exhausting our voices to the various tunes chosen by everyone there."

Having bought the castle when it was dilapidated and in need of a lot of care, Mr and Mrs Bennett have transformed it into the award-winning destination it now is.

"But now, a quarter of a century on, it’s time to let someone else enjoy the dream," she said.