Glengyle House has been bought by a mystery bidder

Nine bidders competed for Glengyle House during an auction in Glasgow before a mystery Scotsman secured the house with his bid.

Scottish Water, which owned the B-listed building, said it was delighted with the sale.

The Scottish National Party had opposed the sale of the house at Loch Katrine and argued it belonged to the public.

Scottish Water put Glengyle House and other property up for sale after describing them as surplus stock.

It is a tragedy that Glengyle House has been sold off without so much as a raised eyebrow from ministers Richard Lochhead SNP MSP

Following the sale, a spokesman said: "We are aware of the sensitivities over the sale of Glengyle House and we are pleased to see that the new owner is Scottish and is committed to preserving the house and sensitive to its links with the past.

"We hope that the derelict building will now play a more positive role in the local community."

Built close to the water's edge, the house dates back to the early 18th century and is built on the site of a stone cottage in which the Highland hero Rob Roy is said to have been born in 1671.

Lain empty

The building, which had lain empty for five years, has been owned by successive water authorities since the 1930s.

However, SNP MSP Richard Lochhead said the auction raised questions over the sale of public assets to the highest bidder.

"It is a tragedy that Glengyle House has been sold off without so much as a raised eyebrow from ministers who instead gave the green light for its sale," he said.

"This sale was carried out without enough time for the issue to be debated or for the public to have any say in the future of a site they own."

Alistair MacGregor, of the Clan Gregor Society, said it would be happy if a rich MacGregor came forward to buy the property.

He added: "But we're prepared to work with any buyer who has a sympathetic restoration in mind."