Bargain Hunter

Property of the week

Scotland for aye

What would pounds 300,000 buy in Hampstead? Perhaps a two- bedroom flat on a not very generous lease. In Scotland, however, your money would stretch to The Rock, an elegant granite country house with an ornamental turret and crow-stepped gables, 10 miles from Aberdeen with its own four and a half acres. There's a 20ft by 13ft reception hall with panelling and doors to the drawing and dining rooms, both of which have very grand domed ceilings and are big enough for serious entertaining. There is a separate, less formal sitting room and a study. Upstairs are four bedrooms, dressing room and a bathroom. Outside are a former coachman's house and tennis court. Details from Strutt & Parker (01330 824888).

Rosalind Russell

Car of the week

Oldies but goldies

CarLand, with used-car superstores at Lakeside Retail Park, West Thurrock, and Airport Business Park, Sheffield, is celebrating its first year of business by offering savings of up to pounds 2,500 on selected cars in a promotion that runs until the end of the month. For example, there's pounds 2,500 off a P-reg Peugeot 406 worth pounds 9,300, pounds 2,000 off an M-reg VW Golf worth pounds 9,500 and pounds 1,500 off N-reg Ford Mondeo worth pounds 7,300. All cars come with one year's free comprehensive insurance.

James Ruppert

Deal of the week

Tres continental

Savers who think interest rates will continue to fall inexorably to European levels, could take a gamble on Leopold Joseph's Double Up account. It pays 3 per cent gross interest from 1 February; but if UK interest rates continue to fall, Double Up interest will rise by twice the amount by which three-month LIBOR falls (this London money-market rate is currently 5.9 per cent). If UK rates rise, Double Up works in reverse. Minimum investment is pounds 5,000, interest is reviewed and paid quarterly. Call 0171- 585 2323 before noon on 1 February.