The Wemmergill Estate nestles in rural County Durham

Among the celebrities who have experienced the windswept corner of rural County Durham, are Prince Charles, King Edward VII and West Ham striker Paulo Di Canio.

Even Madonna and husband Guy Ritchie are thought to be considering buying the rights to 14,000 acres of one of the world's best grouse shooting moors.

The shooting rights on the Wemmergill Estate, near Barnard Castle, which is owned by the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, has for the past 15 years been in the ownership of Wearside motor magnate and former Sunderland football club chairman, Sir Tom Cowie.

But chartered surveyors acting on behalf of the Earl have announced that the estate will now be split up.

The Earl will continue to own the sporting rights in Holwick, but the lease on Wemmergill is up for sale.

Although the asking price has been set at �6m for a long-term lease, chartered surveyors Youngs, based in Hexham, Northumberland, is expecting the sale price to double.

Simon Rowarth, of Youngs, said the firm expected interest from around the globe, which will include royalty and high-profile celebrities.

He said: "We've already had a lot of interest from around the world, but the lease hasn't officially gone on sale yet, so the response will increase when that happens.