PRINCE Charles has stayed for the weekend, King Juan Carlos of Spain enjoyed a few days relaxation there - and it is even rumoured that Madonna and hubby Guy Ritchie would like to visit.

But the object of celebrity desire is not the beaches of St Tropez or the exotic shores of the Caribbean, but a windswept corner of rural Teesdale, in County Durham.

Anyone with a spare £6m to spend could now own the exclusive sporting rights to 13,900 acres of one of the world's best grouse shooting moors.

The shooting rights on the Wemmergill Estate, which is owned by the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, has for the past 15 years been in the ownership of motor magnate Sir Tom Cowie.

But chartered surveyors acting on behalf of the Earl have announced that the estate will now be split up, with the Earl owning the sporting rights in Holwick and the lease on Wemmergill going 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 could almost double and anticipates a huge response from the world's richest people.

Simon Rowarth, of Youngs, said the firm expected interest from around the globe, which will no doubt include royalty and high-profile celebrities.

He said: "We've already had a lot of interest from around the world, but the lease does not go on sale until tomorrow, so that response may well increase.

"Wemmergill has an international reputation as the one of, if not the, best places in the world to shoot grouse, and we are confident that it will be a very popular sale.

"Although I can't reveal exactly who has shown interest or who has shot at Wemmergill in the past, it is a very exclusive and high-profile list."

Among the long list of celebrities who have visited Wemmergill and Holwick to shoot are Edward VII, the novelist Wilbur Smith, footballer Paulo Di Canio, Nick Mason, of Pink Floyd, Dutch royalty and Prince Charles.

In the 1980s, Lord Norman Tebbit visited to shoot and even sent his stash of game down to his favourite London restaurant to be cooked.

In 1984, Sir Joseph Nickerson, who was holding a shooting party on the moor, was accidentally shot in the backside by the former deputy Prime Minister Lord Whitelaw after he slipped while holding a loaded shotgun.

John Grave, 72, who was head gamekeeper for 17 years at Wemmergill, said: "I have very fond memories of working there, and the people were not just very wealthy, they were very nice as well. All the top politicians, royalty from around the world and celebrities used to come and shoot, and they were wonderful people.

"But even though they were very rich, I can't remember getting many tips. Still, they were wonderful people and it was a great place to work and it was the place to shoot for the rich and famous."

Top celebrities who have shot at Wemmergill and Holwick

1. Prince Charles

2. Prince Andrew

3. Prince Edward

4. Princess Margaret

5. King Edward VII

6. King Juan Carlos of Spain

7. Lord Whitelaw

8. Lord Tebbit

9. Author Wilbur Smith

10. Paulo Di Canio (West Ham and Italy footballer)