A castle on a Scottish island has been put on the market by government nature agency NatureScot – and its potential restoration has been described as a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity.
Category A-listed Kinloch Castle is an Edwardian estate set within approximately 18 acres of grounds on the Isle of Rùm in the Inner Hebrides.
Located at the head of Loch Scresort, the castle is surrounded by rugged hills and coastal scenery. The island itself is home to red deer, golden eagles and one of the world’s largest colonies of Manx shearwaters.
A study by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS) found that many islanders feel that the sale and redevelopment of the castle would have a positive impact on the community.
Chris Donald, NatureScot’s head of operations for Central Highland, said: “Through this study, islanders made it clear that the most important aspect of any sale is a long-term commitment to contribute to the community and nature on the island. We are therefore asking prospective buyers to set out, alongside their offer, how they plan to use the castle and grounds and how they will support the nature, sustainability, culture and economy of the Isle of Rùm.”
This statement will be shared with the community – who have also proposed conditions such as active community involvement in the property and land access rights.
The castle was completed around 1900 as a summer retreat for the Lancastrian industrialist George Bullough. Once a marvel of its time, it featured electric lighting powered by a water turbine and one of Scotland’s earliest private telephone systems. Hothouses on-site grew tropical fruit and animals such as hummingbirds, turtles and – reportedly – alligators were introduced.
It became a glittery centre of Edwardian high society, but the First World War marked the end of its golden age, and it was sold to the Nature Conservancy (NatureScot’s predecessor) in 1957. It’s currently closed to regular use.
A previous potential sale collapsed in 2023 after the Isle of Rùm Community Trust raised concerns over a reported lack of information about what was being planned for the building.
The King, then the Prince of Wales, also visited the castle in 2006 to hear about redevelopment plans. The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, a charity founded by Charles which promotes heritage-led restoration schemes, had previously backed proposals to save it but received insufficient support.
The full listing can be viewed on Savills.
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