Imagine owning a crumbling Scottish castle once favoured by royalty, now back on the market! Kinloch Castle, a grand Victorian mansion with a scandalous past and a link to King Charles III, failed to find a buyer last time. What would you do with such a magnificent, historic estate if it were yours?
Kinloch Castle, a Scottish gem with royal ties, is once again seeking a new owner after a previous high-profile sale fell through. This historic Victorian mansion, once a playground for the Edwardian elite, now faces an uncertain future on the remote Isle of Rum, despite its illustrious past and a connection to King Charles III.
Built between 1897 and 1900 by the flamboyant multi-millionaire Sir George Bullough, Kinloch Castle was conceived as an extravagant hunting lodge. Bullough spared no expense, importing soil for lush gardens and featuring modern innovations like its own hydroelectric plant, making it one of Scotland’s first electrified homes, hosting glittering high-society parties.
Guests would arrive on Bullough’s private steam yacht, Rhouma, to discover ornamental gardens, hothouses teeming with exotic animals, a bowling green, and a nine-hole golf course. This opulent retreat stood as a testament to late Victorian engineering and the grand lifestyles of its original inhabitants, drawing parallels to the “Dollar Princesses” who married into British aristocracy.
The castle’s grandeur proved fleeting, with its closure during World War I and a gradual decline after Bullough’s death in 1937. Today, Kinloch Castle, covering 1,200 square metres, is in a significant state of disrepair, battling leaks, damp, woodworm, and dry rot, despite considerable investments by its current owner, NatureScot, and its predecessors.
The latest attempt to find a custodian for the castle involved businessman Jeremy Hosking, ranked among the UK’s wealthiest individuals. However, his bid to acquire the property, which carries an asking price of offers over £750,000, was dramatically withdrawn two years ago, reportedly due to political factors, leaving the future of the majestic structure once again in question.
Kinloch Castle holds a special place in royal affections, with King Charles III being a noted admirer of the Scottish island and the castle itself. Previous ambitious plans, supported by the then-Prince of Wales and The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, aimed to transform it into a hostel and educational centre with luxury flats, but these initiatives ultimately faltered due to insufficient government backing.
Specialists who have inspected the building, like Hugh Garratt, emphasize its underlying structural integrity and astonishing construction, despite its current dilapidated state. Garratt notes the foresight of its original architects, Leeming & Leeming, highlighting that the castle’s problems stem more from a lack of understanding and sustained maintenance than from fundamental flaws in its Victorian design.
Situated on the wild and rugged Isle of Rum, the largest of the Small Isles south of Skye, Kinloch Castle offers a truly secluded and unique setting. With a sparse population of about 40 residents, the island adds to the allure and challenge of restoring such a significant historical landmark, making its eventual fate a matter of keen interest for history enthusiasts and conservationists alike.
As Kinloch Castle reappears on the market, NatureScot actively seeks prospective buyers willing to undertake the monumental restoration work required to return this royal favourite and historic mansion to its former glory. Its fate now rests in the hands of those with the vision and resources to preserve this unique piece of Scottish heritage.
