Isle of Rum’s Kinloch Castle on sale for offers over £750,000

A Scottish monument to Victorian grandeur, Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rum has long been in need of redevelopment. Now back on the market, can a buyer be found – and will they satisfy community demands?

The former Hebridean hunting lodge has gone back on the market after a previous potential sale collapsed in a row between a millionaire businessman and a Scottish government minister.

Owned by Scottish government agency NatureScot, which also manages most of the island, the vacant castle is said to be in a poor state of repair and is on sale for offers over £750,000.

Businessman Jeremy Hosking withdrew a bid for the castle two years ago, blaming the Scottish Greens’ Lorna Slater – who was biodiversity minister at the time – for his decision.

Slater had put the sale on hold after Isle of Rum Community Trust raised concerns.

The island, which has a population of about 40 people, is the largest of the Small Isles south of Skye.

Research carried out by the Scottish government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (Resas) suggests the majority of islanders agree it should be sold, redeveloped and brought back into use.

In its report, Resas said islanders had proposed a number of conditions on the sale.

These include active community involvement in the property and the new owner adhering to land access rights.

The report said a small number of islanders opposed selling it, preferring instead for the castle to be transferred into community ownership or fall into ruin in a managed way.

Chris Donald, of NatureScot, 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 Rum.”

Mr Donald added: “For the right buyer, this offers a rare opportunity to be part of Scotland’s heritage by restoring an iconic building and grounds which are of historical and cultural importance to the Isle of Rum and beyond.

“We look forward to hearing from prospective buyers and will of course be keeping island residents directly informed of progress.”

Kinloch Castle was built between 1897 and 1900 as a hunting lodge for Lancastrian industrialist George Bullough, who had it luxuriously furnished.

It is the only example of a house designed by Leeming and Leeming, London-based architects specialising in commercial and municipal properties.

The property fell into decline after World War One and was taken over in 1957 by NatureScot’s predecessor, the Nature Conservancy Council.

It has required extensive restoration work over the years.

In recent times there was a plan to redevelop it as a 41-bedroom hostel, and a separate proposal to turn it into a museum and visitor attraction at a cost of £13m.

City financier and former Tory donor Jeremy Hosking pulled out of trying to buy the castle in March 2023.

He said his plans to conserve the former hunting lodge had been “completely crushed”.

Mr Hosking said he had tried to speak to Ms Slater about the sale but he received no reply.

Isle of Rum Community Trust had raised concerns, including what it said was a lack of information on what Mr Hosking had planned for the building.

The Scottish government said proactive community consultation and participation was key to determining the property’s future.