THE SNP Government has published a long-awaited report on the future of a Scottish island’s historic castle.
The question of what to do with Kinloch Castle, on the isle of Rum in the Inner Hebrides, has been left unanswered after multi-millionaire Brexiteer and alt-right political donor Jeremy Hosking pulled out of the purchase in March 2023.
The castle is an A-listed monument which is described by Historic Environment Scotland as a “remarkable” example of Edwardian interior design.
It was built between 1897 and 1906 by George Bullough, a Victorian-era playboy who inherited his wealth from his textile magnate father James Bullough.
Ownership has since passed to the Scottish Government, who spend an average of £64,000 of public funds maintaining it per year, according to the newly published report on its future.
The paper, published on Thursday, said that a private sale is considered “the only feasible option” due to the costs involved – with repair and redevelopment likely to require “tens of millions”.
The report ruled out the option, floated by some stakeholders, of allowing the castle to fall to ruin through a period of managed decline. It stated: “As a Grade A listed building, managed decline is not an option in order to avoid legal action for breach of statutory responsibilities.”
Community ownership has been put forward as another potential option, but costs may prove prohibitive. The report states that while “mechanisms” to allow for community ownership remain in place, “this has not been achieved to date due to a lack of funding and capacity to restore and manage the castle”.
The report further says that proposals to turn the castle into a museum with residential and tourist accommodation would “required substantial funding, and as this was not available, they have not been taken forward”.
To facilitate a private sale of the castle, the report asked residents on the isle of Rum for their views on how it should move forward.
It said that a "set of core principles should be followed by all parties involved in the process to achieve a successful sale". These were:
- Direct communication with all island residents
- Open and transparent communication
- Communication in a range of ways.
And added that the "five most important conditions of sale for residents of Rum" are:
- Contribution to the sustainability of the Rum community
- Active community involvement
- Contribution to enhancing nature on Rum, promotion and encouragement of its enjoyment, and interest in the island
- Adherence to the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement
- Long-term commitment to conditions of sale
The conclusion of the report – which was compiled by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services division between January and December 2024 – noted: “Any sale of Kinloch Castle should contribute to the sustainability of the Rum community, and not disrupt residents’ lives on the island today.
“Whilst as many islanders acknowledge, future use of the building will be determined by its buyer, they would like to retain access rights and for public use of the land and buildings to be considered as part of any sale process.
“Listening to the community, and engaging with them in an open and transparent way, will be key to a successful sale.”
