Armadale Castle: Semi-derelict Scottish island castle sold to overseas buyer

The sale of the 210-year-old semi-derelict castle and around 19,000 acres of the Sleat Peninsula has been agreed. The identity of the buyer is being tightly guarded as final paperwork and due diligence is carried out by agents Strutt & Parker.

However, it is understood the buyer is a businessman with interests in Canada and Switzerland, who has old family links to Clan Donald, which considers Armadale as its “spiritual home”.

READ MORE: ‘Betrayal, anger, sadness’ and a clan stunned over sale of island castle

The castle, gardens and Clan Donald Centre, which houses a museum and archive, was put up for sale, along with the land in a deeply divisive move by the trust that held the assets.

Clan Donald Lands Trust (CDLT), which raised money to buy the assets from clan members in the early 1970s, said it was no longer financially viable to run the castle as a visitor centre. Meanwhile, Clan Donald members claimed the assets were held in perpetuity for them and rightfully theirs.

READ MORE: Clan moves to halt sale of island castle amid claims ‘it is ours’

Angus MacDonald, Liberal Democrat MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire, said he was “optimistic” about the sale. His grandfather was one of the original CDLT trustees.

He said: “I gather details are being finalised with a buyer and I understand the he is going to be sympathetic to the wishes of the community. I am optimistic that he will prove to be a good owner and I look forward to meeting him.”

It is understood the castle, which was put on the market for £2.7 million, and the land, which was marketed for £6.75m, have been sold together.

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CDLT was heavily criticised for the way it announced the sale in March, with no consultation carried out with either Clan Donald members or the local Sleat community, which later abandoned a potential community buyout given the lack of timely information offered about the properties.

The High Chief of Clan Donald, Lord Godfrey MacDonald of MacDonald, a former trustee of CDLT, earlier said the future of Armadale was “our present-day battle”. He called for the Clan Donald Centre, which he described as the “jewel in the crown” of Armadale, to be saved.

CDLT said it planned to build a new visitor centre following the sale, which would preferably be located in Skye.

Concerns remain about the contents of the museum and archive, with an audit due to take place and some items to be returned to donors.

Today, the Save Armadale campaign said it hoped the new owner understood the “soul” of Armadale and its importance to clan and community.

A statement said: “In light of the impending sale of the Clan Donald Heritage Centre area, Armadale Castle, arboretum, gardens area and museum buildings, the Save Armadale Campaign express the hope that any new owner understands the soul of this area for the Clan Donald and local community.

“We wish the centre to continue to be a public asset and that the presence and importance of access for families to their families’ memorials in and around the gardens can be respected in perpetuity.

“Save Armadale remain hugely concerned, however, over the dismantling, removal and storage of the precious museum, library and archive collection from Sleat and have no faith in the present CDLT board of trustees to safeguard the future of the culturally significant heritage assets, as their previous statements regarding the future of this heritage collection have been vague, contradictory and non committal.”