Scottish estate steeped in clan history put up for sale
It is being marketed for sale by Strutt & Parker at offers over £2.76 million as a whole, or in seven lots.
Robert McCulloch, Strutt & Parker's head of estate and farm agency in Scotland, said: "Armadale is a place of rare character and heritage.
"It has the grandeur: the ruined turrets, the ancient trees, the views that stretch across the Sound of Sleat - but is also one of the Isle of Skye's most established and internationally recognised tourist attraction and associated businesses."
The estate from above. (Image: Strutt & Parker) The castle, which forms the centrepiece of the estate, is the historic seat of the Macdonalds of Sleat, "one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans historically".
The first recorded reference to a house at Armadale is from 1690, when the Royal Navy shelled the site to bring the Jacobite Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat to heel. A new mansion was constructed in the 1790s, with a grand Tudor-Gothic wing added in 1815 by James Gillespie Graham.
Today, the estate is operated by a charitable trust as a well-established visitor destination, welcoming thousands of visitors each year. It includes a purpose-built visitor centre, which houses the Museum of the Isles, together with the former stable block which includes a pair of self-contained apartments, café/restaurant which can be used as 'well-appointed venue for functions and events, and associated offices and utilitarian space'.
The agent said: 'This is complemented by Armadale Gardens, which extends to around 40 acres of formal Victorian planting with specimen trees and rare conifers laid out across terraces and wooded walks.
'The wider estate includes Armadale House, a secluded period five-bedroom family-sized home and former head gardener's house; the converted Stables used for accommodation and hospitality; and Forester's Cottage, tucked among the trees, and six self-catering cabins with spectacular sea views.
'The land itself totals approximately 359 acres combining mixed species woodland and enclosed pasture on a gently sloping ground with a southeasterly aspect and magnificent views."
The agent added "In addition to Armadale Castle Estate, the adjoining South Sleat Estate – extending to over 19,000 acres and also owned by the Clan Donald Lands Trust is for sale at offers over £6.75m. A further cottage with development land is available for sale as an addition to Armadale Castle or South Sleat estates. The availability for sale of these estates offers purchasers of wide range and varying budget a fantastic opportunity to own either a small or a large part of the famous Isle of Skye, and contribute positively to the future of the region's land and community."
Separately, Community Land Scotland earlier called for further consultation over the sale.
Scottish business which worked on Liverpool's Anfield eyes growth
One of Scotland's largest structural steel fabricators, which has worked on projects including the redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street railway station and Liverpool FC's Anfield stadium, is gearing up for major expansion as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
J&D Pierce Contracts, based at Glengarnock in Ayrshire and 80%-owned by Swedish investment group Storskogen, expects annual turnover to rise towards £200 million as it capitalises on 'growth in key sectors including data centres, distribution hubs, distilleries, stadia and arenas, transport infrastructure, and the social and supply chain requirements related to renewable energy'.
Accounts filed with Companies House last July show the turnover of J&D Pierce Contracts was £103.8 million in the year to December 31, 2023.
In recent years, J&D Pierce has supplied structural steel for high-profile construction projects across the UK, including at the Formula One racetrack at Silverstone as well as Anfield. It has also worked on the redevelopment of Edinburgh Haymarket and Dundee railway stations, as well as on the Queen Street project.
Family sells renowned landmark hotel after 30 years
A large-scale landmark hotel and 'cherished destination' has been sold.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
25 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow street food spot named as one of the best in the UK
The Dockyard Social, located on Haugh Road in the city's West End, is a vibrant indoor market where visitors can sample street food from around the world. Housed in a converted warehouse, the venue is home to 10 carefully selected, ethically sourced food stalls, offering a diverse range of culinary experiences. (Image: Newsquest) READ MORE: Food spot reveals opening date for 'first of its kind' venue in Glasgow READ MORE: The Dockyard Social in Finnieston to 'change lives' by helping homeless and unemployed A recent study by experts at Betway has revealed the most popular food halls in the UK, based on TikTok views, Instagram popularity, and Google search data. The Dockyard Social was ranked in the top five food halls outside of London, and placed eighth overall in the UK rankings. It was also the only Scottish venue to make the list. Located near Finnieston, the site boasts a wide range of cuisines—from popular smash burgers and mouth-watering pasta to decadent soft-serve ice cream.
The National
44 minutes ago
- The National
First UK-bred blueberry flourishes in Scottish climate
Researchers from The James Hutton Institute have bred the berry, named Highland Charm, after 10 years' research in which more than 300 unique blueberry crosses have been made at its Invergowrie site. Each was evaluated to find a selection bred from the native north American species (Vaccinium corymbosum) that can flourish in the Scottish climate. The new berry has been successfully trialled in the UK and the EU, and researchers are now exploring how the berry fares under different growing conditions. READ MORE: 'Brilliant example of Scottish innovation': Crisp brand lands major deal with Tesco They believe the blueberry has tremendous potential for expansion in Scotland and that Highland Charm, will meet the demands of the industry for home grown fruit, and that its climate resilience represents a significant advance for growers. Blueberry breeder, Dr Susan McCallum, said: 'This cultivar is a real standout. It combines high yields, excellent fruit size, outstanding flavour, with a balanced sugar-acid profile and a satisfying bite, and an impressive shelf life. 'It is reliable and has performed well in our trials year after year, with consistent yield, size and taste. Growers are really excited about it.' The Hutton, an internationally renowned research centre, aims to address specific and targeted needs of the food production sector, using marker-assisted breeding to reduce the time it takes to produce cultivars with the key traits of interest. According to the institute, Scotland's fertile soils, abundant clean water, and milder summer temperatures create ideal conditions for producing high-quality berries. Cooler summers extend the ripening period of soft fruit, allowing for greater accumulation of sugars and acids, resulting in a more intense, well-balanced flavour compared to berries that ripen rapidly in hotter climates. UK consumers buy around 60,000 tonnes of blueberries a year but 90% of them are imported from overseas. READ MORE: Brewdog 'set to close 10 flagship bars' including in Scottish city Dr McCallum hopes the new berry will encourage consumers to buy in-season, local fruit. She said: "They are fresher with higher health benefits than imported berries that take six weeks to get from the field to the shelves. 'The imported fruit is often picked slightly too early and while its colour continues to develop, its flavour does not. I guarantee people will taste the difference with in-season, local fruit and will want to go back for more.' Highland Charm is currently going through the licensing process that will declare it to be a novel and unique blueberry and should be on our supermarket shelves in around two or three years time. A sister variety under development is also expected to enter the licensing process next year.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Popular bar chain is closing 10 venues with first one shutting this Friday
The brewery and craft beer company has revealed its Camden branch will close on Friday, with the others set to pull down the shutters from this Saturday onwards BrewDog has confirmed plans to shut ten bars - with one venue closing as soon as this Friday. The Scottish brewery and craft beer company has revealed its Camden branch will close on Friday, while the others - including its flagship Aberdeen venue - will pull down the shutters from this Saturday onwards. BrewDog says it has launched a consultation process with all affected staff, which will last a minimum of 14 days. A spokesperson added that the firm expects to redeploy many of the workers affected by the closures to other bars. CEO James Taylor sent a message to all staff, explaining that the venues were no longer making money. He said: "Following much consideration, we have sadly concluded that there is no realistic prospect of making these venues commercially viable. "Keeping them open would put pressure on the wider business, making it harder to invest where we know we can grow. This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus. "This is not a decision we've taken lightly. But as we evolve BrewDog into a more focused and sustainable business, we've had to be honest about where we are - and where we're heading." A spokesperson for BrewDog said: 'We can confirm that following a review of our bars business we have made the difficult decision to close 10 bars – which reflects a more focused strategy and a rationalisation of our bar footprint. Despite our best efforts, and the hard work of our teams, it has simply not been possible to make these bars commercially viable. 'This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus for long-term and profitable growth – accounting for ongoing industry challenges, including rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures. 'We are working hard to minimise the impact on our people, and we expect to redeploy many affected team members across the BrewDog network. For those leaving the business, we're providing as much support as possible during this transition. We remain passionate and firmly committed to our bars, and optimistic about the future, as we still see significant long-term opportunity.' But the closures were slammed by Unite Hospitality, who posted to X: 'Brewdog have announced that they are closing 10 flagship bars from Aberdeen to Camden, as soon as THIS FRIDAY! 'In what universe is 3 DAYS a morally (or legally) acceptable notice period for a proper redundancy consultation for the workers impacted?!' Full list of BrewDog bars that are closing Aberdeen Flagship (Gallowgate) Brighton Camden Dundee Leeds North Street Oxford Sheffield Shepherds Bush Shoreditch York
