Island castle King tried to save on sale again after deal fails

A DERELICT Hebridean castle King Charles once tried to save is to be put back on the market after a previous potential sale collapsed in a row between a millionaire and a Scottish Government minister.

- By Mike Merritt

Businessman Jeremy Hosking withdrew his bid to buy the Isle of Rum’s Kinloch Castle two years ago, blaming Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater for his decision and describing the sales process as “horrible”.

Ms Slater, who was biodiversity minister at the time, had put the sale on hold after the Isle of Rum Community Trust raised concerns.

She controversially hired a private boat for £1200 to make the 20-mile trip to the island instead of taking a ferry trip for £9.40.

Now the Scottish Government has said new research suggests most of Rum’s 22 islanders support trying to sell the publicly-owned castle again.

Sensible

The vacant Victorian-era former hunting lodge, which is in a poor state of repair, is owned by NatureScot.

The public body also manages most of the island.