Ardgay, Sutherland

Carbisdale Castle is an impressive and imposing large mansion house built in the Scottish baronial style on a precipitous site above the inner Kyle of Sutherland with outstanding views in all directions.

Grade B-listed by Historic Environment Scotland, the listing notes on the Historic Environment.

Scotland website describe the construction and architecture of the castle as follows:

Large baronial mansion, roughly L-plan; 2-storey and attic. Bullfaced coursed grey rubble, contrasting polished sandstone dressings. Large entrance court enclosed by mansion at east and south with a retaining wall to the north and entrance to the west. The principal entrance is via the northern façade under a porte cochere and there is a further entrance in re-entrant angle with corniced door-piece in facetted angle tower rising as crenellated octagon single stage above wallhead. High square clock tower at NW angle, with clock faces, corbelled upper stage with louvred tripartites, corbelled angle stair turret and small angle turrets to crenellated wallhead of N range Terraced south front with 3 wide canted bay windows rising full height, with corniced and parapetted wallheads and gabletted
dormers above; skews with kneelers, 1 further recessed gabled bay with 2 storey semi-circular bay. Most windows mullioned and transomed, some with 8-pane glazing, shaped gables with decorative detailing and finials; all original rhones and down-pipes; rainheads serving south elevation decorated with winged figures Corniced stacks; slate roofs. Round bullfaced diminutive turrets with crenellated parapet flank entrance to court; pair ornate wrought iron carriage gates; small flanking wrought-iron pedestrian gate. Interior; large entrance hall with ornate Baroque chimneypiece decorated with figures and foliage. Wide staircase with Tudor balustrade with heavy carved detailing. Rich Jacobean plaster ceiling in library, with carved wood chimneypiece in similar style and original break-front bookcases. Adamesque 1st floor drawing room. Fine panelled doors, moulded doorcases, plaster ceilings.

Renovation Works
The current owner has undertaken a vast restoration of key parts of the castle to turn it back into the historic castle that it once was. The intention of the project was to combine all of the decorative features and grandeur of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland’s original creation with services, systems, fixtures, fittings and layout of the highest contemporary quality together with reorganisation of the existing accommodation to suit 21st Century living and the potential development of a spa and swimming pool as complementary features.

The current position is that significant work has been carried out, and the castle will be offered with the remaining few bedrooms finished, together with the Wellness Suite to be completed by the existing owner, subject to contract
with the full purchase price paid.

Video: /4a93bd7c6b

Grounds and Loch
The total extent of land within the legal Title to Carbisdale Castle extends to about 29 acres and is shown on the Title plan included within these particulars of sale. The approach to the castle is via impressive entrance gates flanked by circular stone pillars with a drive which leads for about 800 metres to terminate at the enclosed gravel carriage sweep in front of the castle. A particular feature of the property is a natural loch which lies about 1km to the west of the castle accessible by a vehicular track over which the owner has a right of access. Extending to about 6 acres
in size with ownership including the belt of land and woodland which surrounds the loch, this is a notably picturesque and peaceful place to quietly contemplate life or cast a fly for the wild brown trout that occupy it. The former owner had a vision (but no formal plans) to erect a cabin, boathouse and jetty for picnics, barbecues and overnight ‘glamping’.

There is currently a planning application for 12 one-bedroom lodges around the loch area.

Situated atop a natural escarpment overlooking the confluence of the Rivers Oykel and Shin, Carbisdale Castle occupies one of the most dramatic positions of any building in Scotland. Lying on the southern edge of the county of Sutherland, the site was deliberately chosen for its prominence by the estranged Duchess of Sutherland who commissioned construction of the castle commencing in 1905 as part of her divorce settlement from her husband, the 3rd Duke of Sutherland.

Though situated amongst the generally wooded slopes of the upper Kyle of Sutherland, the elevation of the setting affords panoramic views from throughout the castle with the easterly outlook over the Kyle of Sutherland to the Dornoch Firth and the westerly views up Strathoykel being particularly impressive.

Access by car is via a single track road with passing places which leads for about 5 miles from the village of Ardgay, which includes a shop providing basic provisions and a café.

With the site of the castle specifically chosen for the convenience of the nearby Far North Highland railway line which connects Inverness with Thurso and Wick in Caithness, this line remains in service with scheduled daily services to Inverness (or Thurso and Wick) accessible from the small station of Culrain lying close to the entrance to the castle drive. From Inverness, a sleeper service operates to London Euston, which facilitates traditional and comfortable travel between the UK’s capital and the north Highlands.

Inverness is the capital of the Scottish Highlands and a growing centre of commerce, together with being one of the most aspirational cities in which to live in the UK according to recent research. With wide ranging retail, banking, professional services, sports and leisure facilities, as well as a renowned theatre (the Eden Court Theatre), Inverness lies within an hour’s drive of Carbisdale with its international airport lying a further 10 minutes (7 miles) to the east of the city.

Lying closer to hand are the towns of Dornoch (20 miles), Tain (20 miles), Dingwall (32 miles) and Strathpeffer (36) miles. Each has its own attractions in terms of recreation or practicality with Royal Dornoch golf course, the Carnegie
Club at Skibo Castle (near Dornoch) and the Glenmorangie Whisky distillery and visitor centre at Tain being particular attractions.

Sutherland and the adjoining county of Wester Ross has been a world famous destination for enthusiasts of field sports since the 19th century. The Kyle of Sutherland rivers which enter tidal waters below Carbisdale Castle and include the renowned rivers Oykel, Cassley, Shin and Carron are amongst the most consistently productive salmon fisheries in Scotland. Carbisdale Castle is ideally located to benefit from this wealth of choice with fishing available to rent on both a daily and weekly basis on each of these rivers. Another local attraction is the Shin Falls where leaping Atlantic salmon are a routine and spellbinding sight.

Sutherland is also world renowned for its trout fishing with the region allegedly having more hill lochs filled with wild brown trout than it has permanent human inhabitants. The region is also famous for red deer stalking with a number of local estates offering sport to let on both a daily and weekly basis.

For golfers, there are local courses to test all levels of ability including the renowned Championship course at Royal Dornoch; the Carnegie Links at Skibo Castle, Golspie Golf and an enjoyable 9-hole parkland course at nearby Bonar Bridge.

For walkers, mountaineers and cyclists, there are various opportunities locally from ‘Munros’ such as Ben More Assynt, Ben Armine and Ben Wyvis to footpaths and woodland trails and an almost limitless network of forest tracks.

The wildlife and natural history of the area is also renowned with sightings of golden and sea eagles,
ospreys, otters, pine martens and red squirrels being far from unusual at Carbisdale.

A popular feature of the North Highlands has been the development of the North Coast 500 tourist route which takes in some of the most spectacular landscape and coastline of Highland Scotland. Carbisdale Castle’s proximity to this increasingly popular route may offer a commercial opportunity for purchasers, subject to the appropriate consents.