Armadale Castle and the Clan MacDonald lands, located on the Isle of Skye, are set to be sold in a surprising move by the charity that currently owns them. The Clan Donald Lands Trust, which has owned the estate since 1971, cited financial difficulties as the reason for the sale. The trust expressed a desire to shift focus towards granting funds for Clan and indigenous Highland heritage projects.
This decision has left residents of the south of Skye feeling blindsided, as they were not included in the decision-making process. The estate, which spans 20,000 acres and encompasses the southern Sleat peninsula, is primarily utilized by tenant crofters and farmers. Armadale Castle, a well-known tourist attraction and the historic residence of the MacDonalds of Sleat, is situated within the estate. The castle features a clan museum, café, and walled garden.
The trustees of the Clan Donald Lands Trust highlighted the escalating costs associated with maintaining Armadale Castle as the driving force behind the decision to sell the property. They explained that the charity has historically relied on external grants to cover operational expenses, which have become increasingly challenging to secure due to market volatility. The sale of Armadale Castle and its surrounding lands is seen as a means to enable the charity to sustain itself without relying on external funding.
The announcement of the sale has raised concerns among locals about the potential impact on the community and the estate’s future. Dr. Andy Williamson, chair of the Sleat Community Council, lamented the lack of communication between the trustees, who are based in London and the US, and the local community. With uncertainties looming over the fate of Armadale Castle and the surrounding lands, residents are left wondering about the implications of the sale. Community buy-out opportunities, which might have been considered under different circumstances, now seem unfeasible given the sudden nature of the sale
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