Join the campaign to save Kinloch Castle!

This is a masterpiece set unexpectedly on the Scottish island of Rum. Rum is one of the Small Isles just south of Skye. It was bought in 1888 by wealthy Lancashire industrialist John Bullough. His son George inherited in 1891 and soon started to build his dream castle. After his marriage to Monica nee Ducarel she added feminine refinements. She sold the entire island to the nation in 1957. The castle now contains hostel, bistro and bar. Everyone can experience a taste of Edwardian life. Hear the magnificent rare Orchestrion.

The Kinloch Castle Friends Association was formed to preserve this gem.

Kinloch Castle is located on Loch Scresort on the island of Rum (Rhum) which is one of the Inner Hebrides off the West Coast of Scotland. It was built for Sir George Bullough, started in 1897 and completed in 1903 after three years of construction. Sir George and Kinloch Castle meant secure and paid employment to over one hundred individuals and their families on Rum all the year round. Today the Castle is almost unchanged and contains most of the original furniture and fittings.

The Island and the Castle are now in the care of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). However, in the 100+ years since its completion the fabric of the building has deteriorated to the extent that the contents, and even the building itself, are at risk.

The Association aims to work in partnership with SNH to stimulate awareness, interest and funding for the care of the Castle. Members also undertake practical work to aid the preservation and restoration of the Castle and estate. To be effective the Association must maintain a healthy membership and new members are always welcome. Full details are given on the Joining page.

BBC Restoration Programme 2003

The existence of the Castle was publicised when it featured in the first BBC Restoration series in 2003. This was made for BBC Television and featured numerous buildings at risk in the UK. Viewers were able to vote for their preference in each of several regional heats with the winners from each going forward the final. The final winner won approximately £3,000,000 to take forward the restoration. Kinloch Castle won the Scottish heat to reach the final but was not ultimately successful. This means the house and contents are still at risk.

A SNH press release of July 2005 suggests some progress was made. Over the winter of 2009-10 major repairs were undertaken to a very high standard of the Oriel windows over the courtyard entrance and of the tower which contains the water tank. The water tank was replaced and the floors strenthened. These repairs have helped to give some hope for the future of the building but the severe cutbacks in public expenditure cause more concern. The castle was rewired over the winter of 2010-11 and asbestos removed from the cellars and other repairs were made. Over the summer of 2011, there was further work to repair the boiler. Over the winter of 2011-2012 major roof repairs are taking place but extensive dry rot has been found, which has caused major problems with visitor accommodation. 

The state of the catle is such that the hostel accommodation may have to close at short notice and with this in view SNH are explroing the feasibility of providing temporary visitor accommodation until the Isle of Rum Community Trustr (IRCT) can develop alternative facilities.  Once this is up and running, it is the intention of SNH to close the castle except to castle tours.

Another viable use must be found to retain this Edwardian time capsule for the nation to continue to enjoy. There have been plans to create luxury flats within the castle, and to retain one section as an hotel. This would require extensive internal alteration and repair work but could create very different accomodation from that proposed by the IRCT and therefore would be complementary. 

Please support our campaign to save the castle.