RETURN TO KINLOCH CASTLE AFTER FOURTEEN YEARS
Thursday, 17 July 2025.
George W. Randall has been researching Kinloch Castle for over 30 years,
and posted over 120 fully illustrated research blogs under the heading:
ART TREASURES OF KINLOCH CASTLE
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Inshore stern trawler OB913 Girl Alison entering Mallaig Harbour.
Mowi’s salmon farm lies off Camas Pliasgaig, off Rum’s north-east coast.
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Shortly after we pass
Bay View Cottage and a little further the circular limekiln
built for Lord Salisbury.
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LIBRARY
JAPANESE SUMO WRESTLERS (1)
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To the right (just out of my view) is the magnificent fireplace, its shelves include the
Twenty Photograph Albums of George Bullough's Grand World Tour 1892-1895
and twenty annual volumes of Weatherby's Racing Calendar.
Watercolour by George Gordon Byron Cooper, R.A.
Above and below Archive photographs.
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Rounding the corner of the Library we proceeded to the west wing of Kinloch Castle.
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Happier days when operating as Hostel.
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VISITOR'S BAR AREA
Archive . Photographs
The Visitor Bar and Common Room when operating as a Hostel.
Also was used as "overspill" when Bistro seating was full!
17 July 2025
We continue our walk around the castle, the five single-pane lower windows being (R - L), Visitor Laundry Room with adjacent drying and store rooms.
Above: corner toilet, bedrooms and, incorporating the Oriel Window, the Visitor's Sitting Room,
formerly Lady Bullough's Bedroom following the death of her husband in 1939.
The forty bed Visitor Hostel, (the original Servant's Questers), is located along the top floor
of the 1906 two storey addition to the west wing to house more guests and servants.
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Visitor Kitchen, the large gas stove and all furnishings removed.
On the verandah stand the rotting remains of three bench seats.
.Next room is, (regrettably was), the licensed Bistro, where guests enjoyed full breakfast and
three course dinner. According to the original 1900 Plan the this was the kitchen.
Stripped bare it is very sad to recall it full patrons
ABOVE: Archive photographs.
.The next room along is the former kitchen, originally the Housekeeper's Room.
(Photographed through glass window.)
This was a fully functioning kitchen capable of serving gourmet meals
when the castle operated as an hotel until 1996, and until 2012, forty plus
full Scottish breakfasts and three course dinners to patrons.
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DINING ROOM
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As we round the north-east corner a welcome bench comes into view.
Dedicated To The Memory Of Mrs. Mary Cooper (Nee Hills) 1918-2008.
DINING ROOM
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May 2010. The 17 July 2025 photographs were taken through the glass French door left.
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She Always Loved Rum, Especially Because Of The Family Connection
To The Island And The Castle.
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Mrs. Cooper's father was Percy Hills, Head Gardner in the early years at Kinloch Castle.
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We only found the one seat!
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We next looked the Walled Garden.
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The fenced-off view towards the former fourteen sectioned, 300foot long greenhouses
immediately on entering. BELOW: Similar view circa. 1957.
Nature continues to reclaim this once highly productive walled garden.
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We next visited the
Replacement Japanese Style Bridge,
a Kinloch Castle Friends' Association (KCFA) project spanning the Alt a’ Choillich burn
under the sole direction of George Logan, L.I.O.B., A.C.E., July 2001 .
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Unfortunately we found a sad, fenced off, slowly rotting momento ... ... ...
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This plaque had been removed!
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DIANA, THE HUNTRESS,
ABOVE: Extract from Kinloch Castle Friends' Association Newsletter Number 25 November 2007. 
ABOVE: Extract from Kinloch Castle Friends' Association Newsletter Number 25 November 2007. Shortly after the photograph was taken in July 1994 the Angel was removed
and unceremoniously dumped behind the walled garden. Eventually hidden beneath grass
and briars the statue was run over by reversing vehicles.
It was recovered in 1999 to become the subject of restoration at the hands
of civil engineer, Mr. George Logan in June 2000.
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