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.

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OB913 Girl Alison approaching Mallaig Harbour.

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Mowi’s pontoon for use by the community and visiting yachts.

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

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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.

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Watercolour by George Gordon Byron Cooper, R.A. 

Golden Eagle with mountain hare in winter coat..

Above and below Archive photographs.

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Rounding the corner of the Library we proceeded to the west wing of Kinloch Castle. 

Signs on the locked gated entrance to the inner Courtyard read:

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DANGER - KEEP OUT;Warning CCTV in operation and

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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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Round the north-west corner we view through the window what remains of  the bustling 

Visitor Kitchen, the large gas stove and all furnishings removed.

 

On the verandah stand the rotting remains of three bench seats.

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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.

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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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May 2010.   The  17 July 2025 photographs were taken through the glass  French door left.

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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.

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.

The garden lies 70 yards west of Kinloch Castle and is today entered by a six-bar steel gate.

The once productive polytunnel lies derelict.

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The fenced-off view towards the former fourteen sectioned, 300foot long  greenhouses 

immediately on entering. BELOW: Similar view circa. 1957.

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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. 

                                                                             

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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IS THIS FATE INEVITABLE ?

Report 90% complete ... ... ...

  

  

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