Skibo Castle

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News update - September 2003

MADONNA’S decision to marry in Scotland has been a critical factor in dragging the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) back from the brink of financial crisis. The international pop star, children’s author, actress, and celebrity mother’s preference to tie the knot at Skibo Castle in the Highlands has started a trend which has been instrumental in turning around the fortunes of the NTS.

 
At the annual meeting today, Dr Robin Pellew, the chief executive of Scotland’s second largest landowner, will today tell members and senior trust officials the charity is in the best financial shape it has been for the last five years, when spiralling debt took it to the verge of insolvency. Declining membership of the trust and plummeting visitor numbers in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September have also been reversed, contributing to a substantial increase in revenue and a reduction in the charity’s debt. In the five years leading up to 2001, visitor numbers at NTS properties fell by between 12 and 15 per cent, while the cost of maintenance and repair increased. This contributed to a deficit of some £2.5 million at the end of 2001. However, last year the gap between its operating costs and income had been narrowed to £1.4 million, and this year it was £900,000. Madonna and Guy Ritchie’s wedding at Skibo three years ago first alerted celebrities to the charms of a wedding in Scotland. A growing list of stars followed suit, including the racing driver Dario Franchitti and his wife, film actress Ashley Judd, and more recently the fashion designer Stella McCartney and Alasdhair Willis on the Isle of Bute this August. Now it seems that Scottish romanticism has influenced the general public’s choice of wedding locations, and the NTS makes approximately £500,000 a year in renting out castles and stately homes for parties, weddings and corporate events. A spokesman for the General Register Office for Scotland said that in 2002 there were 29,826 marriages north of the Border. Of those, 8,874 - or 30 per cent - were marriages where both the bride and groom were neither born nor resident in Scotland. VisitScotland, the domestic tourist board, said weddings were worth an estimated £18 million to the Scottish economy annually, and receives up to 30 inquiries a day from all over the world about Scottish weddings. Dr Pellew told The Scotsman: "The deficit on the operating account has steadily declined in the last three years from £2.5 million to £1.4 million and will this year be at about £500,000. Next year we expect to be back in the black. This is the key figure and the one we look at much more critically. "Members should feel encouraged that the trust is in good heart. One of the contributory factors has been the tendency for people wanting to get married in Scottish castles. Long may that ‘Madonna factor’ last." Dr Pellew added: "We also continue to grow our membership and that is now up to about 268,000. Last year we closed at about 253,000, showing that we have grown at about 5 per cent, or 15,000 additional members this financial year. "We have also turned around our decline in visitor numbers. For the last ten years, year on year, they have been falling. But in the 2002 season we turned it around with an increase of 9 per cent and this year it has increased by 6 per cent." A spokesman for VisitScotland said: "Scotland is perceived as a romantic magical mystery destination for weddings, and that functions as a huge draw for people. "Obviously the crowning glory was having Madonna choosing Scotland as a place to get married, and you can’t get better publicity than that. "If the trend is also turning round and benefiting the fortunes of the NTS then that can only be a good thing." The NTS now expects to be back in the black in the financial year of 2004-5, although many of its properties will continue to run at a deficit offset by other revenue incomes.

URQUHART Castle, one of Scotland’s most historic and picturesque properties, has been bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland, it emerged yesterday. Although the castle is managed by Historic Scotland, it remained the property of Eila Chewett of Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire. Mrs Chewett, whose late husband purchased the castle, which stands of the shores of Loch Ness, in the 1930s, died this year. Although she was not a member of the NTS, she handed over ownership of the ruined castle and the associated landing pier. The trust will enter discussions with Historic Scotland to ensure the integrity of the site is maintained. The castle will continue to open as usual. Robin Pellew, NTS’s chief executive, said: "We are delighted to have been gifted this castle. We believe it demonstrates the trust people bestow upon us to take good care of historic buildings." The history of Urquhart Castle is as chequered as it is ancient. Records of it first appeared around 1230, when Alexander II used it while crushing a revolt in Moray.

The American owners of Skibo Castle are believed to be considering putting the castle up for sale . Peter de Savary has stood down as chairman of the company which owns Skibo Castle . Madonna married Guy Ritchie in the Sutherland castle 2 years ago . Westbrook Partners are selling the castle for £27 million . Mr de Savary said that the club lost over £400,000 worth of bookings after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre .

Holiday in Scotland - Romantic Islands and The Castle Trails  

September 15th, 2003 visiting 9 castles - Glamis Castle , Dunnottar Castle ,Huntly Castle ,Urquhart Castle , Eilean Donan Castle , Dunvegan Castle , Dunstaffnage Castle , Inverlochy Castle , Kilchurn Castle .

Other tours include

Our Rainbow Tour includes a visit to Glamis Castle , Edinburgh Castle , Urquhart Castle , Dunstaffnage Castle , Duart Castle , Inverary Castle and Culzean Castle .

Our Clan MacDonald tour runs on July 25th, 2003 and includes visits to Dunstaffnage Castle , Duart Castle , Glencoe , Armadale Castle , Dunvegan Castle , Fernie Castle , Scone Palace and Edinburgh Castle

Our Scottish cruise 2003 includes visits to Oban, Mallaig,' West Highland Line's to Fort William, Kyle of Lochalsh, Isle of Skye, Loch Gairloch, Inverewe Gardens, Loch Hourne & Nevis, Tobermory &endash; Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona and Loch Leven.

Knock Castle , also called Caisteal Chamuis (Castle Camus) , is four miles from  Armadale near Teangue in Sleat on the Isle of Skye . The castle is an old MacDonald stronghold and it is in ruins . It is haunted by a 'Green Lady'. Stone from the castle was used in 1825 to build Knock Farm . This castle is for sale along with the title Baron of Macdonald for £1 million ( $1.5 million ) . The buyer will be able to call themselves Baron of MacDonald and apply to Scotland's Lord Lyon King of Arms for a personal coat of arms. A baron's wife can use the courtesy title Lady MacDonald .

Titles are also available for a more affordable price of £650 / $1000 . A rare opportunity has arisen to acquire the co-ownership rights to the bygone styled title name and legend "Lordship of the Manor of ( your name here ) ". More details

The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, near Dornoch, is popular because of its remoteness and privacy.

New legislation being introduced could destroy the exclusive nature of the internationally

renowned estate. The Land Reform Bill would allow anyone the right to walk through at will. Peter de Savary, who

developed the 7,500 acre estate, along with many other landowners, have

expressed their concerns about the unfortunate impact of the new

laws. They say that it has already meant that investment in new

developments has declined and now de Savary says that it might mean that he

would close the Carnegie Club. He is concerned that he will find it

difficult - and expensive - to obtain insurance for the estate and its

prestigious visitors if he is unable to control access. The entrepreneur

has two estates in the USA and says that he does not have these sorts of problems there. Other lairds affected by the new law include Sir Tim Rice , John MacLeod of MacLeod , owner of Dunvegan Castle , the Countess of Sutherland , the Duke of Argyll , owner of Inverary Castle , and Mohamed al-Fayed , owner of Inverlochy Castle .

The history of Knock Castle

On August 31st , 1632 , McConillreich signed a bond of fealty or loyalty with Sir Donald MacDonald of Sleat. 

    In 1513 the castle was saved from attack by the ingenuity and heroism of a young maid Mary MacDonald , known ever since as Mary of the Castle.

When Good John of Isla disinherited his first wife's sons he gave Skye to Ranald, his first born son. Thereafter the MacDonalds conquered Knock, Dun Sgathaich and also Trotternish with Duntulm Castle. From Knock the Chief of Clan Donald left for Dun Sgathaich, leaving Knock as one of the fortresses of the Baronets of Sleat. In 1617 Donald Gorm held his lands in Sleat under the condition that he should hold Knock ready to receive the King or his representative. In 1690 Castle Knock was uninhabited.

When Iain Borb Macleod was still a child his tutor, Iain Mushealbhach (John the Ill Fated) lost Dun Sciath and Knock Castle to Donald MacDonald. But when attacking Dun Bheagan itself MacDonald was defeated by MacLeod of Lewis and a mixed army of Skye and Lewismen.

In 1690 after the burning of Armadale House, the king's men sought refuge here from the revenging MacDonalds but failing supplies they were defeated.

After Culloden Allan MacDonald of Knock seized and captured Donald MacLeod of Galtrigal who had served Bonnie Prince Charlie and had been responsible for his safety from April 21st to June 21st that year.

This castle is for sale along with the title baron of Macdonald for £1 million ( $1.5 million ) .

Eilean Donan Castle | castles of Scotland

A rare opportunity has arisen to acquire the co-ownership rights to the bygone styled title name and legend "Lordship of the Manor of ( your name here ) ". More details

Eilean Donan Castle - Dunnottar Castle - more pictures of 20 castles in Scotland

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