kinloch castle visit

Kinloch Castle

• History of the Kinloch Castle
• The Kinloch Castle Today
• Kinloch Castle Visitor Information
• Sir George Bullough, 1st Baronet – The Builder of the Kinloch Castle

About the Kinloch Castle

The Kinloch Castle is a castellated Tudor style castle located in the Kinloch village on the Isle of Rum off the west coast of Scotland. It was built by Sir George Bullough in the late 19th and early 20th century as a luxurious retreat. The castle, however, did not serve its purpose for long. The Scottish Natural Heritage that currently owns and manages the castle is trying to raise enough funds to carry out restoration which will prevent its deterioration and keep it open to visitors who are delighted by its splendour despite the fact that the effects of time and weather cannot be ignored.

George Bullough inherited the Isle of Rum from his father, John Bullough who bought the island in 1888. The construction of the castle began in 1897 and in 1901, the castle appeared in its full grandeur. But as soon as it was completed, it became a temporary home to the wounded soldiers of the Boer War rather than to its owner. For lending his new luxurious mansion as well as his steam-yacht Rhouma to the British army, George Bullough was knighted by King Edward VII in 1901.

As already mentioned earlier, Sir Bullough used the Kinloch Castle as a retreat but he also used it to host shooting parties which were attended by his friends. The interest in such activities among the high classes of society, however, declined during and after the First World War and thus the castle was less and less frequently visited by its owner. After his death in 1939, both the castle and the island passed to his widow Lady Monica who came there from time to time. Until 1957, when she decided to sell it to the Nature Conservancy (the predecessor of the Scottish Natural Heritage), the castle was in a state of neglect.

The Nature Conservancy as well as the succeeding Scottish Natural Heritage tried to keep the castle in the best condition possible, however, the weather and time left a mark on the building. The Kinloch Castle urgently needs restoration to save it from further damage and to keep it open to visitors the number of which increased significantly after the castle’s appearance in the BBC Restoration series a few years ago. It made it to the finals but unfortunately, it did not win. It did, however, attract attention of the Prince of Wales’ Regeneration Trust which created a plan for the future development of the castle. Unfortunately, the Scottish Natural Heritage and the Kinloch Castle Friends Association that was established in 1996 have not managed to raise the necessary funds to carry out the Regeneration Trust’s proposal although a number of restoration works have been carried out over the last few years.

The Kinloch Castle is open to visitors as a museum as well as a hostel which is located in the former servants’ quarter. Guided tours take place daily during the summer season from early April to late October. They coincide with the ferries to the Isle of Rum but it is recommended to check with the Kinloch Castle reception before departing.

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Kinloch Castle

Top choice in Central Highlands

When George Bullough, a dashing, Harrow-educated cavalry officer, inherited Rum along with half his father’s fortune in 1891, he became one of the wealthiest bachelors in Britain. Bullough blew half his inheritance on building his dream bachelor pad – the ostentatious Kinloch Castle. Since the Bulloughs left, the castle has survived as a perfect time capsule of upper-class Edwardian eccentricity – the guided tour should not be missed.

Bullough shipped in pink sandstone from Dumfriesshire and 250,000 tonnes of Ayrshire topsoil for the gardens, and paid his workers a shilling extra a day to wear tweed kilts – just so they’d look more picturesque. Hummingbirds were kept in the greenhouses and alligators in the garden, and guests were entertained with an orchestrion, the Edwardian equivalent of a Bose hi-fi system (one of only six that were ever made).

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Please be aware that the pier area is very busy when the ferry comes in with lots of vehicles and people manoeuvering and using the narrow roads.

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From Guest House to remote mountain bothy, there is a variety of accommodation available on the island, see the accommodation page for more information.

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Kinloch Castle

Situated in the breathtaking landscape of the Isle of Rùm, one of Scotland’s Small Isles, Kinloch Castle is a magnificent structure, a testament to Edwardian era extravagance and architectural grandeur. This resplendent red sandstone castle, constructed in 1900, was once the opulent summer retreat of Sir George Bullough, a textile magnate from Lancashire.

The castle’s architecture is truly a marvel. Constructed in the Scots Baronial style, it exhibits detailed and distinctive features reminiscent of a romantic past, including gargoyles, turrets, and a variety of fine stone details. Despite its rugged exterior, the inside of the castle is beautifully furnished and decorated, bearing the mark of Bullough’s extraordinary wealth and refined taste.

Kinloch Castle was built with a keen eye for luxury, featuring a range of amenities that were far ahead of its time. It boasted a heated indoor swimming pool, a telephone system, and an early form of central heating – remarkable commodities at the turn of the 20th century. The castle also held an impressive collection of artwork and antiques, some of which can still be seen today.

This grand residence stands amidst the wild beauty of the island, a striking contrast to the untamed surroundings. It is said that Bullough spared no expense in cultivating the estate, even importing foreign plants and exotic animals to embellish the landscape, thereby creating a sort of ‘wild’ garden around the castle.

Today, Kinloch Castle is a Category A listed building under the stewardship of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). It has been preserved as a historical monument, with its stunning architecture and intriguing history drawing visitors from far and wide. Regular tours allow the public to step back in time and explore the grand rooms, opulent furnishings, and fascinating exhibits that narrate the castle’s unique story.

The castle is more than just an architectural spectacle; it’s a gateway into an era characterized by opulence and extravagance. While the castle has aged, its allure has not faded. It continues to captivate visitors with its charm and narrative, standing as a resilient symbol of the Edwardian era on the Isle of Rùm. Kinloch Castle’s enduring beauty and significance make it a must-visit destination for anyone venturing to Scotland’s Small Isles.

Despite the challenges of time and elements, Kinloch Castle has retained a good part of its former glory and stands as a beacon of historical and cultural importance. The SNH has put considerable effort into maintaining and preserving the castle, ensuring that it will continue to intrigue and enchant future generations. Visitors are bound to leave Kinloch Castle with a newfound appreciation for the past, carrying with them the vivid impression of a bygone era of luxury and grandeur.

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Wild About Lochaber

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Kinloch Castle

Kinloch Castle, on the Isle of Rum, is a turreted, two storey castle, with an arcaded veranda, built by the wealthy Lancashire industrialist George Bullough in 1897. The building was designed to befit the requirements of an extravagant and lavish Victorian lifestyle. Fine craftsmanship, 'state of the art’ facilities and the most modern of conveniences of the time characterise the building, which has been described as ‘ a temple to private indulgence’.

Outside, a great variety of exotic species were planted in the formal and informal gardens around the castle, as well as a bowling green and golf course. Unfortunately, the gardens are now a little unkempt and overgrown and form an uneasy alliance with the native flora. However the bridge from the Japanese Garden remains intact, but little remains of the hot houses and palm houses of this magnificent and extravagant residence.

There is a guided daily tour around the castle, lasting about one hour, and timed to fit in with the arrival of the ferry service. The castle is well worth a visit, if just to marvel at the extreme opulence and indulgence of an age long since vanished.

George Bullough was also responsible for building two mausoleums, the first destroyed on the grounds of its poor design, and of which only a few decorated tiles now remain. The second mausoleum, in the form of a Doric temple, was built in Harris Bay to the west and houses the family remains.

A great day out if staying in and around Moidart,  Ardnamurchan, Morvern,  Arisaig and Mallaig.

Links to useful information

• Kinloch Castle: SNH publication (pdf)
• Castle Tours
• Isle of Rum Wildlife Page
• Isle of Rum Wildlife Experience

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Undiscovered Scotland

Kinloch castle.

We understand that Kinloch Castle is no longer open to visitors and it is unclear what the future holds for this amazing place. For the moment the rest of this page is as written when visits were possible. The hostel referred to below is also no longer open.

The ornate and extravagant Kinloch Castle stands framed by mountains at the head of Loch Scresort, which bites deeply into the east side of the Isle of Rum. It is a no expense spared confection of pink sandstone intended to create an impression: and create an impression it certainly does.

Anyone wanting to visit Kinloch Castle must first get to Rum, and ways of reaching the island are described here. You will probably arrive on Rum at the ferry slipway built on the south shore of Loch Scresort. From the ferry slipway it is a little over three quarters of a mile along a land rover track to the castle, which you approach from the south through a tunnel of trees. Visitors either walk or, if available, use the castle minibus.

You will have seen the castle from a distance, both from the loch and the slipway, but your sudden emergence from the trees brings home just how ambitious a project Kinloch Castle really was. Guided tours of the castle take place at times designed to tie in with the ferry timetable from the beginning of April until late October, and visitor and contact information is set out on the right. There will probably be a sign on the front door of the castle setting out the tour times, or you can enquire at the reception for the hostel: this occupies the rear half of the castle, which originally served as service and servants' accommodation.

The hostel attached to Kinloch Castle is one of the few places to stay on Rum, and it also has a bistro and bar open to non-residents. But for most visitors it is the front half of Kinloch Castle which is the real attraction, built and furnished on a truly sumptuous scale and now serving as a time capsule that opens a window into the holiday lifestyle of a single generation of a single very wealthy family in the decade and a half before World War One.

The story of Kinloch Castle is the story of the Bullough family. James Bullough was born in about 1800 near Bolton. He began working in the cotton mills at the age of 7 and over the following three decades devised a series of improvements to the process that made his fortune and allowed him to become a mill owner. The business was eventually taken over by his youngest son, John Bullough, who combined his father's inventive flair and keen business sense with the benefits of a first class education.

John became interested in acquiring land in Scotland and purchased Meggernie Castle and estate in Glen Lyon. In 1888 he decided he needed an even more secluded holiday retreat, and for £35,000 he purchased the Isle of Rum, which the Marquis of Salisbury had started to develop as a sporting estate in 1845. During his holidays here John lived in Kinloch House, near the head of Loch Scresort. In three years he oversaw the planting of 80,000 trees around Kinloch, and invested heavily in bringing in high quality deer to improve the stock on the island. He did not live to see the fruits of his efforts, however, as he died in 1891 at the age of 53.

On his death, Meggernie Castle and estate passed to one of his sons, while Rum passed to another, George Bullough, then just 21 years old. After an education at Harrow School, George had been destined for an initial career as a cavalry officer. His father's early death left him heir to part of a vast fortune and a director of a hugely successful textile business. He responded by building his father an extravagant mausoleum on Rum (and then a second when people said the first was too vulgar), and commissioning a 223ft long steam powered yacht from a Clyde shipyard, the Rhouma.

George then moved on to the grandest of his designs, and between 1897 and 1900 oversaw the removal of Kinloch House and the building of Kinloch Castle. Everything about Kinloch Castle was done on an extravagant scale. The architects selected were Leeming & Leeming, an English firm known more for commercial projects than country houses. During the construction of the castle, a workforce of some 300 men was brought in, mainly from Lancashire and from the neighbouring Isle of Eigg. It is said that they were paid an additional shilling a week by George if they agreed to work in Bullough tweed kilts, plus an extra tuppence each day if they smoked, which helped deter Rum's infamous midges during construction.

Meanwhile, a steady procession of steamships arrived in Loch Scresort carrying pink sandstone quarried at Annan in Dumfries and Galloway. A common myth is that the castle's stone came from Arran. This seems to have originated with a simple typo in an early guide book. Other steamers arrived carrying a total of 250,000 tons of garden soil from Ayrshire.

By the time the project was finished in 1900, some £250,000 had been spent on the castle, and on its furnishings and gardens: which is equivalent to about £15 million in today's terms. Amongst the innovations installed were electricity supplied from a wind generator, central heating, and hi-tech plumbing. Kinloch Castle was also the first private residence in Scotland to be equipped with an internal telephone system. A conservatory was used to grow exotic fruit, while a palm house was home to humming birds and, briefly, some small alligators, which were later shot while trying to escape.

Within 3 years of initial completion, major alterations were needed. In 1903 Sir George Bullough, as he now was, married Monique Lily de la Pasteur. Claiming descent from one of Napoleon's sisters, Monique (or Lady Monica as she became known at Kinloch Castle) had married an heir to the Charrington brewing fortune in the 1890s, but is said to have taken a number of wealthy lovers before Sir George was cited in her divorce. Lady Monica's arrival on the scene led to the addition of an upper floor to the originally single storey west range.

Each summer the Bulloughs would spend three weeks at Kinloch Castle, hiring a private train to bring themselves and their house guests up from London to Mallaig, where they would board the Rhouma for the 15 mile crossing to Rum. Kinloch Castle only really came alive for these three weeks each year, with the gentlemen gathering in Sir George's strongly masculine billiard and smoking rooms (complete with air conditioning to clear the smoke) or spending their days hunting, while the ladies gathered in Lady Monica's very feminine south range.

Also available for entertaining guests was the hugely impressive galleried main hall, complete with a variety of conversation pieces ranging from the beautiful to the grotesque, collected by the Bulloughs on a series of world tours. Guests in the hall could be entertained either by the Steinway piano (which still bears the scars inflicted by a lady dancing on top of it in stiletto heels) or the remarkable Orchestrion, an elaborate contraption driven by electricity that was said to emulate the sound of a 40 piece orchestra. This still plays today, though in truth sounds more like a fairground organ than a real orchestra.

Other public rooms included the splendid wood panelled dining room, Lady Monica's drawing room and the empire room, a library, and the ballroom. The last of these is is a slightly odd space: plush and grand, but the high level windows and tales of drinks being served through a hatch designed to ensure the butler could not see what was going on inside the ballroom (even if the musicians in the high level gallery presumably could) leads to obvious questions about whether in bringing a slice of Belgravia to Rum, the Bulloughs weren't also interested in importing a touch of Bohemia.

After World War One the family visited Rum less and less often. George Bullough died in France in 1939 on a golfing holiday. In 1957 the Bullough Trustees sold the whole of Rum except for the family mausoleum for £23,000 to the government agency Nature Conservancy, and the island became a National Nature Reserve.

Kinloch Castle is at once both magnificent and a little sad. It offers a truly unique insight into a very different world that disappeared almost without trace in 1914. Decades of inadequate funding have combined with architects who didn't appreciate that flat roofs were not a great idea in Rum's wet climate to produce serious problems of water ingress in places. Kinloch Castle deserves every possible support to ensure it survives the next century in slightly better shape than it has survived the last century. One small way you can help is by ensuring that when visiting Rum you take the superb guided tour. This allows visitors to seen all the main public rooms and many items of particular interest, plus a number of bedrooms and the castle's only en-suite bathroom on the first floor.

Isle of Rum Visitor Guide

The Small Isles on the west coast of Scotland include Canna, Muck, Eigg, and Rum. With an area of 182 square miles, Rum is the largest island in the archipelago, but there are only 40 people living there. Getting to Rum involves a short ferry ride from the neighbouring Isle of Skye, after which visitors are free to explore mile after mile of heather-covered moorland and dramatic mountains, all surrounded by a windswept and rugged coastline.

Discover the breathtakingly beautiful Isle of Rum in the Inner Hebrides with this complete guide which includes an overview of the island and lots of useful visitor information.

There’s a lot to like about the Isle of Rum . From the pretty surroundings of Loch Scresort at the ferry terminal to the dramatic mountain peaks of the Cuillin Ridge to the south, this is an island that’s begging to be explored.

Rum is located west of the Scottish mainland, 7 miles south of the Isle of Skye, and 15 miles west of the fishing port of Mallaig. The island is part of Scotland’s Small Isles, an archipelago consisting of Canna, Eigg, Muck, and Rum, with Rum being the largest by some margin, but even so, it’s only 40 square miles in total area.

The entire island is managed by the public body Nature Scot as a National Nature Reserve , and due to the fact it’s so remote and has just 40 people living on it, Rum is one of the few places in Scotland that remains almost entirely unchanged by tourism. Visitors will find an incredibly varied mix of habitats when they explore Rum, all of which are a haven for animals rarely seen elsewhere in Scotland.

There are thriving colonies of golden eagles and sea eagles, one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Manx shearwater , and a coastline that’s a favourite breeding ground for otters and seals. Rum is also home to over 900 red deer, which have been part of the world’s longest-running study of a wild animal population since the early 1950s.

Many of the island’s permanent residents are still involved in the study, whether they are full-time volunteers or actively employed by Nature Scot.

The majority of people on Rum live around the tiny village of Kinloch which is also the location of the ferry terminal and the first place visitors step foot onto. It’s a very pretty part of the island, with woodland bordering the crescent bay of Loch Scresort and multiple paths leading south into the jaw-dropping scenery of the Rum Cullin mountains. There aren’t many facilities at Kinloch, but, to be honest, that’s all part of its charm.

You’ll find a small community hall at the far end which has a gift and food shop on one side as well as a café, while the opposite side of Kinloch features the newly-built Rum Bunkhouse and a campsite (both managed by the Isle of Rum Community Trust), plus public toilets and a wee visitor centre.

The only other notable feature is Kinloch Castle – a grand 19th-century country house that was built for the wealthy Sir George Bullough and is occasionally open for guided tours. The interior of the ‘castle’ is almost entirely unchanged from its heyday in the 1900s and features one of the earliest private electrical systems in Scotland, as well as the world’s only playable motorised music organ.

Sir George Bullough later bought the organ from Queen Victoria and installed additional extravagances like a palm house with hummingbirds and alligators, a sizable ballroom, a bowling alley, and a private golf course. But as impressive as Kinloch Castle is, the best reason to visit Rum is to simply set off and explore it.

From Kinloch, there are two gravel roads and one footpath that wind their way across the island, with the roads providing easy access to the west and north coasts, and the footpath offering a slightly more taxing gateway into the Cuillin mountains.

Trying to fit all of these sights into one visit is pretty much impossible as the majority of visitors will find themselves limited to the timetable set out by Calmac ferries (see their Rum page for details), with around six hours on the island and an 80-minute sail each way from Mallaig. Not a huge amount of time for sightseeing, but certainly enough to get a good feel for the island. I’ll cover my experience of visiting Rum as a day-tripper in the next section.

The Highlights

1: The island of Rum easily rivals its famous neighbour Skye for scenery, yet it’s much quieter and has a real off-the-grid atmosphere. If you really want to get away from crowds of tourists, a visit to Rum should be at the top of your list of places to go.

2: Cycling on Rum (at least on a mountain bike) is superb, with long tracks that are level with few inclines. The single-track gravel road that winds its way from Kinloch to Kilmory is particularly good as it passes through a favourite grazing area for herds of red deer, where sea eagles are frequently seen soaring overhead. Don’t forget your binoculars (link to recommended pairs)!

3: The southern half of Rum is home to the monumental Rum Cuillin Ridge – a mountainous series of peaks that culminates with the Askival Corbett at 2,660 feet. Traversing these ridges is a challenge for even advanced hikers but it has to be one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the island. While the entire range can be broken down into short sections, the majority of people attempt the classic Cuillin Ridge Walk (link to the Walk Highlands guide), which crosses 5 peaks over 13 miles.

Visiting Tips

1: Although Rum is best explored on a mountain bike, day-trippers on foot will find a number of short walks around the ferry jetty and the village of Kinloch, as well as the beautiful Kinloch Castle. Longer walks through Rum’s beautiful surroundings are possible thanks to wild camping being permitted on the island as well as access to two bothies in Guirdhil and Dibidil.

Be aware that these bothies are very basic, so you will need to bring your own cooking equipment. To learn more about Scotland’s bothies, I recommend reading The Scottish Bothy Bible (Amazon link).

2: Rum can experience fierce clouds of biting midges, just like pretty much everywhere else on the west coast of Scotland. To combat the wee menaces, read my Guide to Avoiding Midges in Scotland and pack Smidge lotion (Amazon link) in your backpack. I also suggest packing for inclement weather even in summer, as the wide-open moorland of the island’s interior offers little protection.

3: Facilities on Rum are reasonable for an island that has around 40 permanent residents, but don’t go expecting Skye levels of luxury.

For accommodation, the Rum Bunkhouse in Kinloch is probably the best option as it features showers and a kitchen, but there’s a campsite opposite for those that prefer pitching a tent. Prepared food (fish and chips, sandwiches, etc.) can be purchased from Kim’s Kitchen in the Kinloch community hall, and canned food can be purchased from the Wee General Store next door.

Tourist Information

While planning my short visit to Rum I spent a good amount of time poring over my trusty OS Map (which proved invaluable during my visit – get your map here ) and eventually decided on an itinerary I could comfortably fit into six hours.

This comprised of a short wander around Kinloch followed by a hill walk up Hallival and a cycle to Kilmory Bay, with extra time allocated for picnic stops and plenty of photos.

The sail from Mallaig is brief enough to spend the entire time outside on the observation deck, giving you a good view of the Isle of Eigg as it passes by and then the rocky shoreline of Rum. Once the ferry had dropped its passengers off, I set off along the narrow track leading to Kinloch, briefly stopping to read a couple of information signs before popping my head into the visitor centre and community hall that serve tourists as well as the people permanently living on the Isle of Rum.

The initial views of Rum are stunning, with the sheltered waters of Loch Scresort twinkling away against a backdrop of woodland and the imposing red sandstone of Kinloch Castle framing the scene at the far end. The walk from the ferry jetty to Kinloch Castle only takes around ten minutes, so I was hoping to have lots of time to explore the interior, but sadly it was closed, though from speaking to a local, it’s hoped to open for tours in the near future.

Photo opportunity over, it was time to push on and grab a few snacks from the community shop which was surprisingly well-stocked for such a tiny resident population. Speaking to a fellow traveller who’d been on Rum before, the community hall’s on-site café is excellent, and the locally caught fish is worth the visit alone. If you visit Rum, definitely keep an eye open for Kim’s Kitchen.

After chaining my bike against a fence post (I admit I didn’t need to chain it on this island, but I live in Edinburgh and old habits die hard), I pressed ahead on foot to climb partway up the 2,300-foot summit of Hallival. The footpath starts at a track immediately before Kinloch Castle and slowly rises up a gentle incline past waterfalls and meandering burns till it reaches a plateau where Skye is clearly visible in the distance.

It’s a short walk to the end of the footpath which stops at a man-made dam across the Allt Slugan a’ Choilich burn, but it’s worth the effort involved as the views along the entire length are incredible. In fact, I’ll go as far as saying this is one of the most scenic parts of the island, and seeing as it only takes 1-2 hours for a return walk, you almost have to include it in a visit to Rum.

From the dam, it’s possible to head further south to Rum Cuillin’s on a well-worn mountain trail that crosses five of Rum’s six mountain peaks. However, at around 12 hours, it’s a hike that will be impossible for day-trippers.

Instead, after walking back down the Hallival path I suggest taking the road that heads out of Kinloch which eventually separates in the centre of the island (there’s a signpost where the road splits). By all accounts, both roads offer similar views and both finish on the coast. The west-facing road heads across the island to Harris, where the Bullough family mausoleum has stood watch over the clifftops for well over a hundred years.

The northern road, meanwhile, passes through rough grass and moorland to Kilmory Bay which has a large golden sand beach that’s entirely secluded and is a favourite viewing site for red deer thanks to the freshwater Kilmory River that flows into it. The road to Kilmory is around 12 miles return, while the road to Harris is around 15 miles return, which potentially puts either destination out of reach of walkers but is certainly possible for those on two wheels.

As I was itching to see the bay I chose the route to Kilmory which ended up being a slow cycle on a single-track gravel road that has its fair share of potholes. On the upside, the majority of the route is level, although towards Kilmory there are a few long inclines that will almost certainly get the heart pumping.

As far as views go, the centre of Rum is rather barren, with mile after mile of wild grass and moorland covering flat plains on either side of the road, all bordered by steep granite slopes. It’s very, very scenic, though, and it has an otherworldly beauty that guarantees it will stay in your memory for a long time.

The landscape breaks away into patches of woodland near Kilmory and it’s in this area where I saw the majority of the island’s famed red deer, perhaps because of the safety the nearby trees offered them. The deer were rather skittish, and I was glad I had my trusty binoculars in my backpack (see my recommended binoculars if you don’t have a pair yet) as well as a telephoto lens on my camera.

But even so, they didn’t hang about and I was only able to watch them for a few minutes before they all disappeared over the hills. As luck would have it, just as the deer wandered off, a couple of golden eagles circled overhead, which appeared to be on the lookout for their next meal.

I could have sat and watched those majestic birds all day but the midges were out in force so I retreated back to the safety of my saddle, hopeful that even my weedy legs could outrun the wee biting menaces (top-tip: stock up on Smidge – Amazon link here – if you ever visit Rum).

The track ended at Kilmory and I was pleased to discover the beach is every bit as beautiful as I’d been told it was. There are bigger beaches in Scotland to be sure, but not many that are as secluded and fewer still that have as magnificent views as this one across the sea to the Cuillins on Skye.

As the beach was blissfully free of midges, it made a good place to eat before pedalling back along the same route to Kinloch, with the entire return cycle route between Kinloch and Kilmory taking around four hours at a very relaxed pace.

Things to Do

Wildlife Watching: Rum is home to a diverse array of wildlife. From majestic red deer to playful otters and a multitude of bird species, nature lovers will be in heaven on this island. Guided wildlife tours (April to October) offer an opportunity to learn more about these animals as well as catch sight of rarities like white-tailed and golden eagles.

Hiking: The island boasts spectacular terrain with rugged hills and a beautiful coastline. There are several marked trails, but the challenge of climbing Rum’s highest peak, Askival, is a must-do for experienced hikers.

Kinloch Castle: This Edwardian mansion is an architectural marvel that’s definitely worth investigating. Though currently closed to the public, visitors are permitted to walk around the exterior to admire the architecture of one of Scotland’s finest buildings of its time.

Rum National Nature Reserve: The entire reserve is a paradise for nature lovers. It covers most of the island and is home to a vast range of wildlife from rare plants to otters, as well as red deer which are the focus of the world’s longest-running scientific study.

Cycling: Although there’s no tarmacked road on Rum, the firm tracks that run through the centre of the island are ideal for cycling. Along the way, you’ll be able to encounter terrains varying between moorlands and mountains which make for an unforgettable cycling experience.

Things to Do Nearby

Explore Kinloch and Kinloch Castle . Even though most of the residents of the small community at Kinloch are Nature Scot employees and their families, it still has a store, a cozy bunkhouse, and a café. Around one mile from the ferry jetty, visitors can also view Kinloch Castle, which is currently closed to the public but is hoped to be restored and reopened in the near future.

Climb mountains . Rum is an underrated gem when it comes to mountain hikes thanks to the majestic Rum Cuillin’s which dominate the southern half of the island. Getting to the mountains involves a lengthy hike across boggy moorland before reaching the first of the six peaks, which all offer incredible views, but only after traversing technical climbs with plenty of scrambling over loose rocks.

Wildlife watching . Nature Scot, who looks after the nature reserve that is home to a wide variety of animals, owns and manages rum. Not only is the island home to almost a quarter of the world’s population of Manx shearwater, but it’s also a haven for red deer and white-tailed sea eagles. To learn more, visit the Nature Scot website .

Cross-country cycle ride . Although the roads that cut through the island are little more than gravel-strewn tracks, the landscapes they pass through make pedalling along the bumpy terrain a genuine pleasure. There are two superb routes that are a must-do for anyone on Rum with a bicycle, which are the trail from Kinloch to the Harris Mausoleum on the west of the island and Kinloch to Kilmory on the north. Kilmory is a ten-mile return journey, while Harris is a sixteen-mile return.

Fishing . There are six lochs on Rum (Loch Papadil, Loch Coire nan Gruund, Loch MacIvor, Loch Fiachanis, Loch a’Ghillie Reamhra, and Loch Longwhich) which are open for fishing between April and October. Permits are required for fishing on the lochs, but they are provided free of charge from the Nature Scot office and the community shop in Kinloch. There is also the option to fish around the coastline, for which no permit is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does anyone live on the isle of rum.

On the Isle of Rum, there are about 40 permanent residents, the majority of whom work for Nature Scot, a government organization conducting research on the red deer population there. All inhabitants of Rum live in the settlement of Kinloch on the island’s eastern side.

During the 1800s, the population of Rum exceeded 450 people, but they were forced to leave during the Highland Clearances. 300 tenant farmers left the island permanently in 1826, and the remainder left the following year, in 1827.

Is there a pub on the Isle of Rum?

There is no pub on the Isle of Rum. The island’s only settlement at Kinloch has a café, a shop, and a community hall.

Can you drive on the Isle of Rum?

Visitors cannot drive their cars on Rum. The Isle of Rum is almost entirely free of cars as the only people allowed to take vehicles onto the island are the permanent residents, most of whom use 4WD vehicles as a means to track the island’s population of red deer.

What visitor facilities are there on the Isle of Rum?

The Isle of Rum has very limited visitor facilities. The village of Kinloch has a small community shop that sells gifts and canned food. There is also a café on-site. Kinloch Village has accommodation including the Rum Bunkhouse, glamping pods, and a B&B. The village has public toilets and recycling points.

Visit the official Rum website services page for updated information on available facilities.

Is the Isle of Rum worth visiting?

The Isle of Rum is definitely worth visiting. It’s home to the Kinloch Castle, a historic castle built in the late 19th century, and it’s a wonderful location for a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and birdwatching.

Many visitors to the Isle of Rum also enjoy exploring the island’s beaches and taking boat trips to see the surrounding islands. So if you enjoy nature, outdoor activities, and history, the Isle of Rum will be a great destination for you.

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Craig Neil is the author, photographer, admin, and pretty much everything else behind Out About Scotland. He lives near Edinburgh and spends his free time exploring Scotland and writing about his experiences. Follow him on Pinterest , Facebook , and YouTube .

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Kinloch Castle

Explore extravagant kinloch castle, isle of rum.

The ferry to Rum is one of the most scenic on the network. You'll pass stunning views of the Cuillin mountain range and the small isles, combined with multiple wildlife spotting opportunities. Once on Rum, you can explore  Isle of Rum - a Victorian mansion, built for a one-time owner of the island and textile tycoon. It is both extravagant and quirky, and a wonderful time capsule of Edwardian life on the island.

For more on Rum visit our destination page.

Search for the name, locality, period or a feature of a locality. You'll then be taken to a map showing results.

Kinloch Castle

Isle of rum scotland, highland, introduction.

The Castle is elevated above surrounding lawns. All the lawns have been fenced and are now grassland, managed for pasture and hay. Kinloch River runs to the north of the Castle, issuing into Loch Scresort to the north of the beech wood. To the south the pleasure grounds consisted of a Japanese Garden laid out along both banks of Allt Slugan a' Choilich, known locally as Rockery Burn. The South Lawn was retained above the burn by a castellated wall, which survives in part, and a raised, paved bandstand was set on the south bank.

http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/hes/web/f?p=PORTAL:DESIGNATIONS:0

Type of Site

Castle and policies 1897-1912, incorporating earlier plantations. Garden remnants contemporary with, and complementing the Castle. The designed landscape is an integral component of Kinloch's architectural and cultural composition.

Location and Setting

Kinloch Castle lies 30km (19 miles) west of Mallaig, overlooking Loch Scresort on Rum's east coast.

The Castle stands on the low coastal strip of land at the eastern end of Kinloch Glen, just south of the point at which the Kinloch River issues into Loch Scresort. To the north, the land rises steeply to Mullach Mòr (304m) and to the south to Hallival (591m). There are spectacular views from the Castle eastwards to the mainland and Skye. The landscape of Rum is mountainous with high, craggy peaks and sawtooth ridges. This distinctive skyline forms an important backdrop to the sea-views of Kinloch Castle.

The extent of the designed landscape of c 100ha (250 acres) is that established by the late 19th century, and includes Bullough's plantations.

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

Kinloch Castle, designed by Leeming & Leeming, was built 1897-1906. It is a rectangular castellated two-storey mansion, 150ft in length built around an inner court. The east facing entrance front, has an off-centre crenellated square tower, porch with corner corbelled stair turret. An arcaded, glazed-roof, veranda, masked by a crenellated parapet, enclosed the three principal elevations. A domed conservatory was set at the south end of the Castle, linking the drawing room to a terrace.

Garden Gazebo, built after 1900, is a Scots Baronial, octagonal, harled-concrete gazebo with a corbelled bartizan at each corner.

Bridge over the Slugan Burn, built c 1900, is single-arched built of reddish concrete faced with bull- faced ashlar. A slightly projecting crenellated parapet leads to square ball finialed terminals.

The Home Farm lies north of the Castle. Ivy Cottage, north-east of the Castle, is pre-1890. At its core is the oldest still-occupied cottage on Rum, described in 1883 by Edwin Waugh. The White House, pre-1890, is now the SNH Reserve Manager's house and office.

Drives and Approaches

Before 1897, access to Kinloch House led along the shore, from the quay at Port Clach an t-Sagairt. Directly south of Kinloch it formed a straight approach road, against the shore. This approach to Kinloch Castle was the final stage in a voyage on the Bullough's private yacht the Rhouma. It was thereby laid out to be impressive, an 800-metre drive was laid out to the west of the shore road, linking the Pier and the White House along the way, with the Castle. It was lined by a sycamore avenue and furnished with massive timber gates, crossing Allt Slugan a' Choilich by the Slugan Bridge (Castle Bridge). The pre-existing shore road was retained.

The policy woodlands surround the Castle to south and west. Apart from the surviving beech woodland associated with Kinloch House, the initial establishment of the policy woodlands dates to John Bullough's work in 1888-91, when some 28ha of 120 species were planted. The land was tile-drained and protected by deer fencing. This has resulted in mature woodlands with a single age structure.

From 1901-6 the policy woodlands were augmented to complement the Castle's setting. Deciduous plantings frame the Castle and the approach from the pier. Substantial mixed shelterbelts, predominantly of Austrian pine and Norwegian spruce, and outlying plantations on the loch shore were all situated to frame views of the Castle.

There has been little active 20th century woodland management, with the result that Rhododendron has now colonised widely. Many of the more ornamental species included in the original planting have been lost through windblow and the changes in ground conditions. Recent fencing of the plantations to exclude stock is aimed to allow natural regeneration and restocking. Species include Scots pine, sycamore, birch and European larch.

The Gardens

The Castle is elevated above surrounding lawns. All the lawns have been fenced and are now grassland, managed for pasture and hay.

East of the Castle, a castellated retaining wall divides the shore from the formal terraced East Lawn, set against the main elevation of the Castle. There are fine sea views across Loch Scresort. The Gazebo acts as a water gate, giving access from the East Lawn onto a formal sea-walk raised above the beach. The sea-walk incorporates the earlier drive to Kinloch House, but also serves as a route screened from the Castle itself.

The East Lawn, now sheltered to the north and south by woodland planting, was divided into two compartments (1900). After 1903, the northernmost compartment was laid out as Lady Monica's Garden. Elaborate wrought iron gates, incorporating a MB monogram (Lady Monica Bullough 1869-1967), lead in from the East Lawn. It now contains a play area. This is also the site of Kinloch House gardens, demolished by Bullough after 1877 (OS, 1877 6"; OS, 1898 6"). The square, rubble gate piers to Kinloch House survive. Alongside are the remains of ornamental stone seats from Lady Monica's Garden. Nearby, an overgrown terrace leads to a lawn, both surviving from the Kinloch House layout. The beech woodland to the north of the East Lawn was planted as a shelter for Kinloch House.

Kinloch River runs to the north of the Castle, issuing into Loch Scresort to the north of the beech wood. It forms the northern boundary of the Pleasure Grounds. On the North Lawn are the remains of two shrub beds and a Japanese stone garden lantern, perhaps relocated from elsewhere in the gardens. The northernmost compartment is now rough grazing. In the early 20th century, it was set out with walks leading to the Palm Houses.

To the south the pleasure grounds consisted of a Japanese Garden laid out along both banks of Allt Slugan a' Choilich, known locally as Rockery Burn. The South Lawn was retained above the burn by a castellated wall, which survives in part, and a raised, paved bandstand was set on the south bank. A Japanese bridge within the garden, has been re-erected to mirror the original. Photographs survive showing the elaborate planting, of which little survives. Originally the Conservatory looked out over this area.

West of the Castle was the service entrance, service ranges and staff quarters. A raised earthwork bank, set with rockwork runs north-south across the area, but is now overgrown. To the west lies the Walled Garden, now used for grazing and storage. To its north lies the site of the ornamental glasshouses. All that remains are the sunken tanks, hot water pipes and foundations of the buildings in impenetrable undergrowth.

Reason for Inclusion

Although now abandoned as a garden, the site represents an important aspect of the history of the island of Rum. Described as a 'monument to colossal wealth, ego and acquisitive greed' It perpetuates only the memory of the worst kind of island lairds'' (Davis, 2002).

Main Phases of Landscape Development

Site History

Until the 18th century, evidence points to Rum's sparse population. A report on the Hebrides in c 1580 for King James VI noted only two townships on Rum. The island was described as 'an ile of small profit' the hills and waist glennis are commodious only for the hunting of deir'. Franciscan missionaries visiting in 1625 considered it 'so wild and mountainous as to make habitation difficult'. During the 18th century however, the population rose steeply, reaching a maximum of 443 in 1795 (Old Statistical Account, 1796).

The owner of Rum, Alexander Maclean, 14th of Coll, bought Muck in 1814 for £9,975 with the intention of exploiting its kelp in the production of soda ash for explosives. Due to the Napoleonic Wars, this trade was buoyant; however with the onset of peace in 1815, demand fell, the trade collapsed. Maclean, or his son Hugh, in an attempt to settle their financial difficulties, leased Rum as a sheep-walk to a kinsman, Dr Lachlan Maclean. As a single tenancy, the whole acreage of arable and grazing on Rum was needed to maximise the stocking rate. By 1828, Maclean had cleared all islanders from the land and transported them to Nova Scotia, save for one family left at Carn an Dobrhan, on the south shore of Loch Scresort. Maclean's clearances left him without manpower or shepherds, so islanders cleared from Mull and Skye were settled on Rum. By 1831, the population was 134.

Maclean built Kinloch House, known as Tigh Mor, and described as a 'plain, strongly-built stone house, with a steep roof, and with a porch, and with a small wing at each end' The rear and ends of the house are shaded by trees, and the lawns in front slope gently down to the shore of the bay. The south side of the lawn is flanked by the garden, and the north side partly by trees' (Waugh, 1883 quoted in Magnusson, 1997, p.21). Part of this sycamore plantation still survives to the north-east of Kinloch Castle, near the site of Kinloch House.

Following the collapse of the sheep enterprise and the 1836 famine, Maclean left Rum. Then in 1845, Hugh Maclean of Coll sold Rum to James Gascoyne-Cecil, 2nd Marquis of Salisbury (1791-1868) for £26,455. A High Tory, with a traditional outlook based on rank and privilege, he was nevertheless interested in innovation where his estates were concerned. He recorded his achievements as landlord, builder and agriculturalist, signing the end of each record 'All done by me!' (Cecil, 1973, pp.197-8). He embarked upon an extensive scheme to transform Rum into a typical Victorian estate. It was stocked by 5,000 sheep organised into nine hirsels around the island, each supervised by a shepherd. New cottages and a stone pier at Kinloch, were built. Roads were made to Kilmory and Harris. A quarry was opened and large tracts of land were drained in an attempt at reclamation. Salisbury restocked the island with deer (extinct on Rum by the late 18th century) and introduced other game. An ambitious scheme which failed, attempted to transform the Kinloch River into a first class salmon and sea trout river.

In 1850, Salisbury conveyed Rum to his eldest son, Viscount Cranborne (1821-65). When he died in 1865, the 3rd Marquis of Salisbury inherited it. In 1870, he sold it to Farquhar Campbell of Aros, who probably built Tigh Ban, or 'The White House' as a shooting lodge for visitor accommodation during the season. From 1879 the shooting was let, at £800 per annum, to John Bullough (1838-91), a wealthy Lancastrian industrialist. Bullough, educated at Queenwood College, Hampshire, an Owenite school, and at Glasgow University, had inherited his father's position in Howard's & Bullough. Under him, their Globe Works at Accrington became the most innovative and productive textile machine producers worldwide. Having purchased Meggernie Castle, Glen Lyon (q.v. Inventory, Volume 4, pp.205-8) in 1884, Bullough purchased Rum in 1888 for £35,000 from James Hunter Campbell, cousin of Farquhar Campbell. Bullough aimed to establish the whole island as a deer forest for sport and game. Thus he increased the sporting provision on Rum, improving the stock of red deer by importing new stock, introducing and breeding game birds, building new shooting lodges and establishing large-scale plantations around Loch Scresort, with 80,000 trees. He purchased the Mystery, a 43-ton, 55 ft sailing yacht used for journeying to his private island.

Bullough died in 1891, leaving Rum to his son George. His first building work on Rum was a mausoleum at Harris for his father. His major work was Kinloch Castle, designed by the London architects Leeming & Leeming. No expense was spared in the design, construction or furnishing of the modern Castle, which commenced in 1897. It is said that his instruction was that the new mansion should be as long as his yacht, the Rhouma (a phonetical version of a Gaelic pronounciation for Rum), which seems to have some foundation in fact (Davis, 2002).

Three hundred workmen from Eigg and Lancashire laboured to build the castle of pink Annan sandstone. The interior and furnishings were fitted out in a lavish Edwardian manner, mostly by James Shoolbred and Co. of London. It included the latest modern conveniences and comforts, including electricity (reportedly the second house in Scotland to have electricity), steam central heating, an internal telephone system and innovative plumbing systems.

Work on the gardens started in 1903 but the main phase of their construction was between 1905-12. By 1910-2 photographs show woodland, trees, lawns, hedges and herbaceous borders established, with the recently constructed Water Garden to the west of the Castle. A quarter of a million tons of best Ayrshire top soil was imported to improve the naturally marshy site and provide depth for the establishment of gardens, lawns, a bowling green and a nine-hole golf course, as well as avenues, roads and paths. A walled garden was built behind the Castle on the site of an earlier Walled Garden (1877, OS). On its north wall was a range of south-facing 14-sectioned hot houses for fruit manufactured by R. Halliday & Co. of Manchester. The north-facing side of the wall had a series of six domed houses (including a Palm House, Camellia House and fernery), a boiler house, a series of six potting sheds, mushroom sheds and workshops. A squad of twelve full-time gardeners was employed, with a head gardener who had worked at Alton Towers, Staffordshire. There is no indication of a garden or landscape designer for the landscape. The general layout was probably provided by Leeming & Leeming, and the gardens developed by the Head Gardener in consultation with Bullough himself. A series of Rum landscapes painted by Byron Cooper (1850-1933) were commissioned 1901-2, for display in the Castle.

Following Sir George Bullough's marriage, to Monica Charrington in 1903, there were further building works and many of the garden improvements, including the conservatory and Japanese garden may date to this period.

Kinloch Castle was used as a shooting lodge for two or three months of the year, its uses centred on fishing, stalking and lavish hospitality. Bullough purchased a luxurious twin-decked schooner-rigged 221 ft steam yacht, the Maria, renamed the Rhouma. This was supplemented by the Morn, which acted as a tender in Loch Scresort. By 1900 Rum's population numbered 100.

Following the First World War the family's visits to Rum gradually grew rarer and Kinloch Castle's gradual decline began. Of the 40 able-bodied men on Bullough's staff, only two returned to the island after the war. In 1916, Bullough received a baronetcy in reward for a £50,000 loan to the Government at no interest. Sir George Bullough died in 1939 and the estate passed into the hands of Trustees. By 1951, the population had decreased to 28. Finally, in 1957, the Bullough Trustees sold Rum (excluding the mausoleum) to the Nature Conservancy for £23,000. The island was designated a National Nature Reserve and has since been managed by government conservation agencies ' the Nature Conservancy (1957-73), the Nature Conservancy Council (1973-91), the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland (1991-92) and thereafter Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

20th Century (1901 to 1932)

• Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)

Designations

Historic environment scotland an inventory of gardens and designed landscapes in scotland.

• Castle (featured building)
• Description: Kinloch Castle, designed by Leeming & Leeming, was built 1897-1906. It is a rectangular castellated two-storey mansion, 150ft in length built around an inner court.
• Earliest Date: 01 Jan 1897
• Latest Date: 01 Jan 1906

Principal Building

Domestic / Residential

Part: standing remains

Open to the public

Contributors.

Historic Scotland

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Kinloch Castle, Rum (NatureScot)

• Venue information

Open to the public

Historic house or home in Highland

53 artworks

Isle of Rum, Highland PH43 4RR Scotland

[email protected]

01687 462037

Kinloch Castle is open to the public between early April and late October with daily guided tours. For further information please visit www.isleofrum.com. If you wish to arrange a group visit, contact NatureScot on 01687 462037 or email [email protected].

Sophia Sheppard

Venues in Highland