Scottish Highland castle with 'chequered' history starts new chapter as holiday home

Duncraig Castle, near Plockton in Wester Ross, sits in a prime position on the banks of Loch Carron, complete with views over the mountains of Applecross and Torridon. The building’s new owners Ian and Kate Beaton have won a fiercely-fought bidding war for the property, which sold after just eight days at a “significant premium” over the £2.85 million asking price.

The couple, who live in the south of England, bought the property to use as a holiday home and have been broadly welcomed by locals given their honest communication about their plans for the castle.

Mr Beaton, who made his fortune in insurance, is said to have talked with locals over a number of issues at the castle. A “series of enhancements” are planned for Duncraig, including the re-routing of the driveway to improve their privacy.

The couple have recently been granted planning permission to alter part of the driveway, which runs to Duncraig Station and was originally built as a private stop for the castle so that guests could be shielded from the west coast weather. Later, the station was passed into public use, with trains now flagged down by passengers using the halt stop.

A section of the drive passes by the large living room and kitchen windows on the ground floor, with it understood that visitor vehicles sometimes parked up directly outside the property.