A “haunted” castle is back on the market with £1.5 million slashed off the price - after the owner's clash with the council.
The Sutherland hilltop mansion known as Carbisdale Castle, situated near Ardgay, Scotland, is now being offered at £3.5m - £1.5m less than its previous asking price.
The property is on sale amid an ongoing dispute between its owner and local community council members.
The castle and grounds, which cover 29 acres, is being marketed by Strutt & Parker as "one of the Highlands' most iconic castles, occupying the most prominent position of any building in Scotland".
The listing follows owner Samantha Kane's decision to pull the plug on a proposed transfer of the castle to a community interest company.
Ms Kane, 65, had reversed a decision to hand over the property, claiming she was being targeted by alleged discrimination.
The 65-year-old, who refers to herself as Lady Carbisdale, had originally purchased the castle in 2022 for £1.2m and has since undertaken "vast" restoration work to key parts of the property. The selling agents say improvements had been made "to suit 21st-century living and the potential development of a spa and swimming pool."
Ms Kane said the “big loser is the community” from the decision, but claimed the hatred and discrimination she had received was “too much”.
Ardgay and District Community Council, of which Ms Kane is a member, has called an extraordinary general meeting to dissolve the council, citing concerns about the castle owner's conduct at meetings.
Carbisdale Castle was bought by a London investment firm in 2016 from the Scottish Youth Hostel Association who had owned the site since 1945 - where it was once dubbed “Britain's poshest Youth Hostel”. The castle's ghost is well-known among people who stayed there while it was a youth hostel with one of the top-floor bedrooms dubbed the “spook room”.
Betty is said to appear dressed in white in various parts of the 41,000sqft property.
5. An aerial drone view of the castle
The castle sits close to the North Coast 500 driving route with the pile offering potential opportunity for a commercial development, estate agents said. | Strutt & Parker Photo: Strutt & Parker
6. The castle's waterside setting
The castle has planning permission for a wellness spa which is due to be finished before the new owner takes the keys to Carbisdale. | Strutt & Parker Photo: Strutt & Parker
7. Carbisdale's clocktower
The clocktower at Carbisdale has only three faces, with the one overlooking the Duchess's family estate left blank as she didn't want "to give them the time of day". | Strutt & Parker
8. The imposing mansion house
The imposing large mansion house built in the Scottish baronial style overlooks the inner Kyle of Sutherland with outstanding views in all directions. | Strutt&Parker