A FORMER supermodel and fashion designer has vowed to restore a ruined north-east castle to its former glory – regardless of the cost.
Russian princess Olga Roh, 43, the creative director of her own fashion house and the former face of Versace, is now the Baroness of Inchdrewer.
Inchdrewer Castle, which overlooks Banff, was left to rot after being made barely weathertight more than a decade ago.
Now, Mrs Roh and her husband Stephan, a lawyer and economist from Switzerland, hope to turn the castle into a grand family home.
And she declared: “I have no intentions of turning it into Disneyland in Banff.”
Speaking to the Press and Journal, Mrs Roh said: “Living in the crazy world of fashion, it can be difficult to find somewhere to call home. My children feel most at home on a plane sometimes.
“We have stayed in Monaco, Switzerland, London and various other places but it’s difficult to disconnect in these places. I love the idea of coming to Scotland from the madness of Fashion Week to the peace and tranquillity of our castle. It still feels strange for me to say that, as I have only seen photographs so far. This will be my first visit.
“As a designer, I am very tactile and believe in the power of touch so I think the first thing I will do is to feel the old walls of the building.”
Mrs Roh is the descendant of Russian aristocrats who lost their palace in Moscow during the 1917 Russian Revolution.
She appeared in the TV show Meet The Russians last year.
As well as making a home of Inchdrewer, Mrs Roh hopes her family can become a part of the community in the north-east.
She said: “My whole family has a deep love for Scotland.
“I think if you asked many Russians in London that you see on TV about Scotland, most of them wouldn’t have a clue.
“But I come from a much more traditional Russian family and know about history and the links between our two countries over the centuries.
“Barclay de Tolly, for example, was one of the greatest generals in our military history, but his roots lie so close to Inchdrewer.
“I really hope that the people of Banff will welcome us and not just see us as some crazy outsiders and oddballs who try to fit in.”
The castle was sold last year with an asking price of around £400,000, but the Rohs are under no illusions about the amount of work the building needs.
Mr Roh said: “The castle is just a shell and will need a lot of structure surveys and work to establish what we can do.
“The main building does not have much room but the outbuildings have all collapsed, so we may need to look at extending.”
His wife added: “Many people, when they restore a historic building, try to make it modern.
“I want it to be traditional and back to its former glory – similar to what Donald Trump has done with MacLeod House.”
It is believed the castle dates back to the 1550s and was bought by Sir Walter Ogilvie of Dunlugas – or his son, Sir George – in 1557 from the Curror family.
A successor, Lord Banff, took up residence in 1642 and lived there until he died in a blaze at the castle in 1713.
In 1746, the Duke of Cumberland ordered an attack on the fortress during the hunt for Bonnie Prince Charlie. It is understood the building was also visited by King Edward VII.
Inchdrewer was abandoned at the turn of the 20th century and was bought by Count Robin Mirrlees in 1963.
Mirrlees helped Ian Fleming research his novel On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In the book, Bond’s cover as a genealogist was based on the count.
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