The new owner of Carbisdale Castle says she fell in love with the historic landmark on first sight and now dreams of restoring it to its former glory.
Samantha Kane describes herself as the Lady of Carbisdale after holding off international competition to purchase the famous property.
She is now starting an ambitious renovation, estimated to cost £8-£10 million.
Her aim? To create a “world class” home.
The barrister likens herself to the Duchess of Sutherland for whom the castle was built.
Plans include opening up part of the building as a museum, organic farming and starting a small distillery selling Carbisdale whisky.
But what brought a City head of chambers and investment expert to the doors of a former youth hostel in Sutherland?
‘Overwhelmed by the building’
Samantha explained: “It’s a lovely landmark. My plan is to preserve the castle to what it was when it was built.
“I’m looking at it as my legacy and to do something for the history of Scotland.
“My plan is to support the local, regional and Scottish economy and to be a useful part of the community.
“I wanted eventually to buy a large house and that idea was brewing in my mind.
“But it’s fair to say purchasing Carbisdale was spontaneous because I became overwhelmed by the building.”
It was previously for sale at £1.5 million, but a deal fell through.
How old is Carbisdale Castle?
Quite young as these things go.
It was built between 1905 and 1917 for Mary Caroline, Duchess of Sutherland, the second wife of George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland.
When the duke died in 1892 there was a row over his will.
An agreement was reached that the duchess could build a castle outwith the Sutherland Estate.
It is said she picked a site as close as physically possible to the estate to spite her husband’s family.
The castle’s tower has clocks on only three of its four faces – the side facing Sutherland is blank – allegedly because the duchess did not wish to ‘give the time of day’ to her late husband’s family.
The new owner says she is fascinated by the duchess and believes she has a lot in common with her.
“She was a liberated woman and ahead of her time and courageous like me in many respects.
“She made a stand and got this castle to spite everybody who wanted to bring her down.
“It actually touched a nerve with my life story because a lot of people tried to discriminate and look down on me, even thinking my life was a joke.
“I found the whole castle of spite story very touching.”
Samantha was born Sam Hashimi, who moved to Britain from Iraq as a student and later made a fortune as investment head of a Saudi-owned company.
He was famous for introducing foreign investment into English football and launching a takeover bid for Sheffield United FC in 1989.
Sam later changed gender and name to Samantha, and is now an international barrister and head of chambers at a London firm.
She is also a football management and investment expert.
Bidding war to buy the castle
Samantha, 62, flew north after reading about the Carbisdale sale and found herself in a bidding war.
“People were turning up in helicopters and offering to pay far more than I was prepared to pay.
“But I stood my ground and wanted to buy the castle because I fell in love with it.
“I made an offer the day I saw it. As soon as I arrived I thought ‘I’m buying this place.”
“I had the willpower to make it happen, like the duchess.
“I’m going to throw everything I have at this castle because I fell in love with it.”
I want to be remembered as the person who brought Carbisdale back to life rather than anything else.”
Samantha Kane
Carbisdale was a youth hostel for more than 60 years. It was then bought in 2016 by a London-based investment firm.
The plan was later put on hold.
What will Samantha do with it?
Samantha is currently in a residential wing while the rest of the castle is restored.
“Making money off the castle, like turning it into a hotel or other commercial use, isn’t an option, that would diminish the dream.
“This is my main residence now. I’m Samantha Kane of Carbisdale Castle now, that’s my address.
“I want to hopefully put everything in the castle back like it was before the hostel conversion. That’s what attracted me.
As soon as I arrived I thought ‘I’m buying this place’.
Samantha Kane
“I plan to work from Carbisdale over the next couple of years before completely retiring to a life in the Highlands.
“I want to be the lady of the castle, have my retirement here and be involved in charities.”
The purchase price is similar to the cost of a townhouse in Kensington and she is prepared to sell off other property interests to finance the refurbishment.
Jobs will be created from the distillery and from opening the castle to the public: “Once the refurbishment is complete, I will start creating jobs I have in mind – there will be a sufficient number to make it a viable project.
“If there are opportunities for work then of course I’d prefer to give these opportunities to neighbours.”
News of the purchase and new owner is still filtering out to the community.
Highland people are welcoming to strangers
“Not a lot of people know yet and I’ve not had a chance to meet many local people. But those I have met have come across as very welcoming.
“I’m happy to do whatever I can to be part of this community.
“I want to be remembered as the person who brought Carbisdale back to life rather than anything else.”
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