Isle of Rùm
It’s a blustery day, with showers and sunshine – but nothing is going to stop our visit to Kinloch Castle. The building work was finished in 1900, a ‘wee’ hunting lodge for the Bullough family.
James Bullough improved the looms in the cotton weaving industry in Lancashire, his son John made the money and his son in turn, George, spent the money – on ventures like this Edwardian house. He came here on holiday with his wife Monica, a society beauty. They were well known for keeping unwanted visitors off the island, only inviting aristocracy and entertainers.
The house is almost too luxurious, with air conditioning in the dining room, electricity throughout (first private home in Scotland), beautiful furniture, and a bathroom with a shower with multiple settings as well as an orchestrion. One of three in existence, this is the only one in working order – with the help of a sewing machine motor. This wonderful contraption is essentially an organ, driven by an electric motor that plays perforated card rolls.
In the 50s the island was sold to Scottish Natural Heritage, a government run environmental body. This means that the island is well looked after. However, the castle urgently needs restoration work and there are problems with the funding. Hopefully this can be resolved in the near future, as this is a unique house.
After lunch Mike, one of the National Park wardens, gave us a power point talk on the nature of the island, with 1/3 of the world’s Manx shearwaters nesting here, as well as populations of Rùm ponies, feral goats and red deer.
After a sunny nature walk in the afternoon we set off for Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Fortunately the wind had abated and we had a good sail.
After dinner Konia gave a talk on Highland Life and Clothing, enlightening us on tartans and what exactly is worn – or not, under the kilt…
With many lasting impressions from an interesting day, we headed off to our beds.
It’s a blustery day, with showers and sunshine – but nothing is going to stop our visit to Kinloch Castle. The building work was finished in 1900, a ‘wee’ hunting lodge for the Bullough family.
James Bullough improved the looms in the cotton weaving industry in Lancashire, his son John made the money and his son in turn, George, spent the money – on ventures like this Edwardian house. He came here on holiday with his wife Monica, a society beauty. They were well known for keeping unwanted visitors off the island, only inviting aristocracy and entertainers.
The house is almost too luxurious, with air conditioning in the dining room, electricity throughout (first private home in Scotland), beautiful furniture, and a bathroom with a shower with multiple settings as well as an orchestrion. One of three in existence, this is the only one in working order – with the help of a sewing machine motor. This wonderful contraption is essentially an organ, driven by an electric motor that plays perforated card rolls.
In the 50s the island was sold to Scottish Natural Heritage, a government run environmental body. This means that the island is well looked after. However, the castle urgently needs restoration work and there are problems with the funding. Hopefully this can be resolved in the near future, as this is a unique house.
After lunch Mike, one of the National Park wardens, gave us a power point talk on the nature of the island, with 1/3 of the world’s Manx shearwaters nesting here, as well as populations of Rùm ponies, feral goats and red deer.
After a sunny nature walk in the afternoon we set off for Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Fortunately the wind had abated and we had a good sail.
After dinner Konia gave a talk on Highland Life and Clothing, enlightening us on tartans and what exactly is worn – or not, under the kilt…
With many lasting impressions from an interesting day, we headed off to our beds.
