Carbisdale Castle hasn’t hosted royalty for decades, but at least one guest refuses to leave. Affectionately known as Betty, the property’s resident ghost — dressed in all white, of course — is said to roam the halls. And now, with plans scrapped to convert Carbisdale into a luxury hotel, this “haunted castle” can be yours for a little over $1 million. The new owner will bear the costs of much-needed repairs — and, should they wish, the services of an exorcist. Isolated in the Scottish Highlands, the 40-bedroom Carbisdale is also known as the Castle of Spite, thanks to the part it played in a feud between the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland and her stepson. (The castle was built using her contested inheritance.) It was sold to a family of Scots-Norwegian shipowners in 1933 and, during World War II, served as a refuge for the Norwegian Royal family.
Operated as a youth hostel for 60 years, Carbisdale is now looking for owners who will return the castle to its past glory as a stately Scottish home. Savills In 1945, the property was left to the Scottish Youth Hostel Association, which ran a youth hostel here until 2011 when the cost of upkeep grew too large. After sitting empty for four years, Carbisdale was finally sold in 2015 for a reported £1.2 million (at the time, $1.7 million); the new owners announced plans to invest more than $9 million to open a luxury hotel. That plan fell apart, and the castle is once again on the market.
Located high in the Scottish highlands, Carbisdale offers 16 acres and 40 bedrooms of potential splendor. Savills According to Savills, who is handling the sale, Carbisdale is believed to be the last castle built in Scotland. It is listed as a “category B” site for being of regional importance. And though the house’s $1.5 million art collection was auctioned off in 2015, several period touches remain, including free-standing white marble Italian statues and fireplaces and “a magnificent Jacobean plaster ceiling.” It sits on 16 acres. “Carbisdale is a magical property, rich in history,” said Savills’ Harry Maitland. “It will either make an incredible trophy home for a buyer from Scotland, or much further afield, who is keen to restore the interior to its former glory.” Some repairs were undertaken by the current owners—the roof and gutters were recently refurbished and several structural supports shored up, for example—but more are needed. Still, Maitland said, Carbisdale has “incredible potential.” The owners will consider offers starting at £900,000, or about $1.28 million. Sadly, Betty is not mentioned in the listing. MORE From Mansion Global:
