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Castles and Historic Buildings of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland

 Castles of Scotland - Carbisdale Castle






Map by mapchart.net - Some rights reserved.


Location
near Culrain, Highland, Scotland

Description
Carbisdale Castle is located on a hill above the Kyle of Sutherland in Ross & Cromarty in the Highlands. The castle was built by the Duchess of Sutherland. In 1945 the Castle was given to the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) and set up as a Youth Hostel.

History
Carbisdale Castle was built between 1905 and 1917 for the Duchess of Sutherland. The Duchess became unpopular with the Sutherlands and got into a legal dispute with the family after the death of her husband. She built this castle overlooking Sutherland land and it became known as "The Castle of Spite" as it was considered that the Duchess located the castle there to spite her husband's family.

Colonel Theodore Salvesen bought the castle in 1933. During World War II, King Haakon VII of Norway and Crown Prince Olav took refuge at the castle during the Nazi occupation of Norway. Theodore's son, Captain Harold Salvesen inherited the castle and gave it to the Scottish Youth Hostels Association. Carbisdale Castle Youth Hostel opened in 1945 and is still used as a Youth Hostel.

Legends
The castle tower only has clocks on three of its four faces, with no clock on the side facing the Sutherland estate, as apparently the Duchess of Sutherland did not wish to give the time of day to her former relatives, following a legal dispute over her husband's will.

The castle is said to have several ghosts including a lady in white, fallen soldiers of the Battle of Carbisdale and the sounds of a piper.


Other Castles in the Area
  Dornoch Castle, Highland
  Mansfield Castle, Highland
  Skelbo Castle, Highland
  Skibo Castle, Highland







Skibo Castle
Carbisdale Castle. Built by the Countess of Sutherland between 1906 and 1917. It has been a Youth Hostel since 1945.

Photograph by Dr E H mackay. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

Skibo Castle
Carbisdale Castle taken from the A836.

Photograph by Roger Gilbertson. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)

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