Millionaire barrister to sell Highland castle for £4m profit after local rows and legal battles

Lady Carbisdale (Samantha Kane).
-Credit: (Image: Peter Jolly.)


A London barrister who wanted to create a playground for the world’s elite at a Highland castle has abandoned her plans.

Samantha Kane bought Carbisdale Castle in Sutherland for £1m in 2022 and claimed she wanted to spend £20m to transform it into a luxury retreat for a select number of wealthy guests.

But just two years after buying the 118-year-old site the self-styled ‘Lady Carbisdale’ has put the castle up for sale - for four times as much as she paid for it.

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It is now listed through Strutt & Parker estate agents with a valuation of £5million.

Carbisdale Castle
Carbisdale Castle

Although the castle has been restored not all of the bedrooms have been completed and the spa Kane planned to install has yet to materialise.

The property advert states: "The current owner has undertaken a vast restoration of key parts of the castle...The intention of the project was to combine all of the decorative features and grandeur of the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland’s original creation...andthe potential development of a spa and swimming pool as complementary features.

"The current position is that significant work has been carriedout, and the castle will be offered with the remaining few bedrooms finished, together with the Wellness Suite to be completed by the existing owner, subject to contract with the full purchase price paid."

Kane, who is the only known person in the country to have changed gender three times, has accused locals of being against her because she is transgender.

Locals deny her gender is anything to do with their objections to her plans and have accused her of harassing them. On one occasion the police were called after locals turned down her plans to try and buy land near the castle.

Kane said: "After long and hard thinking, I have come to the conclusion that the best interest of Carbisdale Castle will be served if I remove myself as custodian.

"I have done what I said I would do, namely, restoring the castle to its former glory from being a near-ruin, and preserved its art and history for future generations."

She also said she was missing her cases in London due to the project but wanted to make sure it was bought by “an appropriate custodian, who shares my vision of this most iconic and atmospheric piece of Scottish history."

As revealed by the Sunday Mail, Kane is currently in dispute with a Highland contractor after refusing to pay a bill for the installation of a heating system at the castle.

The case is still going through court.

She has also been accused of trying to silence members of the local community after taking over the Ardgay and District Community council, prompting all other members to resign.

Since buying the historic site in 2022, the 63-year-old Iraq-born lawyer said she wanted to turn it into a playground for the rich, create a replica Hanging Gardens of Babylon, set up a private fire station and rent the former youth hostel out for weddings.

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