A Scottish heritage charity will change its name after completing the multi-million-pound sale of its 20,000-acre estate on the Isle of Skye, which it says will allow “a renewed focus on its core mission”.
The Clan Donald Land Trust’s (CDLT) sale of the Armadale Castle Estate and South Sleat Estate to the Canadian Hutchinson family, for a reported £9.4m, was confirmed on 15 January.
Following the sale, CDLT will relocate its Museum of the Isles to a new location and rename itself the Clan Donald Heritage Trust.
In a statement, the charity said that it would now develop a “revitalised heritage centre on Skye, expanding the promotion and representation of Clan Donald history through new digital platforms, and strengthening its educational and cultural programmes for global audiences”.
CDLT chair Ranald Macdonald said: “The trust wishes the Hutchison family the very best for the years ahead and looks forward to working with them in a spirit of partnership.
“We see this as the start of a lasting friendship rooted in shared heritage and an enduring legacy, helping to shape a sustainable future for South Sleat and Armadale, and celebrating the Clan Donald story as it continues to inspire for generations to come.”
Annelise Hutchison said: “We are pleased to be working closely with the Clan Donald Lands Trust during this important period of transition.
“It is a privilege to take on the responsibility of caring for these historic estates, and we are committed to ensuring that their heritage, landscape, and community remain at the heart of all future plans.”
Financial difficulties warranted sale, says OSCR
Meanwhile, the Scottish charity regulator has expanded on its reasons for dismissing concerns raised by members of the public last year about the charity’s decision to sell the historic site.
After considering “a number of concerns from the public”, OSCR found last year that CDLT’s trustees had acted “within their powers and taken legal and financial advice prior to placing the charity’s landholdings up for sale”.
It has now published an extended report detailing its reasons for not intervening in the sale, including financial difficulties facing the charity.
According to the document, the CDLT trustees anticipated that they would not be able to continue operations beyond February 2026, after the charity’s main funder Glencoe Foundation confirmed reductions in financial support in January last year.
“In OSCR’s view, the charity trustees’ decision to sell the South Sleat Estate and Armadale Castle was taken following detailed and ongoing consideration of the charity’s long-term financial position, supported by this wide range of information,” the regulator said.
