Armadale, Isle of Skye, Scotland – 15 January 2026

Armadale Estate Ltd, in partnership with the Clan Donald Lands Trust (CDLT), is pleased to announce the purchase of both Armadale Castle Estate and South Sleat Estate on the Sleat Peninsula. The acquisition preserves the wider estate, including Armadale Castle and the Gardens, while supporting CDLT’s planned transition of the Museum of the Isles to a new location in due course.

As part of the agreed arrangements, CDLT will continue to occupy the current museum building for a sufficient period to ensure an orderly relocation. The Hutchison family and CDLT will work together to keep the museum open to visitors throughout 2026 at least, with CDLT retaining full responsibility for the collections and for planning the future move.

As proud members of Clan Donald, the Hutchison family recognises the estate’s unique cultural significance and intends to hold it for generations to come, safeguarding its importance to the wider clan and its value to the Isle of Skye.

The family will maintain the historic lands as an integrated whole, honouring the estate’s history, cultural traditions, and garden memorials, including commemorative trees. They look forward to engaging constructively with the Sleat community and acknowledging the interests of Clan Donald members, while supporting local employment and addressing concerns with care. A managed transition, undertaken with CDLT, will help ensure continuity and minimise disruption.

Armadale Estate Ltd will take an active role in estate operations, drawing on experience in real estate, forestry, tourism, and green energy. Following completion of the transaction, the family will develop plans for capital improvements and sustainable initiatives that enhance the estate while offering visitors an authentic experience of the Sleat Peninsula.

Through long-term, generational stewardship, the Hutchison family aims to support the estate’s crofting and agricultural activities while protecting the gardens and wider natural environment, helping to preserve the estate as an important landscape and to secure its future for generations to come.

About the Hutchison Family

The Hutchison Family Office manages a diverse portfolio of investments and holdings around the world. At the core of its activities is a commitment to heritage preservation, environmental stewardship, and partnership with local communities. As proud members of Clan Donald, the family views this acquisition as both a profound honour and a long-term responsibility to help protect and celebrate the estate’s heritage and cultural legacy.

Comment from Annelise Hutchison:
“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.”

Comment from Ranald Macdonald, Chair of Trustees, CDLT

“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.”

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