Cò sinne

Who we are

Armadale Castle and Clan Donald Lands Trust

Once part of the traditional lands of Clan Donald and the former home of the Macdonalds of Sleat, in 1971 these lands came up for sale following the death of Alexander Godfrey Macdonald, 7th Lord Macdonald and High Chief of Clan Donald. 

The Clan Donald Lands Trust charity was founded by Clan Donald community members across the world in order to promote and preserve the history and heritage of Clan Donald, the Lordship of the Isles, and the culture of the western seaboard of Scotland and the Hebrides. 

Clan Donald Lands Trust is a Scottish Registered Charity, Number SC007862. Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles is operated by CDLT Management Services Ltd, Company Registration Number SC117333. 

Download our Deed of Trust and Deed of Trust Amendment on this page to find out more. 

Quality Assurance

The Museum of the Isles is a Museum Galleries Scotland Accredited Museum.  The Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for Museums in the UK. Accreditation requires a rigorous review process which recognises high standards of governance and management, collections care and documentation, and visitor information and services. Find out more about Accreditation. 

We are members of Visit Scotland’s Quality Assurance Scheme are proud to be accredited as a 5 Star Visitor Attraction and 4 Star Accommodation provider. Find out more about Quality Assurance. 

Our Team

The charity is governed by an active and engaged Board of Trustees, who work as volunteers to ensure that the Trust applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable purposes. The Trustees receive no remuneration for their time and commitment to the charity and its purposes. 

Over the years the Trust has benefitted from many Trustees from the Clan diaspora and the Skye and Lochalsh community. The Covid crisis was disastrous for the charity and its principal funders. We are now heavily impacted by exceptional overhead increases, including massive energy, buildings and insurance cost increases, which have severely curtailed future development plans.  

These are challenging times for so many third sector organisations and charities. We know we are one in so many impacted by higher costs, tax burdens and international events outwith our control. We are extremely grateful to all who visit Armadale and contribute to our work. Despite so many challenges, we are resolutely focused on future opportunities and plans to work closer with and do more for our much-loved Clan community. 

Board of Trustees

  • Ranald Macdonald of Boisdale and Younger of Clanranald (Chair of Trustees)
  • Sir Ian Macdonald of Sleat
  • Major (ret'd) Bruce Macdonald
  • Diane Carey-Schmitz
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Diane Carey-Schmitz, Pasadena, USA
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Bruce MacDonald, Charleston, USA
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Ranald MacDonald of Clanranald (Younger), London, UK
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Sir Ian MacDonald of Sleat, Yorkshire, UK

Management Team

  • Alex Stoddart, Chief Executive Officer
  • Stephen Miller, Operations Manager & Head Gardener
  • Linda Spence, Museum & Retail Manager
  • Kath MacLeod, Head of Housekeeping
  • Pirita Rekonen, Marketing & Visitor Services Manager
  • Fiona MacKinnon, Accounts Officer

Our Team

We are proud of our five decades as a fairly major local employer in Skye. Despite the economic challenges we and other charities face, we have sought to enable well-paying and viable year-round jobs. We are so grateful for our staff team’s energy, loyalty and ideas.  

Volunteers

Volunteers work with us in a number of capacities and play a big role in taking Armadale forward. From heritage, culture and garden, find out how you can volunteer at Armadale Castle.
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