A landmark Highlands castle is set to become a key tourist destination after it was acquired by a US couple who previously restored the famous African Queen for boat trips.
Suzanne and Lance Holmquist, who operate a charter boat business in Florida, have bought Carbisdale Castle, near Culrain in Sutherland, for just under £3.9 million, with plans to transform it into a high-end boutique hotel. The couple were advised on the transaction by the Inverness team at full service independent law firm, Thorntons.
Built between 1905 and 1917 for the Duchess of Sutherland, Carbisdale Castle later served as a youth hostel for more than 60 years and is known locally as the “Castle of Spite,” after the family dispute that led to its construction. Suzanne, who grew up in Glasgow and worked as a television editor before moving to the US, said the castle’s history was part of its appeal.
She said, “I’ve come back and forth to Scotland for years. I never lost my connection to it, and I’ve always been intrigued by castles. We saw a beautiful castle and were already too late; someone had bought it. That’s really what started it for me. I became a little obsessed with finding the right one.”
The couple, who restored the boat made famous in the 1951 Humphrey Bogart film The African Queen and have run the Humphrey Bogart Film Festival, plan to open the castle for short-term lets for up to 19 guests within the next month. Within a year, the Holmquists aim to be operating a boutique hotel of up to 14 rooms, with a further 20 rooms in an unrenovated wing earmarked for future development.
Among Suzanne’s plans is a high tea business run from the castle’s drawing room, inspired by the high teas she and her friends take at the Biltmore in Florida, along with the restoration of an upstairs dining room as a tribute to the Duchess who built the castle.
She said, “The most special thing I would love to do here is a high tea business. There’s an upstairs dining room which I’m going to create as a homage to the Duchess who built this castle.”
The Holmquists describe the venture as a family business. Their two daughters, who are at university in Florida, will help with marketing and social media, while their 11-year-old son will attend a local school. Husband Lance will continue to operate their boating business in Florida, which they are scaling back.
She added, “We are very much a family business. We all muck in together to get the work done.”
Suzanne said the family is keen to build strong ties with the local community, explaining, “We don’t want to be apart from the community. They are just as important to the castle as we are.”
Longer-term plans include a house whisky, potentially entitled Skull Scotch to reflect Lance’s sea-faring career, alongside corporate retreats and whisky and rum-tasting weekends.
Scott Kenyon, senior solicitor at Thorntons, who led the transaction, said, “I worked closely with Suzanne throughout the transaction, speaking to her most days. Alongside completing the purchase, we’ve helped set up their new business, registered it with Companies House, advised on intellectual property, and carried out the due diligence that made the deal possible. We’re continuing to work with Suzanne and her husband to secure the hospitality licences they need to open.”
Paul Adams, partner and head of Thorntons’ Inverness office, said, “This transaction reflects Thorntons’ expertise in the hospitality sector as well as our growth as a full-service firm across the Highlands and Islands, and we were delighted to help deliver such a high-profile deal.
“The change in ownership will benefit the local community significantly. Suzanne’s ambitious plans to open a hotel will support new jobs, and with the couple’s background in Florida’s tourism industry, they have the experience and skills to put Carbisdale Castle on the map. With everything from renowned golf courses to whisky distilleries, Carbisdale is a natural home for visitors seeking the very best of the Highlands.”