Skibo Castle

· : ~~t €fotaJt o( , 'j, . • • • r " I II ,, .. " ~ / ---- KEy =;;;:--; b ;-· SKIBO PLAN SHEW/NO ACCOMMODAT/0 ----OF---- PRINCIPAL FLOORS. 8~oRoo11 . 18 'XI6 ' PLAN Or FIRST FLOOR. PLAN Or GROUND FLOOR. ..,PLAN SHEWING ACCOMMODATION -----OF----.;... HOME FARM STEAD/NO. CART AND fl'fPLE/tiENT SHEDS • tz6'x"' JotH~'sSHco. TooLHo: SLAtxilfTrA TvlfNIP&PvLPER Ho: CART 5H£.DS. /fOV$£. SAWHILL SS'JC/6'· COVERED COURT. CoY£R£o CovRr. • • • • • • .$&'X + I ;,e· x .,., ~ UROUND FLOOR . SUTHERLANDSHIRE. i·llEnm T--- ~ SKIBO~ - --+--• I-I IS magnificent and exceptionally attractive R ESIDENTIAL and SPoRTING T P ROPERTY is situated on the N orth Shore of the D ornoch Firth and I...:. yle of Sutherland. It includes the picture.quc and thriving Village of Bonar Uridgc, from which it extends a distance of nearly 14 miles to within a mi le and a half of the County Town· of Dornoch. The Estate is bounded for the most part by the L ands of the D uKE OF S uT HERLAND, but, as will be seen from the Plan annexed, the E states of Ospisdale, belonging to Mr. GILCHRIST, and of Balblair, the Property of Mrs. SvoNEY H ADWEN, march along a portion of its boundary. I t may be doubted whether any E state in the Highlands can ri val S kibo in extent and vari ety of attractions. The beauty of its situation thc salubrity of its climate- the combinati on of Highland Sport wi th Low Country and ·wild-Fowl Shooting-the River and the L och Fishing-with the magnificent modern R esidence on the site of the· ancient seat of the Bishops of R oss-all contribute to the residential value and interest of a n E sta te. which, with nearly 2o,ooo Acres and ever 200 T enants, possesses substantial attractions beyond those of sport and pleasure. THE ESTATE Extends to about 19,448 Acres, of which 2862 Acres are good Arable L and, 12,819 Acres M oor and Pasture, 3240 Acres under W ood , and 527 Acres consist of L ochs, R oads, Sites of H ouses, Gardens, & c. The M easurements arc taken from the Ordnance Survey revised to a recent date. 8 ~artfculars of tbe SKIBO CASTLE Is within 10 miles of Bonar Bridge Station, on the Highland Rai lway, and 4 miles from Dornoch, where there are Churches, D octors, T elegraph and Post Office, also first-rate Golfing Links. Bonar Bridge is reached in two . hours from Inverness. On the Property, about 3 miles from the Castle, is the North Pier of the " M eikle Ferry," the south side of which is about 4 miles from the Town of T a in . where there is a Railway Station. This route SKIUO CAS1'LE ! f'ao~o~ T Vtaw) is often found convenient, the journey from Inverness to Tain taking one hour and a half, and from T ain to the Ferry, and thence to Skibo, about one hour. Letters are deli vered daily by a Post Runner. A t N ewton Poi nt, 21{ miles from the Castle there is safe anchorag<.: for Yachts; and Coals and other supplies may be landed there at very cheap rates. The R oad from Bonar Bridge to Skibo C astle passes along the face of the richly wooded hills immediately above the Firth through a L and scape of rare beauty and variety. On leaving Bonar Bridge the road goes through cultivated land which slopes towards the Kyle of Sutherland, :£state of $kibo. 9 then for a considera ble distance a F orest of fine Scots Fir and Larch is traversed until the Duke of Sutherland's Estate of Creich is reached, through which the road passes for fully a mile. It then intersects the fl ourishing plantation of Ledmore, just before leaving which will be observed a large Oak. said to be the finest in the N orth of Scotland. Immediately after wards, the picturesque and beautifully wooded Valley of Spinningdale is reached, on the west side of which the bold scarp of Migdale R ock, rising to a height of 700 feet, is a very striking feature. and. with the numerous well kept small Holdings, adds much to the Highland character of the scene. On leaving Spinningdale the road goes through a F orcst of old Firs, it then ;...(. BONAR BRIDGE VILLAGE (FitOW hn'UCHAIIIIOII). passes between the Farms of Acharry and F lode, and afterwards intersects the Estate of O spisdale for about three-quarters of a mile. The fine Farm of Pulrossie is seen in the distance, and the F arm of Overskibo is next intersected until the North Entrance Gate to the Policies is reached. THE CASTLE, which was almost entirely rebuilt about ten years ago, is beautifully situated on a prominent site overlooking D ornoch F irth. It stands on a natural platform, the south and west slopes of which are formed into terraces, and is approached from the north and east by stately Avenues 10 ~articulars of tbc of magnificent old Forest Trees, which arch over the Roadways. Each approach has a neat Lodge and Gateway. The Policies are of great natural beauty and are richly wooded with fine old Sycamore, Lime, and other Trees. The Castle, L awns, vValks, and Drives through the Park are well sheltered. The windows overlook the Garden Terraces and the beautifully wooded Park, and command magnificent views across the Dornoch Firth to the · mountains of Ross-shire. The Castle is built of the beautifu! light-coloured Freestone of the district ; and the workmanship throughout is of the best and most substantial description. The internal arrangements are well planned, and arc specially adapted for a large establishment. A Porch and large Vestibule g ive access from the front to the magnificent Great H all, around which the R eception Rooms arc conveniently grouped, and a Grand Staircase, constructed of massive Carved O ak, leads to the Drawing-Room and other Rooms on the First Floor. The walls of the Great Hall and Vestibule are panelled with Oak, of handsome design, and the Floors of these and the Reception Rooms are laid with polished Pitch Pine, the Doors being of Spanish Mahogany. There are two Fireplaces, with high carved tone Chimney-Pieces, in the Great H all, which is used as a Lounge or Sitting-Room. The principal Bedrooms are reached by convenient passages from the head of the Grand Staircase, while there is a Suite of Family Apartments, including a large Children's Playroom, on the Ground Floor, secluded from the R eception Rooms, and communicating by a separate Staircase with the Schoolroom and Children's Rooms above. The Bedrooms are all well lighted, lofty and spacious, and withi n easy reach of Bath-Rooms, &c. The Kitchen is large and commodious, and the service arrangements in connection with the Dining-Room are excellent. Generally, the structural finish of the Castle is of a high class, and it is replete with every modern convenience. There is H ot a nd Cold Water on every Floor, and all the sanitary arrangements an.: in perfect order. The Castle contains the following accommodation :- Basement-\Vine Cellars, Lamp-Room, Shoe Halls, Lumber Room, Beer Cellar, Box-Room, W.C., Coal and Wood Houses. c;rotmd Floor-Vestibule, 22! feet by 14 feet; Great Hall, 45 fee t by 24 feet; Dining-Room, 30 feet by 20 feet; Billiard-Room, 24 feet by 19 feet; Library, 25 feet by 17 feet; Morning Room, 17 feet by 13 feet ; Family :Estate of Sltibo. I I Bedroom, 18 feet by 17 feet; Dressing-Room, 17 feet by 14 ~ feet; Bathroom, Gun-Room, 17t feet by 17t feet; Play-Room, 28 fee t by 19 feet; Gentle men's Lavatory and Vv. C. , Cloak-Room, Strong Room, Kitchen, Scullery, Larder, Cook's Pantry, Butler's Pantry, Store-Room, Housemaid's Closet, Linen Closet, Drying-Closet, Housekeeper's Room, Servants' Hall, Butler's Bedroom, Footman's Bed room, Gentlemen's W.C., and two Servants' W .C.'s. First Floor- Drawing-Room, 40 feet by 17 feet, Schoolroom, Governess's Room, fourteen Bedrooms, or ten Bedrooms and four Dressing Rooms, two Bath rooms, two W.C.'s, two Housemaids' Closets, Linen Closet, three Servants' Bedrooms. .)econd Floor-Four Bedrooms, or two Bedrooms a nd two Dressing Rooms, Bath room, 'vV.C., and Housemaids' Closet. Tltird Floor or T01ver-Two Bedrooms. Detacltcd-\A/ash-House, Laundry, Coal-House, Larder, and other Offices. In addition to the Grand Staircase there is a General Staircase besides the Turret Stair, which leads to the First, Second. and Third F loors, and to a View Platform on the Roof. The position and dimensions of the Rooms on the Principal Floors wi ll be seen on the prefixed Plans. THE GARDENS Extend to about 3 ?{ Acres, have a southern exposure, are well sheltered, early, and productive. The GLAss-HousEs consist of two Vineries, Peach-House, Orchard H ouse, Stove-House, Melon-H ouse, and Green-House. The Grapes and Peaches grown are famous for their fin e quality. There is an exceptionally good H ouse for the Gardener, with Bothy attached for his Assistants. The STABLES and HOME FARM OFFICES have been recently built and are conveniently situated and substantial. The Stables comprise- Six-stalled Stable, two Loose Boxes, Four-stalled Strangers' S table, Coach-House, 46 feet by 18 fed; Harness Room, 18 feet by 14 feet ; Coachman's I louse of fo ur Rooms, Groom's Room: above the Coach-House is a Room used as a Ball-Room, 6o fee t by t8 feet.

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