Eilean Aigas estate sold after £12m price cut

A RECLUSIVE billionaire has finally sold his private estate - after knocking £12 million off the guide price.

The stunning mansion on the Eilean Aigas estate. Picture: SWNS

Canadian telecoms tycoon Brendan Clouston put his stunning mansion and 546-acre Eilean Aigas island estate in the Scottish Highlands on the market in 2012 with an asking price of £15million.

It came a year after he tried to block the forced sale of part of his land to make way for a controversial power scheme.

But after almost three years on the market, the property on the River Beauly was entered into a Savills’ auction scheduled to be held on Monday.

The price of the Scottish Highlands estate was cut by £12 million. Picture: SWNS

It had a guide price of “in excess of £3 million”.

However, the 28,800 sq/ft mansion was sold prior to the auction, with the deal concluded on Thursday.

A member of staff at Savills confirmed the sale but due to client confidentiality would not confirm the price paid or the new buyer’s identity.

Despite the price slash, it is still thought to be among the biggest, if not the biggest deal of the year in Scotland.

Prior to the sale, Evelyn Channing of Savills, described Eilean Aigas as “an extraordinary house”, adding it was “very imposing and grand but hidden and private at the same time”.

The four-storey mansion house was built in 2006 on a high bank above a river on the eastern side of the island and is modelled on the original hunting lodge.

The island features the mansion, a gate house and hunting lodge, which are surrounded by mature woodland and parkland.

Logs for open fires are brought in via service lifts to individual rooms with back stairs allowing staff and guests to move around without imposing on the principal reception rooms.

In the selling notes from Savills it said the design “creates a peaceful ambience and tranquillity in harmony with the surroundings”.

Energy giant SSE had previously applied for a compulsory purchase order for Mr Clouston land, which lies in a narrow strip between Eskadale and Hughton.

The businessman, who is a friend of Bill Gates, helped finance the local campaign group Pylon Pressure and gave evidence at the public inquiry into SSE’s plans.

In 2012, a spokesman for Mr Clouston confirmed the new power line had contributed to his decision to sell the island estate.

He has now relocated to the Channel Islands.