Owner’s castle dream put at risk in dispute over access to island

Lex Brown has won a breakthrough in a 14-year wrangle with Historic Scotland to re-roof Castle Tioram in Moidart and turn it into a house and clan museum, it emerged this week.

But the project could now be put in jeopardy as a neighbouring landowner claims Mr Brown has no right of access to the island on which the castle sits. It is a further setback for the project, which dates back to 1997 when Mr Brown bought the castle.

The landmark stands on the tidal island of Eilean Tioram in Loch Moidart in the west Highlands. Mr Brown beat eight other parties, including a community-led group, to buy the building when it was put up for sale for £100,000 by Wiseman Macdonald from California.

But the redevelopment plans were thwarted by Historic Scotland, which wanted the castle preserved as a ruin.

Subsequent proposals and a public inquiry failed to break the deadlock, but the agency recently asked Mr Brown to resubmit his plans, saying a scheme for re-occupation is “the only viable means to achieve the long-term preservation of the castle”.

Now the new access dispute has cut short the celebrations and cast fresh doubts over the scheme.

Mr Brown told The Scotsman: “I will not go ahead with the project without a guaranteed right of access, which I believe I’m entitled to.”

Eilean Tioram, where Loch Shiel and the River Shiel meet, is connected to the mainland by a sand bar and is an island at high tide.

Access to the island is via the Lochshiel Estate, owned by brother and sister Colin Corlett and Suzanne Stevens.

Mr Brown said that in April Mr Corlett requested an annual fee for use of the estate jetty. He later agreed land access to the castle for restoration works, again for a fee, but would not allow access for Mr Brown’s private use.

Mr Brown said: “This was very surprising to me, as he had not made this position clear in the 14 years of my ownership of the property.”

He has since been sent a letter from Mr Corlett’s solicitors saying the estate maintains that the access right died due to lack of use over 20 years.

Mr Brown contests this, arguing he has an affidavit from the previous owners stating the access was used.

He added: “I am extremely surprised and disappointed at their current position, which I regard as proprietorial and arrogant.

“This is the only land access. My intention is to use Tioram as an island, so most of the access will be by boat and we have permission to reinstate a pier on the island.

“But obviously I do require land access because there will be times when it’s too dark or stormy and practically we need to go across by land.

“I have no intention of building a track out to the island because it’s unspoilt. But I have the right of access and want to exercise it with sensible discretion if I feel I have to.

“The title deeds clearly state the track has been used over the last 20 years.

“But frankly I will not go ahead with the project unless I have my right of access guaranteed, as clearly indicated when I bought the place.”

Mr Corlett was not available to comment yesterday.

Castle Tioram was once the ancestral seat of the Lord of the Isles. In 1715 it was torched by the Macdonald clan chief to prevent it falling into enemy hands.