History

Rùm has been inhabited for over 8,000 years, but its modern history is a story of dramatic upheaval and extravagance. Like so many islands, it was emptied by the Highland Clearances. In 1826, the entire population of over 400 souls was forced to leave for Nova Scotia, replaced by 8,000 sheep in one of the most thorough and ruthless clearances in Scottish history. The island was later sold and transformed into a private sporting estate, a playground for the wealthy.

Its most famous owners were the Bullough family, Lancashire textile magnates who bought the island in 1888. The heir, George Bullough, was a flamboyant character who, in 1897, began construction on Kinloch Castle, a lavish and ostentatious shooting lodge built from red Arran sandstone. He spared no expense, importing hummingbirds, turtles, and alligators for his heated glasshouses and employing an army of staff. The castle was equipped with the latest technology, including its own hydro-electric power supply and a sophisticated internal telephone system. In 1957 the entire island, including the castle and its contents, was sold to the state nature agency. Today, Rùm is managed by NatureScot, with a focus on conservation and community regeneration.