A Highland Castle which was the focus of a controversial fly-on-the-wall TV show is being restored to its former glory.
Duncraig Castle, near Plockton, was catapulted into the media spotlight when a television documentary was filmed there.
It followed the fortunes – or otherwise – of the 17 members of the Dobson family from the Midlands, who bought it in 2002.
After several family feuds, only Sam and Perlin Dobson and their two children remained in the 19th century castle, and they put it up for sale in 2009.
It was bought by Suzanne Hazeldine, now 42, as a family home and she lives there with her partner Duncan Gass, 52, who works in outdoor events, and their son Charlie, aged three.
But she has since decided to turn it into a luxury B&B.
She said: “It’s a real good touristy area and the castle kind of markets itself.
“We decided that, if we had guests in, it would pay for itself and we can enjoy it.”
Miss Hazeldine opened it as a B&B for the first couple of seasons and found it was so busy she did not have time to carry out the planned renovations.
At the end of the summer of 2010, she closed the castle while the work was carried out and she is planning to reopen next spring.
She said: “It’s nothing like it was when the Dobsons were here.
“It’s had a complete overhaul. We’ve changed everything from top to bottom, inside and out.”
Duncraig Castle was built in 1866 for Sir Alexander Matheson, who made his fortune in the opium trade in the Far East.
His uncle, Sir James Matheson, a native of Sutherland, was co-founder of the vast Hong Kong-based commercial empire, Jardine Matheson.
In 1927, the castle was bought by Sir Daniel Hamilton, who subsequently bequeathed it to Highland Council and it as a domestic-science college until the late 1980s.
The Dobsons spent about £300,000 renovating the castle and operated it as a bed-and-breakfast, as well as hiring it out for weddings.
But Miss Hazeldine said it was in need of a lot more work.
She said: “The rooms were carved up into dormitories when Highland Council had it.
“We’re putting it back to how it should be, reinstating the grand rooms and the coving and shuttering in very traditional style.
“Everything will be authentic. We’re sourcing it all on the internet, hence the reason it’s taking a bit of time.
“We will have nine or 10 rooms for the B&B and every single one of them will be different.”
She added that they had taken down a modern block in the grounds that was part of the old school and replaced it with a stone garage for storage.
The outside of the castle has been totally repointed to make it watertight and the roof has been checked and repaired as necessary.
“It’s a totally different place now to what it was when it was on the TV documentary,” she said.
“We’re really chuffed with how it’s turning out.
“It’s all very high standard and top end, with nothing but the best throughout,” said the proud owner.
She added that she recently received a telephone call from Sam Dobson.
“He called me accidentally the other day.
“It’s really sad that they ended up back in Nottingham because all the family members fell out,” said Miss Hazeldine.
Councillor Audrey Sinclair, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, said local people were delighted that Duncraig Castle was being renovated.
She said: “It was unfortunate that the Dobsons couldn’t overcome their internal difficulties to get on and make some improvements to the building, although it had become very rundown before they moved in.
“We’re very pleased that the new owners have removed the modern block, which was a carbuncle on the side of the castle.
“They’re obviously spending a lot of money on it and it seems to be in good taste and high quality work that’s going on.”
