Russias_Vladimir_Putin_and_Chinas_Xi_Jinping_begin_talks_in_Beijing.txt
Sales_agreed_for_Skyes_Sleat_Peninsula_and_Armadale_Castle.txt
Skye's Sleat Peninsula and tribal guitar tattoo flamesArmadale Castle under offer3 days agoShareSaveSteven McKenzieBBC Scotland NewsShareSaveGetty ImagesRuined Armadale Castle forms part of the saleSales have been agreed for Skye's 20,000-acre Sleat Peninsula and the historic estate's ruined Armadale Castle.They were being sold separately, with the peninsula's South Sleat Estate on the market for offers over ￡6.7m and the castle and its grounds for offers over ￡2.7m.Estate agents Strutt & Parker confirmed the properties were under offer, but declined to say if one or more buyers were involved.The sales - which involve historic lands of the Clan MacDonald - had been met with protests by some islanders concerned about how the land might be managed in the future.The South Sleat Estate is mostly used by tenant crofters and farmers, and has a history as a game shooting estate.The sales reached a closing date late last month, and Strutt & Parker said at the time there was "significant interest" in the properties.Why there are protests over a ￡6.8m estate saleSkye clan estate and historic castle put up for saleThe Clan Donald Lands Trust, which owns the castle and wider estate, said it could not comment on the sale due to the commercial sensitivity of the process.Last month, it said it was pleased by the "large number" of offers received.It added: "Being mindful of the estate's importance to the community, the trustees will carefully consider all relevant factors when reviewing offers."The trust said in March it had taken a difficult decision to sell up because of financial challenges.The charity said it wanted to focus on giving grants to "clan and indigenous Highland heritage projects".But the sale came as a surprise to people living in the south of Skye, and some criticised the lack of community involvement in the decision.Sleat Community Trust investigated a community buyout of Armadale Castle - the historic home of the MacDonalds of Sleat - and its gardens.But the trust told BBC Naidheachdan that, after a "careful assessment", it had concluded a buyout was not viable, mainly due to costs involved.Isle of Skye
