Balintore Castle restoration brings Victorian landmark in Angus back to life

Balintore Castle in Angus was once a magnet for hunting and shooting parties, but decades of neglect left it crumbling into ruin.

Now, 18 years after buying the dilapidated building, owner David Johnston is bringing it back to life.

Its towering turrets stretch into the scenic sky over the Angus Glens, but the scale of the challenge when Mr Johnstone first arrived was immense.

“It’s become a labour of love,” he told STV News.

Mr Johnston added: “Large sections of roof were missing, large sections of floor were missing, windows were missing, trees were growing on the roof, and part of the building was collapsed as well, so it was pretty near ruination.

“In some rooms, there was ten feet of rubble. This had to all be dug out by hand, so for the first six months all I did was dig out rubble with two buckets, taking them out a couple of buckets at a time.”

One of the biggest triumphs so far has been the Great Hall. Once in a state of ruin, it has now been painstakingly restored to its former glory.

“I looked at the Great Hall and thought I’ll maybe never restore this in my lifetime,” said Johnston.

“So the fact it’s just been completed is beyond my wildest dreams. I’m looking forward to a future where the Great Hall of Balintore can be used once again for public functions and the public can enjoy it.”

The A-listed Victorian sporting lodge stood empty for 40 years before Angus Council used compulsory purchase powers in 2007 to save it from collapse.

With panoramic views and a picturesque setting, it’s easy to see why Mr Johnston was drawn to the castle. But the work is far from complete.

Each room requires careful restoration, with what he calls “a bureaucratic planning challenge” at every step.

Finlay Lockie, a historic building renovation expert, said: “You can’t let a thing like this fall into oblivion.

“It’s too valuable and it represents so much, not only in the design by the architect, but think of the hundreds of masons chipping away. Every little indent on every block of stone represents a hammer blow of a skilled tradesman. You can’t let that stuff disappear.”

Mr Johnston is funding the renovation from his life savings, along with donations from members of the public. The total cost and timescale remain unknown.

He added: “It’s been the most enormous challenge. The highs are amazingly high, the lows can bring you to the pit of despair.

“I always thought if I restored this castle, life would become one big adventure and guess what, it’s been the biggest adventure ever.”