| How heartening after decades of decay and the | | | | money and real dedication as they overcame many |
| destruction of many old fine homes, to see a revival of | | | | construction problems. However twenty years on, |
| Scotland's Castles. After the war when many | | | | Scotland is dotted with such buildings and it is |
| properties which had been either closed up or badly | | | | wonderful to see so many being enjoyed once more |
| damaged by their war time guests, were facing a grim | | | | as private homes, small inns or as some form of |
| future. Many had been used as hospitals or temporary | | | | cultural venue. They are a huge magnet for overseas |
| billets for servicemen and to use a modern expression, | | | | guests and rightly so! |
| they had been pretty much trashed. Of course the | | | | The ongoing battle with all these buildings is meeting |
| end of the war also coincided with a period of heavy | | | | the huge cost of their upkeep and as traditional income |
| taxation and a huge shortage of raw materials. Many | | | | sources like farming, forestry and sporting activities |
| families simply buckled under the pressure and either | | | | diminish. Owners now have to find other ways to |
| sold up or pulled down the ancestral pile. | | | | generate sufficient income and many now rent out |
| However fortunately some hung on and battled | | | | their homes for exclusive lets, corporate events, and |
| through a pretty grim four decades of heavy taxation | | | | film shoots. The opportunity to hire a Scottish castle is |
| and diminishing returns from their estates. With the | | | | hard to resist. Even though some properties are still |
| passing of the estates onto the next generation and all | | | | struggling, there is overall a much more positive mood |
| the new prosperity that Britain was enjoying, many | | | | out there and even the tourist board now appreciates |
| homes underwent extensive restoration, which | | | | that these wonderful old properties make up a vital |
| breathed new life into these historic old homes. | | | | part of the fabric of Scotland. |
| Whereas previously many castles only survived | | | | Very few owners these days can afford to live in the |
| through government grants or by being taken on by | | | | lavish lifestyle of their forebears and most now work |
| the National Trust, Landmark trust or some other | | | | incredibly hard to preserve their homes. Most visitors |
| preservation organisation, they now were benefiting | | | | would be surprised and probably rather shocked at the |
| from new sources of revenue, like property | | | | sacrifices many owners have made to keep their |
| development, mobile masts, wind farms and office | | | | homes in good order. The next generation will inherit |
| developments in old farm buildings. | | | | properties in far better condition than their parents did |
| An even more exciting development was the | | | | but they too will face many challenges as upkeep |
| emergence of new owners, many from the building | | | | costs spiral and their homes continue to age. However |
| industry, who had a passion for old buildings. They | | | | the revival in the fortunes of Scotland's historic castles |
| bought run down and in some cases ruined former | | | | and homes, is wonderful to see and encouraging for |
| manor houses, castles or keeps and restored them to | | | | the future. Many are open to the public and nearly all |
| their former glory. This often involved huge amounts of | | | | are well worth a visit. |