AYRSHIRE philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter's foundation has officially acquired an historic castle and 220 acre estate near Dalry to be used as a base for leadership training programmes.

As revealed in the Herald last month, a planning application to change the use of Blair House from houses to residential institutions was approved by North Ayrshire Council with no conditions in late January.

The Hunter Foundation (THF) will use the site as its Ayrshire headquarters, running residential leadership programmes to help boost the private and public sectors including head teachers, health sector leaders, police and civil servants in the build back from Covid.

Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald: Blair House and estateBlair House and estate

THF says the acquisition of the 900-year-old castle will enable it to accelerate its work in "entrepreneurial scale-ups".

Sir Tom said: “We are delighted to become custodians of this incredible castle and to headquarter our foundation here in Ayrshire.

READ MORE: Sir Tom Hunter foundation to set up Ayrshire base at Blair House

"In turn we are honoured to offer Blair as Columba 1400’s home in the central belt (complementing their home on Skye) where their values-based leadership programmes are transforming lives.

“Owning Blair will enable us to scale our work in leadership across the system and support, in some small way, Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic.”

The history at Blair Castle stretches back more than nine centuries, with the walls, it is said, constructed by Norman Invaders.

The castle was purchased by THF from previous owners, Charles and Sallie Hendry, for an undisclosed sum in February 2022.

The Hunter Foundation will deliver multiple residential programmes at the 19 bedroomed Blair Castle including ScaleUpScotland, and in partnership with Columba 1400: head teacher leadership academies, family and children’s services leadership, local authority collaboratives and a national leadership programme.