The castle is in the Scottish Baronial style, it has 365 windows, is 41,433 square feet (3,849.3 m2) and is protected as a category B listed building.

Until its closure, the castle had a large collection of art, with some pieces dating back to 1680, as well as Italian marble statues.

In a court process that followed, the Duchess was found guilty of destroying documents and was imprisoned for six weeks in Holloway Prison.

[2] Eventually, the Sutherland family came to an agreement giving Duchess Blair a substantial financial settlement.

During that time the castle was also used to hold important meetings; at the Carbisdale Conference on 22 June 1941 it was agreed that should Russian forces enter Norwegian territory, they would not stay there after the war.

On 25 October 1944, the Red Army entered Norway and captured thirty towns, but the Russian forces later withdrew under the terms of the agreement.

After the Colonel died his son, Captain Harold Salvesen, inherited the castle and gave its contents and estate to the Scottish Youth Hostels Association.