Former Scottish Enterprise boss buys Scotland’s priciest country estate

The businessman forked out the sum after the 6,235 acre Kinnaird Estate, near Dunkeld in Perthshire, came up for sale last year for £9.6m.

As well as the sprawling land, the estate, which dates from the 1600s, also boasts an eight bedroom Victorian house and a clutch of holiday homes.

Mr Gillies, currently a director at both Barclays and SSE, sealed the deal for the purchase last month after agreement with the Ward family.

The 60 year-old, who was born in Perth, retired in January after serving as chairman of Scottish Enterprise for seven years.

He said: “It is a beautiful part of the country. It is a wonderful estate with huge potential. There is also a business opportunity to sell the shooting and fishing that can be done on Kinnaird. It is what I consider to be Highland Perthshire and my wife and I feel at home here.”

The estate is one of only a few in Scotland where it is possible to take a “Macnab” — a salmon, stag and brace of grouse that must be bagged within one day.