Highland estate sold to Lego billionaire

A controversial Highland estate that has been at the centre of access rows with walkers is being snapped up by part of the family that founded the Lego empire.

Ledgowan Estate in Wester Ross is being sold in two lots at offers over £4.5 million.

Bids closed in August and now it has emerged that it is under offer from the Danish billionaire whose grandfather invented the popular toy building blocks – and wants to add yet another piece.

Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen – who owns two Highland estates – is now buying a third, Ledgowan.

Covering 11,000 acres with its own deer forest and loch, the estate is being sold to Kirkbi Estates, the family firm of which Mr Kristiansen is the main shareholder.

Once the sale is finalised, the tycoon will own more than 80,000 acres of the Highlands.

Mr Kristiansen – whose carpenter grandfather made wooden toys in the 1930s before devising the world-famous plastic blocks – began buying land in Scotland more than 20 years ago.

He purchased the 60,000-acre Strathconon Estate in Ross-shire after falling in love with the “beautiful” countryside.

Kirkbi Estates spent £5m in 2014 on neighbouring Scardroy Estate, which covers 10,000 acres and is rented out to holidaymakers and bird enthusiasts.

At the time, the firm said: “We are delighted to take over responsibility for a wonderful part of Scotland.”