A tycoon who is selling her iconic Highland castle after a row with locals is facing a new battle after thirteen people put their names forward to join the local council of which she is the only member.
Samantha Kane - a lawyer and self-styled lady of the manor - purchased Carbisdale Castle in 2022 for more than £1million, with plans to bring the 29-bedroomed property back into use.
Shortly afterwards, she also won a battle to buy three hectares of the land around her property, at the cost of the local community, as four out of five members of the local council resigned in protest.
However, last month it was revealed that she is selling the castle amid a bitter row with homophobic and racist locals, as she claimed the rural area is not ready to have a transgender owner.
Now, she is facing a new challenge after thirteen people put their names forward for the seven seats available for Ardgay and District Community Council, which was forced into abeyance in February after all but one of its members quit - Ms Kane.
Tycoon Samantha Kane is selling her iconic £5m Carbisdale Castle near Bonar Bridge, Sutherland
Ms Kane looks out on the Highland countryside. She sold off property in London to fund the refurbishments at Carbisdale Castle
Carbisdale Castle near Ardgay in the Scottish Highlands
The tycoon, who was vice-chair, could become an isolated figure on the council because she did not resign her membership and it remains unchallenged.
Voting by postal ballot is now closed with the result announced on October 14.
Ardgay and District Community Council was due to meet for the first time since a stormy extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in November.
Following that meeting, the group received a number of complaints and police had to be called.
Chairwoman Silvia Muras, secretary Anna McInnes, treasurer Sabrina Ross and member Dr Buster Crabb all quit. None are seeking re-election.
Ms Kanes plans to buy land near the castle property was the subject of the EGM. The community council had voted against the proposal due to doubts over the local benefits from the purchase.
After the resignations, the community council could not be quorate as it requires a minimum of four members.
Ms Kane behind the bar at Carbisdale Castle. She was restoring it at a reported cost of £10million
Barrister Ms Kane ploughed millions of pounds of her fortune into restoring Carbisdale Castle
One of the grand rooms of Carbisdale Castle which has gone on the market for £5million
Ms Kane appeared on This Morning to discuss her journey to becoming comfortable in her skin in October 2022
Locals said they were delighted when Ms Kane bought Carbisdale Castle, near Bonar Bridge, Sutherland, in 2022 with plans to bring the 29-bedroomed property back into use as a luxury hotel.
But they claim the relationship turned sour when she started putting up fences blocking access to public pathways.
Local councillor Michael Baird, however, said there was an element of truth to Ms Kanes claims as the small community around the castle had hounded out a previous developer.
Ms Kane, 65, rejected the claims made by locals. She said: These people are obviously motivated by some sort of hate or jealousy or prejudice. I have done everything in my power to be friendly and nice.
The barrister, who named herself Lady Carbisdale after buying the castle for £1.2million, is believed to be the only person in the UK to have changed gender three times.
She claims she put the property on the market for £5million because of hurtful comments made about her gender identity, and asserted that the area is not ready for a transgender custodian of the castle.
The 19-bedroom manor is close to Ardgay, around 30 miles north of Inverness, and Ms Kane pledged to sink millions of pounds into restoring the category B-listed building, which was built in 1907 in the Baronial style.