English: Balfour Castle From this view it can be seen how the house, designed by David Bryce in the Scottish baronial style, was grafted on to an older more traditional house. This would be an imposing affair anywhere but seems even more so on a small island in Orkney. The last of the Balfour line passed away in 1961 and the house was acquired by a wealthy Polish cavalry officer - Captain Zawadzki. His family ran it as a country house hotel for some years but it has recently been sold again; it is currently undergoing renovation work.