Povlsens return to Sutherland for family break
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Its nature inspired them - and now the Highlands are becoming the healing fields for Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen and his wife Anne.
They have returned to their vast Scottish estates for the first time since losing three of their four children in the Sri Lanka attacks in April.
The couple enjoyed a recent family break with their surviving daughter Astrid.
A spokesperson for the Povlsens' Wildland Ltd company confirmed the family enjoyed a short holiday at a couple of locations - including in Sutherland.
They also met and spoke to locals who passed on their condolences. Details of the break, which has now ended, have not been revealed, but the spokesperson said: "It was a family holiday. They have been – and still are – very appreciative of the sympathy they have received from Scotland."
The family recently thanked the people of Scotland for their support in newspaper adverts.
The Povlsens, who own 13 estates and around 220,000 acres in the Scottish Highlands, said the many words of comfort they had received since the tragedy last month have touched their hearts.
Their son Alfred, five, and daughters Agnes 12, and Alma, 15, were among 253 people killed in a series of blasts targeting churches and hotels in the country on Easter Sunday. Their youngest daughter, Astrid, 10, survived.
In an open letter placed in the Northern Times as well as other local and national newspapers, the Danish couple sent their love and "deepest appreciation" to those who sent them messages of support.
They also expressed their condolences to the many other families who lost their loved-ones in the attacks, adding: "In the immense sadness, we are genuinely grateful that we remain united with our daughter, Astrid.
"The loving memory of our three children, their wonderful spirit and souls will always be in our hearts."
Mr and Mrs Povlsen believe that the Highlands have been left badly damaged from centuries of overgrazing by sheep and red deer on the estates of more traditional landowners.
They have embarked on an ambitious programme which aims to restore native woodland, peatlands, wetlands and rivers and species on their estates.
It is believed the Povlsens will invest about £50m over the next three years alone on re-wilding projects across their estates, with the promise of further investment over what is considered to be a 200-year project by the family.
