THE family which runs the giant Lego corporation in Denmark was

yesterday named as the new owner of a prime estate in the Highlands.

Mr Kjeld Kirk Christiansen, chairman of the Lego group, arranged the

private purchase of the 60,000-acre Strathconon Estate after a visit to

Scotland last year.

A group spokesman said yesterday that the acquisition combined a

business investment with the wish of family members to own land in

Scotland, which they regarded as a ''beautiful'' country.

No financial details of the purchase are being made public, but it is

thought that the price will have been well in excess of #1m.

The official buyer is Kirkbi A/S, a holding company which is wholly

owned by the Christiansen family, including the chairman, his father,

Gottfred, his wife, Camilla, and their three children.

They were outbid last year in attempting to take over the Glenfeshie

estate in the Cairngorms, but have now succeeded in buying land in

Scotland, in their first purchase outwith Denmark.

Strathconon Estate, which lies about 30 miles west of Inverness and is

regarded as one of the most scenic in the Highlands, was previously

owned by the Macdonald-Buchanan family.

It is understood to have been sold by Mr Hugh Macdonald-Buchanan, who

recently took control of the estate from his father, James. The family

could not be contacted yesterday and estate staff declined to comment.

The Lego spokesman said: ''Kirkbi's primary objective is to continue

management of the estate's forestry, stalking and fishing activities on

a conservationist basis, and in a way which supports the social and

economic wellbeing of the local community.''

He said that the five existing staff were being kept on, and tenancies

would not be affected. There are 20 houses in Strathconon and a working

farm.

The estate, which boasts several Munros and 4000 acres of forest,

contains two sites of special scientific interest.

Kirkbi has already had preliminary discussions with officials of

Scottish Natural Heritage, and said it intended to manage the estate in

line with the agency's philosophy on the care and preservation of the

natural environment.

A SNH spokesman in Inverness said: ''We are optimistic, because the

family seems keen to run things with the best interests of the

environment at heart.''

Captain Roderick Stirling, whose Ross and Cromarty district council

ward includes the estate, said: ''I think everybody is a little bit sad

to see the Macdonald-Buchanans going.

''Most people would probably have preferred to see a British buyer,

but we welcome the new owners, because of their interest in the

countryside and environment matters, and wish them well.''