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Daily Mirror
18 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Private UK island up for sale with stunning castle ruins and iconic views
The 1,100-acre Shuna Island in the Inner Hebrides offers castle ruins, cottages, wildlife and a chance to own a slice of Scottish history as it is listed for sale A private island off the west coast of Scotland complete with castle ruins, rolling pastures, and sweeping views of the sea has been put up for sale for the first time in nearly 100 years, with an asking price of £5.5million. Shuna Island, a 1,100-acre gem nestled in the Inner Hebrides, is now on the market, offering a rare opportunity to own a wild, rugged piece of Scotland 's coastal heritage. The island lies just south of Oban, among the Slate Islands archipelago, which includes Seil, Easdale, Luing, and Torsa. Three miles long and a mile and a half wide, Shuna is an island steeped in history, wildlife, and potential. At its heart are the picturesque ruins of Shuna Castle, an early 20th-century structure with panoramic views across the Sound of Shuna. The castle's footprint, estate agents Sotheby's International Realty notes, presents possibilities for redevelopment, subject to permissions. The island has been in the same family for over 80 years, owned most recently by Viscountess Selby and her son, Edward Gully, whose ancestors purchased it in the early 20th century. Their main residence has been the traditional Shuna Farmhouse, while a scattering of eight additional properties - including holiday cottages - can house up to 52 people, hinting at potential for a hospitality venture. But this is no manicured millionaire's retreat. Shuna is as much a working island as a private idyll. It includes 81 acres of permanent pasture, 640 acres of rough grazing, and over 300 acres of native woodland and foreshore. A flock of around 220 Beulah sheep currently roams the island, and there's scope for expanding into cattle grazing. Beyond the livestock, the island teems with wildlife. Visitors and residents alike can spot red deer, sea eagles, and even porpoises in the surrounding waters. The island's raw natural beauty, combined with its biodiversity, makes it an extraordinary haven for nature lovers. The land also holds over 9,000 years of human history, dating back to the Stone Age, with burial mounds and Iron Age relics still visible across the terrain. According to legend, Shuna may be referenced in the Vita Columbae, the 7th-century account of Saint Columba, who was said to have been delayed on a place called 'Sainean Island' - believed by some to be Shuna. Through the centuries, Shuna belonged to the Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riata, and later passed to the powerful Maclean clan after Robert the Bruce granted the region of Lorne to the Campbells in 1321. By the 1700s, it was a bustling hub for lime production, home to kilns and as many as 100 residents, according to The Scotsman. Now, for the first time in nearly a century, the island is looking for a new chapter. With its unique mix of natural beauty, historic ruins, viable farmland and holiday homes, Shuna offers a rare opportunity for buyers seeking something beyond a luxury postcode. 'This is not just a private island,' said a spokesperson for Sotheby's International Realty, the firm handling the sale. 'It's a piece of Scottish history - wild, beautiful, and filled with potential.'
The Independent
21 hours ago
- The Independent
‘Idyllic' Scottish island with ruined castle up for sale
A breathtakingly-beautiful private island featuring sandy beaches and a now-ruined castle within the Scottish Inner Hebrides has been put up for sale, providing a 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' for the successful buyer. Shuna Island, or simply Shuna, a 1,110-acre of rugged island in Loch Linnhe, provides picturesque views and a chance of complete seclusion, says estate agents Sotheby's International Realty, which is marketing the island for a cool £5.5m. It includes the castle, built 114 years ago by former owner George Alexander MacLean Buckley, who found fame in the Antarctic voyage on Nimrod with Ernest Shackleton just three years before. The crumbling stone structure is just one part of the rich history attached to the island, with the first settlement on the island dating back to 9,000 years ago. Today, it is owned by the Gully family, after the Dowager Viscountess Selby bought the island from a London-based estate agent in 1945, despite never having seen it. She then passed it on to her son, The Hon. Edward Gully, who has farmed and managed it for the past 80 years. As well as hosting visitors in six holiday homes, the family's farm looks after a flock of 220 Beulah sheep, while there is also 'renowned' woodcock shoots and deer stalking in the autumn. The island is accessed via a private pier after a10-minute boat ride from the mainland. There is also a helipad on the land. Speaking to the BBC, Jim Gully, who is the son of Edward, said: "He's had 80 years of stewarding and looking after Shuna and trying to get all sorts of businesses going and has absolutely loved it the whole of his life "My brother and I grew up on Shuna. We were home schooled by our grandfather [Donald Wells] on the island. It's idyllic for a childhood being taught there, running the farm and the holiday cottages, and we still do that." He added: "It's been a huge part for all of our lives and definitely sad that all of that is coming to an end, but tinged with relief for my father that it's going to be slightly easier not having to manage all of that and getting over to the island three or four times a week.' On the island, the archaeological sites include Stone Age burial mounds and Iron Age ritual hoards, with three rare swords discovered in 1875. Later in its history, the isle belonged to the Gaelic kingdom of Dal Riata before being passed onto the Maclean clan after Robert the Bruce gifted it to Clan Campbell in 1321. By the 18th Century, it was a thriving lime production centre with kilns and up to 100 living there. In 1910, it was purchased by Mr Buckley, before soon finding itself in the hands of the Gully family. With its eight houses, Sotheby's International Realty say the island is ideally suited for hosting larger groups or retreats, and would be 'perfectly suited' for a boutique hospitality venture or a wellness destination. Viewings start later this week for those lucky enough to be able to consider buying the island.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Private 1,110-acre Scottish island with crumbling castle on sale for £5.5m
The island is home to a farmhouse, several cottages, a ruin castle and a boathouse. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A private Scottish island, home to a ruin castle and white sand beaches has come on the market for the first time in almost a century. The 1,110-acre Shuna Island, in the Inner Hebrides, is up for sale for £5.5m. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Three miles long and a mile and a half wide, Shuna is part of a group called the Slate Islands in the Inner Hebrides, a collection which also includes Seil, Easdale, Luing and Torsa. At the heart of the island lie the remains of Shuna Castle, a dramatic early 20th-century structure with panoramic coastal views. A view looking over Shuna and Ardnamurchan The historic site has potential for redevelopment, subject to planning rules, according to Sotheby's International Realty, who are handling the sale. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The island's Shuna Farmhouse, a comfortable and practical home, has been the main residence of the island's owners, Viscountess Selby and her son Edward Gully, whose family have owned the place for eight decades. There are also a handful of holiday cottages across the islet, with names such as 'The Garden House', 'Oakwood Cottage' and 'The Forge'. All in all, there are eight properties with a total of 27 bedrooms-worth of accommodation able to sleep 52 people on the island. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As well as providing a home or holiday for people, the island supports livestock farming. There are 81 acres of permanent pasture, 640 acres of rough grazing, and over 300 acres of native woodland and foreshore, according to the advert. It said a flock of around 220 Beulah sheep also roam the land and there's potential for cattle grazing. With its tree cover, open ground and sandy beaches fringed by rocky coves, property experts said Shuna is teeming with wildlife, from red and fallow deer to eagles and porpoises. They said the current owners have hosted woodcock shoots and deer stalking during the autumn rut for the last 50 years. According to records, Shuna's history spans 9,000 years, marked by twin-chamber Stone Age burial mounds and Iron Age sites. In 1875, three rare Iron Age swords, part of a votive hoard from the 8th century BC, were discovered, signalling a culture rich in ritual and sacrifice. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It's said the island's earliest mention is in the Vita Columbae, recounting Saint Columba and his crew being delayed on 'Sainean Island', believed to be Shuna. Over centuries, the island belonged to Dal Riata's Gaelic kingdom and later passed to the Maclean clan after Robert the Bruce gifted Lorne to Clan Campbell in 1321. By the 18th century, it was a thriving lime production centre with kilns and up to 100 residents.
