Latest news with #island
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Breathtaking UK island with three beaches, stunning views & seals, is on sale & it's cheaper than a 3-bed house
AN ENTIRE island, with gorgeous views and marine wildlife, could be yours for less that the cost of the three bedroom-house. Originally listed last year for £325,000, the price of the uninhabited island has now been slashed to £275,000, less than the price of the average UK three bedroom house. 4 4 Eilean Mor, in Loch Sunart, in the picturesque Scottish Highlands, spans an area of 30 acres, about the same size as 45 football fields. The majestic plot of land can only be accessed by boat, or by a low-tide causeway, and is teeming with marine wildlife such as playful seals and soaring eagles. It's the perfect spot for bird watching and escaping the hustle and bustle of city life, with the untouched nature providing a haven for many species. Visitors will be blown away by the crystal blue waters, three cove beaches and acres of stunning forest. The gorgeous patch of wilderness has been owned by the same family for generations, and does not have any planning permissions as it is part of the Sunart Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Sunart Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Estate agents Bell Ingram said of the property: "This captivating island offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue. "While Eilean Mor is uninhabited today, its history is deeply intertwined with the surrounding region. "Eilean Mor as a serene escape for those seeking to explore Scotland's rugged landscapes and rich heritage." The island is completely uninhabited, making it perfect for relaxing, but when you're ready to return to civilisation, the quaint village of Strontian is just a seven minute drive away. Strontian boasts several schools, shops a church and a cafe, and you can also visit Ariundle Oakwood National Nature Reserve for a peaceful stroll. Inside Josh Widdicombe's incredible £2.3m London home as he puts it up for sale - and Rob Beckett can't resist a swipe The shores of the loch are home to some of the finest temperate oakwood in Britain and the beauty of Fort William is just 15 miles away. Andrew Fuller, of selling agents Bell Ingram, said: 'For interested parties, Eilean Mor represents more than just an investment. "It is a unique chance to own a piece of Scotland's wild beauty and a serene hideaway. "It's a historic landmark to be cherished and preserved for generations to come.' 5 Tips to Get on The Property Ladder Saving for your first property is tough, but it is possible. Here are a few steps for first-time buyers. 1. Cut back on luxuries and start saving Consistent monthly saving is the best way to accumulate enough money to get on the ladder, for a deposit and purchase fees. To do this, you need to take a look at your monthly outgoings and think about what can be cut out - holidays, new clothes, weekly takeaway. Using a savings calculator can help you to establish how long you will need to save for a deposit. Based on your income, you can figure out a realistic amount to save each month. 2. Have a realistic property search Set a budget for the property price you would like to buy, and think realistically about the location and size of your property. While we all may want that house with a view or extra bedroom, can you afford it? 3. Research Help To Buy and Shared Ownership schemes The government has introduced a few ways to help first-time-buyers get on the property ladder and they're great for those on lower incomes or to buy a property in more expensive areas like London. 4. Consider buying with another person Investing with somebody else you know is a sure way to get onto the property ladder. You only need to save half the amount you would otherwise, so you can work towards getting your property sooner. You can invest with a friend, family or partner. Naturally, it is a big step and a huge commitment so be open and honest about what you expect from living together — if you haven't already. 5. Talk to a mortgage broker and get your documents in order A mortgage broker can tell you exactly how much you can borrow for a mortgage, what you will need to pay monthly and in upfront costs. Shuna Island And Eilean Mor isn't the only Scottish island that is currently on sale after Shuna Island went on the market for the first time in 80 years. Spanning across 1,110 acres, the island has been in the hands of the same family for the last eight decades. The island, which has eight residential properties on it, as well as a castle, is on the market for a whopping £5.5 million. It is located just off the coast from Appin, Argyll and Bute and features a working farm and a holiday home business. Shuna Castle, which was built in the early 20th century is in ruins, but offers panoramic views of the stunning Scottish coast. According to estate agents Sotheby's International Realty and Knight Frank there is potential to renovate the castle, subject to planning rules. 4
CNA
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CNA
Spotted a huge red ball in town? Here's why 195 of them have rolled out across Singapore with more to come
While most of us were fast asleep on Jul 12, a fleet of 100 lorries and 100 workers fanned out across the island from midnight. Their mission: To plant a lot of giant red balls all over Singapore, from neighbourhoods to schools and the civic district. The next morning, Singaporeans woke up to find these pops of red in their midst. Stamped with the SG60 logo and measuring between 1.5 and 5 metres across, they made schoolchildren stop in their tracks and office workers look up from their phones. For Adrian Tan, the chief executive officer of Adplanet Group, it was a thrill to watch the city react. 'I did not mention this campaign to any of my friends, but I'm happy to record about five or six sightings a day, where my friends go: Oh, I spotted this red ball. Have you seen it?' The balls are part of the United As One Red Dot campaign, which marks both SG60 and UOB's 90th anniversary. Of the 195 balls installed as of Tuesday (Jul 29), six are in the bank's corporate colour, blue, while the rest are red. By far the largest SG60 out-of-home (OOH) installation – industry-speak for advertisements placed in public spaces – the campaign was conceived by Adrian Tan together with Francis Tan, chief executive officer of Germs Digital, and Jayne Kwek, director of 3 Aces Advertising. 'Singapore is a beautiful island with so much greenery, and it's actually the perfect canvas for an art installation. The idea was to paint the island with giant red balls that signify our little red dot,' said Kwek. She would know a thing or two about OOH advertising. As the former CEO of Moove Media, the advertising arm of ComfortDelGro, she was the woman behind the herd of 'cows' that grazed all over Singapore in 2005. 'The cows did the same job in that it was creativity in its simplest form. We didn't have to make it too elaborate; the red balls were a symbol that Singaporeans can identify with.' 'IT WAS REALLY QUITE A JOURNEY' What's one object that can unify an entire country? That was the key question the trio wrestled with during the conceptualisation phase, said Francis Tan. The Merlion was the obvious national symbol, and the city skyline felt fitting in telling Singapore's transformation story. But in the end, the answer was far more obvious. 'The red dot symbolises how Singapore struggled to become what it is today. We wanted to flood the entire city with that reminder, similar to Yayoi Kusama's dotted pumpkins all around Japan,' he explained. The simplicity of the mnemonic belies the effort behind it. Designing a ball to withstand heat, rain and wind was no small feat. As the air inside expands and contracts with the weather, it has to be made of tri-layered PVC with a little elasticity. They also need weekly maintenance to keep them looking plump, and replacements are deployed within 24 hours if necessary. The bigger challenge was the red tape, starting with an engineering certification to prove the balls could be safely secured. The 5-metre blue ball outside UOB Centre, for instance, had to be anchored with a 2-tonne weight to prevent it from being blown into the Singapore River. Then came the arduous process of securing approvals. Because the balls were installed on both public and private land, the team had to obtain clearance from a long list of authorities, ranging from government agencies to mall operators. 'It was really quite a journey. Thankfully, our stakeholders were all very supportive because they wanted to see the red balls as part of the SG60 celebration,' said Kwek. Making sure the heartlands were not left out was just as important, added Adrian Tan, who wanted Singaporeans in every corner of the country to feel a sense of national pride when they saw them. 'This was by no means easy, but we took a bottom-up approach by speaking to many MPs. They were very encouraging and said, we love it. Let's go.' PAINTING THE TOWN RED These giant balls will remain on display across Singapore until Sep 14, and passers-by can join weekly contests by answering quiz questions or snapping Instagram-worthy photos. Since their debut, the giant balls have been a hit, especially with the little ones. Babies have been spotted reaching out from their strollers to poke them, while families get creative with forced-perspective photography. 'I think this campaign gave us the opportunity to show that Singaporeans can be fun and creative too,' said Kwek. Even office workers out on their lunch break can't resist stopping for a midday selfie. For Francis Tan, seeing people pose with the ball near Tampines Mall and Century Square – his old hangouts as a secondary school student – was a full-circle moment. 'I'm going there to see it this weekend and take a photo with my daughter. It's a place I grew up in, and I'd like to explore the area as I haven't been there in a while,' he said. Deploying the campaign has also taken him to heartlands in the north and west for the first time in years, renewing his appreciation for how much these neighbourhoods have evolved. 'I realised that heartlands are now very robust, from their wet markets to the shopping malls. So what can't we achieve?' The response has been so overwhelming that more balls are being added beyond the original 180. Kwek is working with the Singapore Land Authority to place one in the middle of a green field in Ghim Moh, while Adrian Tan, ever the ad-man, has bigger plans. 'I would like to see a giant red ball on top of a bus shelter in Orchard Road or Shenton Way, and LTA is talking to us about this possibility.'
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
South Africa's FNB Eyes Guernsey Expansion for Wealthy Clients
A unit of South Africa's biggest bank by market value, FirstRand Ltd., plans to expand its offerings in Guernsey to tap more business from high-net-worth individuals and South Africans living on the island. First National Bank, which has had a branch license for a decade, will apply for a credit permit by the end of the year, it said in a statement Monday.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Is YOUR drinking water contaminated with ‘forever chemicals' linked to thyroid conditions, high cholesterol, and even cancer? This is why we should all be worried
Sarah Simon, the 49-year-old manager of tourist company Panoramic Jersey, has lived near the island's airport all her life, close to the fire training ground. In the mid-Nineties it was discovered that foam used for fire training at the airport, packed with chemicals called PFAS, had leaked into the surrounding environment, soaking into the soil and over time, finding their way into a local private bore.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Jersey minister calls for health budget to be increased
Jersey's health minister has called for an increase to the island's health funding, after a forecast predicted the department would be £18m over budget for auditor general, Lynn Pamment, said the rapid rise in spending was a cause for concern and said previous money-saving recommendations had yet to be brought Tom Binet, the health minister, wants a 5%-above-inflation budget increase for several years, to keep up with the costs of new treatments and people living said calling the situation an overspend had damaged staff morale and was "very negative", as health had not received enough budget in the past. "It's made life very challenging for the people who are trying to turn around the health service," he said modern science kept on introducing "better drugs [and] better treatment", which cost more said his department was expected to deliver "what it delivered the year before plus whatever else was thrown its way - all of that costs money."
