Private Island in Loch Lomond Listed for Sale
An uninhabited private island in Loch Lomond, owned by broadcaster Kirsty Young, has been placed on the market with a price of £3 million.
The radio and television presenter acquired Inchconnachan island in 2020. The island is also known as Wallaby Island, named after Scotland's only colony of wild wallabies residing there. In 2022, Young obtained planning permission to construct a holiday lodge on the island.
Sale Options and Development Plans
The property is now being offered for sale through Sotheby's real estate agency, with two purchasing options available. Buyers may acquire the island with existing planning permission for £3 million or opt to purchase it as a turnkey asset for £10 million.
The additional £7 million would cover the construction of a bespoke luxury retreat, with an estimated completion timeline of approximately two years.
Island Features and Environment
Sotheby's describes Inchconnachan as providing
"extraordinary seclusion"and being a
"haven for sea eagles and nesting ospreys". The island offers
"elevated viewpoints and the sweeping shoreline [with] uninterrupted views towards Ben Lomond".
Ownership and Initial Acquisition
Former Desert Island Discs host Kirsty Young and her husband Nick Jones, founder of the Soho House private members' club chain, purchased the island for £1.6 million in 2020. The following year, they submitted an application to build a short-stay holiday rental, including a new boathouse and jetty.
The development plan involved demolishing the ruins of a 1920s colonial-style timber bungalow and creating a natural wet woodland on the property.
Development Details and Environmental Considerations
Sotheby's listing includes these plans, noting that associated infrastructure such as paths, boardwalks, drainage, and plant facilities will be part of the development.
The main house is designed with screw-piled foundations to
"preserve the island's precious ecology", and the boathouse will be situated within a sheltered cove.
Conservation Status and Planning Approval
Inchconnachan is designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation.
The proposed plans faced opposition from wildlife charities concerned about potential impacts on the wallaby population. Despite this, the plans were approved in January 2023 by Argyll and Bute's planning and access committee.
A spokesperson for the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority stated at the time that the planning permission would not affect the wallabies on the island.
Wallaby Colony History
The island has been home to wallabies for approximately 80 years. It is believed that they were introduced shortly after World War Two by Fiona Bryde Gore, Lady Arran Colquhoun.
Lady Arran reportedly transported the wallabies from her Hertfordshire estate, where she also kept pot-bellied pigs, llamas, and alpacas.
Additional Wildlife
In addition to the wallabies, Inchconnachan supports populations of capercaillie, one of Scotland's most endangered bird species.
