A Unique Scottish Island for Sale
A stunning Scottish island, once the dream home of a well-known TV presenter and her husband, is now up for sale. The couple, who had spent years battling local opposition and investing significant sums to build a luxury retreat on Inchconnachan Island, have decided to sell it. This decision comes after a major change in their life plans.
Kirsty Young, the presenter of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs,’ and her multi-millionaire husband Nick Jones bought the island for £2 million in 2020. They hoped to create a private sanctuary with a rare colony of wallabies as neighbors. However, the couple has since re-evaluated their future, especially after Mr. Jones was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which he successfully overcame.
The auction house Sotheby’s is now seeking offers of £3 million for the island as it is, or £10 million if the planned two-storey lodge is built. This includes three bedrooms, a boathouse, and inter-connecting boardwalks. Mr. Jones, founder of the private members club chain Soho House, explained that his priorities have changed. He said, “When you go through what I went through, you’re looking for a slightly smaller life, rather than a bigger life.”
Ms. Young, who was born in East Kilbride but raised in Stirling, has also faced health challenges. From 2006 to 2018, she was the main presenter of ‘Desert Island Discs.’ She took a four-year break from presenting after developing fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition. She returned to present coverage of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022 and played a key role in the coverage of the Queen’s state funeral and King Charles’s Coronation in 2023.
Planning Permission and Environmental Concerns
The value of Inchconnachan Island has been boosted by the granting of planning permission for the bespoke property the couple had planned to build. Designed by Nicos Yiatros and Gunnar Groves-Raines of Edinburgh-based GRAS Architects, the plan included a short-stay holiday rental, a new boathouse, and a jetty on the 103-acre island. The ruins of a 1920s colonial-style timber bungalow would be demolished, and a natural wet woodland would be created on the land.
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority approved the proposal, stating that it would result in “a small loss of habitat” but would also provide biodiversity benefits through “naturalisation of the former site.” However, environmentalists were more concerned about the impact on a colony of red-necked wallabies, introduced to the island in the 1940s and now one of the few such populations outside of Australia.
A Rich History and Conservation Efforts
Inchconnachan was once owned by the aristocratic Colquhoun family. It is believed that the wallabies were introduced to the island shortly after World War II by Fiona Bryde Gore, Lady Arran Colquhoun. She is said to have transported them from her home in Hertfordshire, where she also kept pot-bellied pigs, llamas, and alpacas.
The wallabies, native to Australia and New Guinea, have survived on the island by eating oak, holly, and birch trees. Fears about their future led to a campaign to save them, with over 100,000 people signing a petition against the planning application. Over the years, the island became overrun by invasive species such as rhododendrons.
The recent owners’ plans include employing a full-time warden to oversee a conservation recovery scheme, with the status of the wallabies protected during any development. Sotheby’s highlights the island’s outstanding natural and practical attractions in their sales brochure. They mention that the island is designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation, richly wooded with ancient Scots pine, oak, and birch, and serves as a haven for sea eagles and nesting ospreys.
Accessibility and Scenic Views
Despite its extraordinary seclusion, the island is easily accessible. Glasgow International Airport is just 30 minutes away, offering connections to London, Europe, and direct transatlantic destinations. Cumbernauld Airport, with private aviation facilities, is approximately 40 minutes away. Elevated viewpoints and the sweeping shoreline offer uninterrupted views towards Ben Lomond. The island provides a unique blend of natural beauty and convenience, making it an attractive property for those seeking a peaceful retreat.
