A Stunning Scottish Island for Sale After Years of Planning and Struggle
Kirsty Young, the well-known presenter of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs,’ and her husband Nick Jones, a successful entrepreneur and founder of the Soho House chain, have made the surprising decision to sell their Scottish island, Inchconnachan. The couple had spent years working through local opposition and investing significant resources in their dream of building a luxury retreat on the remote 103-acre island. However, just months after receiving approval to start construction, they have decided to put the property up for sale.
The island was purchased by the couple in 2020 for £2 million with the intention of creating a private sanctuary. Their plans included constructing a two-storey lodge with three bedrooms, a boathouse, and inter-connecting boardwalks. The design was created by Edinburgh-based architects Nicos Yiatros and Gunnar Groves-Raines. However, the couple has since re-evaluated their life goals following health challenges.
Nick Jones, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer and successfully treated, said his priorities have shifted. “When you go through what I went through, you’re looking for a slightly smaller life, rather than a bigger life,” he explained. Kirsty Young, who also faced health issues, including fibromyalgia, has been open about her struggles. She took a break from presenting in 2018 but returned to play a key role in major events such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and King Charles’s Coronation.
The value of Inchconnachan Island has increased due to the recent granting of planning permission for the bespoke development. The proposed project includes demolishing the ruins of a 1920s colonial-style bungalow and creating a natural wet woodland. The Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority approved the plan, noting that while there would be a small loss of habitat, the development could bring biodiversity benefits through the naturalisation of the site.
However, environmentalists raised concerns over the impact on a unique population of red-necked wallabies, introduced to the island in the 1940s. These Australian-native animals have thrived on the island, feeding on oak, holly, and birch trees. A campaign to save them gathered over 100,000 signatures against the planning application.
The island’s history is rich, having once belonged to the aristocratic Colquhoun family. It is believed that Lady Arran Colquhoun, Fiona Bryde Gore, brought the wallabies to the island along with other exotic animals like pot-bellied pigs, llamas, and alpacas.
Despite the environmental concerns, the current owners’ plans include employing a full-time warden to oversee a conservation recovery scheme, ensuring the protection of the wallabies during any development. Sotheby’s, the auction house handling the sale, has highlighted the island’s unique natural features.
The island is designated as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, offering ancient Scots pine, oak, and birch woodlands. It is home to sea eagles and nesting ospreys. The location provides breathtaking views of Ben Lomond, and despite its seclusion, it is within 30 minutes of Glasgow International Airport and 40 minutes of Cumbernauld Airport, making it accessible for private travel.
The island is being sold either as-is for £3 million or with the proposed development for £10 million. This decision marks a significant shift for the couple, who had long envisioned a luxurious escape on their own piece of Scottish land.
