Three sisters who used to holiday on Loch Lomond’s Inchconnachan Island have launched an ambitious crowdfunder to buy the site and turn it into a family friendly eco-retreat.
Elise, Danielle and Jo Wilkes-Brand spent magical breaks on the island whilst dad, Tony, lived there during their childhood.
However more than 20 years on, the sisters have launched an ambitious campaign to buy ‘Wallaby Island’, which is currently on the market for more than £500,000.
Architect Elise, 28, explained her vision for the island’s future to the Lennox.
She said “We’ve only had a really short amount of time to work on our plans. We produced them in a week. It’s been really quick trying to work out what we could do.
“We’ve always had the idea that it would be great for an outdoor centre and visitor centre to make the most out of the area.
“My sister runs a project for children with disabilities and somewhere for respite holidays would be fantastic. That’s also something that’s really needed right throughout the country.
“Instead of a second home for someone it would be fantastic to open it up to the public.
“Sustainable design is something I’m passionate about. We’d very much be building with the environment and ecology of the area in mind.”
Elise travelled to the island between 1995 and 1998 whilst Tony, an author who now lives in France, lived there.
And she has magical memories from her childhood of living in the wilderness, with only wallabies for neighbours.
She continued: “I think I was about four when I started going with my sisters.
“We’d go for a holiday, get in a little boat to head out and just stay with him for a bit.
“It’s years and years ago now, but it’s certainly somewhere that has left a lasting impression on us.
“It’s definitely a magical place, especially when you are much younger like that. The little log cabin was cute and obviously there were the wallabies there that you could see.
“We all hold a great sentimentality for Inchconnachan and have returned since we were children. As a kid it was a wonderful place to be able to stay.
“It’s definitely personal for us, a lot of people haven’t had the opportunity to see the wallabies. It would be brilliant to be able to share that.”
The island has been owned by the Colquhoun family since the 14th century but no one has lived there since daredevil aristocrat Fiona Gore, Countess of Arran and champion powerboat racer, left two decades ago.
Lady Arran of Colquhoun introduced red-neck wallabies to the area in the 1940s, and they remain there to this day. The island’s habitat is very similar to their native Tasmania and, by 1993, there were an estimated 125 living on Inchconnachan.
Elise and her family’s plans would see a visitor and education centre being built, as well as a cafe and a retreat to provide respite for the families of disabled children.
The family’s vision also includes camping pods which could be used for university students launching eco studies, disabled children and other visitors.
They also want to restore the colonial-style lodge which dates back to the 1920s and was once the holiday home of the Countess, whilst the island’s jetty would also be rebuilt and a raised boardwalk which will wind through the green space.
With only a few weeks to raise the funds required to bring the island into her family’s ownership however, Elise accepts that her aims could be overly hopeful - with the estate agent selling the site believing it will cost the final bidder around £1m.
She added: “It’s definitely ambitious, we know it’s a bit of a long shot but we’re doing absolutely everything we can. Realistically though we know that our chances of succeeding are very low unless someone comes forward with a large donation.
“The island was put on sale for £500K which we thought might be achievable, but we spoke to the estate agent a few days ago who said there had been a lot of interest already and that he didn’t think it would go for anything less than a million.
“There is now a closing date of August 11 which means we need to raise double the original amount in three weeks.
“Whatever amount of money we receive, we will make an offer.
“We want to put something on the island for everyone.
“Anyone who donates will help to secure the future of the island. It’s an important project that could give a lot to the area.”
To find out more information about the project, or to donate, visit Inchconnachan.co.uk.
