Off the west coast of Scotland, a rocky little island rises above inky blue waters like sea monster, half-submerged. This is Insh Island: untouched, untamed and uninhabited.
If you’re dreaming of solitude and a life closer to nature, this grassy, 90-acre kingdom could be yours. It’s for sale with Savills for £500,000 — significantly less than the average price of a London home which is now £566,000 according to the Office for National Statistics.
The first hurdle will be getting there. One of the Inner Hebrides’ Slate Islands, Insh is only accessible by private boat or helicopter.
Its closest neighbour is Easdale, the smallest inhabited island in Scotland, with a population of around 60. You’ll want to brush up on your stone skimming too: Easdale is home to the World Stone Skimming Championships, which have been held there since 1997.
From Easdale, there is a short passenger ferry to Ellenabeich on Seil Island, from which it is possible to travel further north to Oban, the nearest major town.
There are no buildings on Insh: only rock, grass and heather. On the northwest coastline, however, there is a “cave house”, cut into the rock, where a previous owner, David Brearley, reportedly lived for 30 years between 1973 and 2003.
When he died in 2016, Brearley bequeathed the island to the National Trust for Scotland, which sold the island for £353,000 in December 2019. This drew controversy at the time, with local politicians arguing that there should have been greater consultation — and the possibility of a community buy-out.
John Finnie, MSP for the Scottish Greens’ Highlands and Islands, told The Ferret at the time that it was “quite astonishing that NTS decided to dispose of Insh, given that the island is so rich in biodiversity, noted for its significant scientific interest and nature conservation importance…It appears that earning a quick buck has been prioritised over conserving this remarkable island.”
The island was sold in 2024 and is now back on the market again.
Savills are marketing Insh Island as a “compelling investment”, with potential to be used as a tourist attraction, retreat or sustainable development, for example.
“As demand for exclusive, eco-conscious destinations continues to grow, this island is ideally suited for tourism, wellness retreats, or even use as a film location,” says Savills. “Land of this kind — wild, private and unspoiled — is increasingly rare and offers lasting legacy value.”
The island has a natural freshwater spring, and there is scope to harness solar and wind power to develop off-grid energy solutions.
There are other draws for nature lovers: the waters around Insh are home to seals, dolphins and seabirds, while the night skies are hotspots for stargazing.
Last month, Shuna Island, also in the Hebrides, was listed for £5.5 million, complete with a castle, farm and eight further residences. In June, the 10-acre Long Island in Northern Ireland —used by its current owners as a second home for watersports— was put on the market for £395,000, while tiny Eilean Loch Oscair, a croft, was listed for £125,000 at the end of last year.
"Insh Island represents a truly unique opportunity to acquire one of Scotland's last untouched private islands,” says Cameron Ewer, Savills’ head of residential in Scotland. “With its breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity, and potential for sustainable development, Insh Island is a sanctuary of peace and natural beauty.”
