Scottish Private Island To Be Auctioned Off For £350,000

Last month, Soho House founder Nick Jones put his Scottish private island on the market for a staggering £3 million – and that’s not even including the custom-built house offered at a further £7 million. Though complete with wild wallabies and an eccentric former owner, not all private islands are made equal and some won’t push you entirely out of pocket. Dream of owning a Famous Five worthy island of your own? Mullagrach Island makes for a much more affordable alternative, set to be auctioned off on 9 June at a guide price of £350,000.

Discover Mullagrach Island

Located off the west coast of Scotland, Mullagrach Island is the northernmost outpost of the Summer Isles, occupying a prime position at the mouth of Loch Broom in the far northwest Highlands. And it is this position, within the Wester Ross Marine Protected Area and Scotland’s first UNESCO Geopark, that makes it such an environmentally important plot. 

Across its 88.7 acres, the rugged landscape spans a patchwork of heather, wildflower and rough grassland, as well as a varied coastline of rocky beaches, sheltered coves, dramatic cliffs, arches and caves (including Am Fang, the deepest cave in the archipelago). An untouched retreat, the island has become a haven for native seabirds and marine creatures. Seals, otters, dolphins and minke whales have been spotted out amongst the waves, while the inner waters of the archipelago are rich in scallops, langoustines, mackerel, pollock, sea bass, lobster and crabs, which can be caught in creels off the island’s landing stage.

Up above, great skua, shag, fulmars and greylag geese, can be seen circling the skies. Where once used for summer grazing (as evidenced by the ruins of an ancient shealing hut on the northeast of the island), Mullagrach has now been untouched by chomping sheep for over 30 years, allowing the native flora to thrive. Shrubby willows, rowan and birch thrive alongside grasses and heathers, ferns and lichen, alongside a mass of coastal and moorland wildflowers, including sea pinks, orchids, wild primrose, bluebells, scabious and dog violets.

At the heart of the island crouches an off-grid, low-impact cabin, its curved, heather-clad roof seamlessly blending it into the landscape. Designed and built by Northwoods Design, it has been expertly constructed to withstand the island’s sometimes bracing weather conditions. Inside, the space offers up all the essentials, including a kitchen and dining area, a wood-burning stove, two box beds and an outside composting WC, while solar panels and rainwater harvesting (though water is bottled) keep it entirely self-sufficient. 

A remote idyll, Mullagrach offers up dramatic landscapes in all directions. To the west the island looks out onto the Minch and the Outer Hebrides. To the south and east, clear views of the mountains of Skye and Torridon, as well as the inner waters of the archipelago. As for how you get there, Mullagrach Island is accessible by helicopter or boat from the harbours of Ullapool and Old Dornie, with an on-island landing stage and tackle available for mooring. 

‘The sale of Mullagrach presents a compelling opportunity for buyers seeking something genuinely rare,’ says associate director at Savills Auctions Mhairi Archibald. ‘With its scale, setting and ready-to-enjoy accommodation, we expect significant interest ahead of the sale.’

Iona Conn, associate director at Savills Residentials, adds: ‘Private islands offer a unique sense of peace and connection to the landscape, and opportunities to acquire them remain limited. Mullagrach is particularly appealing in combining that sense of seclusion with a setting that is both accessible and ready to enjoy.’

Mullagrach Island is coming to auction with Savills on 9 June with a guide price of £350,000. Find out more at auctions.savills.co.uk.