An island off the western Scottish coast with no shops, no roads and a population of just three, is on the market with a price ticket slashed to under £2m.
Tanera Mòr, a 766-acre island a mile and a half offshore in the Inner Hebrides, was put up for sale last May with a guide price of £2.5m.
It attracted interest from as far afield as China, the USA and the Falkland Islands, but no buyer could be found for Tanera, the largest and only inhabited island of the Summer Isles which lie off Achiltibuie.
The sky turns multi-coloured during a midsummer dawn over the Rosslyn pier at the southern end of the Anchorage Bay. Left to right, the cottages of Rosslyn, Port and Fuchsia are all visible. Over on the mainland, visitors can see Suilven, Canisp and Stac Pollaidh mountains, pictured left to right
A rainbow arches across the bay of Tanera Mor as sunshine bursts through the clouds. The sea surrounding the island is said to be crystal clear and ideal for fishing and boating
Picturesque: Murdo’s cottage, at the north end of the Anchorage is included in the island package which is on the market for £1.9million
Panoramic: Schoolhouse Cottage, which sits near the high point, half way between the Ardnagoine Pier and the Tigh an Quay Pier, is nestled in the heart of the countryside and overlooks the ocean
Now agents Savills and CKD Galbraith are jointly marketing the island for offers over £1,950,000.
Incredibly, the island, which is more than a mile long, comes in at the same price as a four-bedroom terraced house which has gone on the market in Bramfield Road in Wandsworth, London.
Tanera is owned by the Wilder family who bought it in 1996 and run it as a tourism enterprise with holiday cottages and a sailing school.
Before it was put up for sale last year, the Wilders held discussions with people in Coigach to see if they would be interested in a community purchase.
However, Coigach Community Development Company decided not to take up the offer because it was trying to progress other projects including the development of a community wind turbine.
The current owners’ ethos in managing Tanera Mòr has been to minimise interference with the natural ecology, while using its assets to create an environment-friendly business.
Over the past 15 years they have planted more than 164,000 native trees as part of a woodland regeneration scheme.
Owners Lizzie and Richard Williams and their baby daughter Rosie, are the only full-time inhabitants of Tanera Mòr.
But with a young daughter and now another child on the way, they have reluctantly decided it is not the right time of their lives to be there.
It has a salmon fish farm, several holiday cottages, a small sailing school, a café and a post office, which has operated its own local post and printed its own stamps since 1970.
Rosslyn cottage, a permanently-occupied house on the island of Tanera Mor. It is one of nine properties on the island and comes with breathtaking views of the sea and surrounding islands and mountains
The view from the top: Anyone willing to pay the £1.95million needed to but Tanera Mor can look forward to stunning views over outlying islands in the Inner Hebrides, north west Scotland. It has been on the market since May last year attracting global interest from potential buyers
Lizzie Williams, right, and husband Richard Williams, right, and their baby daughter, Rosie sit on a small stone wall and among the grass and wild flowers on the stunning island, Tanera Mòr, which is owned by their family
Waves crash against the rock on the rugged coastline of Tanera Mor. Pictured is Mol Mor, the largest beach bay on the island with towering cliffs and breathtaking views
The island can be reached by boat from either Achiltibuie in Wester Ross, or Ullapool.
There are no shops or roads. Mail and daily essentials are delivered from local shops, 25 miles away in Ullapool, the nearest “big” town with a Tesco, and left secured near the jetty on the mainland.
Lizzie, 34, says her parents Bill and Jean Wilder, bought the stunning island – the largest and only inhabited of the Summer Isles archipelago.
‘They had a dairy farm in Wiltshire,’ she said. ‘They decided to sell up back in the mid ‘90s. They placed an ad in a magazine – the same issue had an advert for Tanera Mor.
‘They had an idea about restoring the place to its former glory – and here we are.’
‘It’s been marvellous – but challenging too. It’s also been a huge amount of fun. I wouldn’t change a minute of it. We’ll take some fantastic memories with us.
‘It was never the plan to keep Tanera Mor in the family forever – mum and dad didn’t buy it to be our ‘pile’, as it were.
Bird’s Eye: The Scottish island is home to just two people and has been put on the market after residents on the nearby mainland decided they could not take on the job of repopulating the island as it was too big of a task
Scenic: The remote island off the coast of Wester Ross is the largest of the Summer Isles and spans nearly 800-acres. It was part of the inspiration for the cult film The Wicker Man
WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM YOUR £1.95M ISLAND PURCHASE? A GUIDE TO SOME OF TANERA MOR’S BEST BITS
Tanera Mor, in the Inner Hebrides, north West Scotland. The nearest big town is Ullapool, 25 miles away
As well as the 766-acres of virtually unspoilt island and stunning seascape views, anyone willing to pay up the £1.95million needed to buy Tanera Mor can expect a whole lot more.
It has its own salmon fish farm, several holiday cottages, a small sailing school, a café and a post office, which has operated its own local post and printed its own stamps since 1970.
A spokesman for estate agents Savills/CKD Galbraith said: ‘The island is currently managed and run as a successful tourist enterprise, incorporating a number of facets.
‘Alongside the five established holiday letting cottages, the business has been expanded to include residential courses including a Royal Yacht Association recognised sailing school which has operated throughout the summer.
‘The café and post office operate from a building lying close to the main pier and are open for seasonal daily visits from April until September.
‘The café is a popular stop off, not only for the regular tourist boats from Ullapool and Achiltibuie, but also visiting yachtsmen and small, upmarket cruise ships such as the Hebridean Princess and the Noble Caledonia fleet.
‘Tanera Mòr offers great potential for rural entrepreneurs. Scottish islands are often favoured for the establishment of wellness centres, outward bound activities and nature conservation projects.
‘Tanera Mòr could certainly be considered for any of these enterprises.
‘The agents added that with three piers and the scattered location of cottages along the eastern side, the island could be divided into three distinct parts, perhaps appealing to a consortium of buyers keen to re-establish a self-sustaining island community.
Stunning: A sea urchin sits atop a Torridonian sandstone outcrop on the north of the Island, where the view overlooks Achiltibuie and Badentarbat pier and the peaks of Suilven, Canisp and Satc Pollaidh in front of Cul Mor and Cul Beag
Tranquil: The view from the front of Rosslyn, the currently permanently-inhabited house on the island, and the walkway down to Rosslyn pier -all of which is included in the £1.9m price tag
Tanera is owned by the Wilder family who bought it in 1996 and run it as a tourism enterprise with holiday cottages and a sailing school. It was put up for sale last year
‘It was a medium-term, business decision – it’s a “working” island. My parents wanted to sign the island over to me and my two brothers. We’re all older now, we have families and the time is right.”
As well as Lizzie and Richard’s house, there are eight other properties on the island. They’re hired out as popular holiday lets.
Further along the coast, a renovated boat-house is now a cafe, busy with day-trippers. The island is also home to a number of residential courses, from writing and painting to sea kayaking.
The couple have lived on the island for four years, taking over running it since Bill and Jean retired.
But mum and dad didn’t go far – they live just across the water on the mainland. And when Lizzie and Richard sell up, they plan on staying local too.
Lizzie, who used to live in Cambridge, said: ‘We love the area. It’s a great place to raise a family.
‘I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I expect it will be hard, sometimes, looking across the water knowing the island’s no longer ours. As long as it’s in good hands we’ll be happy.’
The island was once a thriving herring station, home to 120 people.
Many of the men left to fight in the First World War. Few returned and the population never recovered.
FROM A FOUR-BEDROOM LONDON TOWNHOUSE TO A SPORTS CAR AND LUXURY YACHT: OTHER WAYS TO SPEND £1.9M
This luxurious Sunseeker 86 Yacht costs £1,995,000
Tanera Mòr comes complete with nine cottages, a cafe, a post office and a salmon farm as well as 766 acres of beautiful countryside.
With a price tag of £1.95million, it could be seen as a brilliant investment – especially considering a four-bedroom townhouse in London is available for the same price.
Here’s what else you could buy for £1.95million:
A luxury yacht:
This luxurious Sunseeker 86 Yacht costs £1,995,000 and comes complete with four cabins including a full beam master stateroom with a grand en suite and walk in wardrobes, two twin cabins and an elegant VIP room.
It can sleep eight guests and has a formal dining area, outside seating, a bar and an upholstered sunbathing area.
It also comes complete with a Satellite TV and on board entertainment system.
A supercar:
The Bugatti Veyron costs in the region of £2million and is one of the ultimate sports cars.
The high-powered two-door vehicle has been developed by the Volkswagen Group and has a top speed of 253mph.
It runs off a state-of-the-art engine and its two-tone classic colour scheme looks sleek and stylish.
The Bugatti Veyron costs in the region of £2million and is one of the ultimate sports cars. It can reach a top speed of more than 250mph
A four-bedroom townhouse in London:
For the same price of Tanera Mòr you could buy a four-bedroom townhouse in London.
This four-bedroom townhouse is on the market for £1,950,000 – the same price as Tanera Mòr – and is in a sought after location approximately half a mile from Clapham Junction
The Victorian townhouse near Clapham Junction comes complete with four double bedrooms, four bathrooms, a basement family room, a kitchen and dining room and an open-plan double reception room.
It has recently been renovated to include a sumptuous master suite and converted basement.
It is on the market for £1,950,000 and is in a sought after location approximately half a mile from Clapham Junction.
It boasts a modern interior including a kitchen directly imported from Italy with granite worktops, high quality integrated appliances and an oak floor.
The whole house has recently had a new roof and new electrics and plumbing.
In stark contrast to the Scottish island, the London townhouse is near to several amenities including three local schools, a range of large shops, bus stations and Tube stations and comes with full on-street parking.
The sky turns pink and purple as the sun emerges over the Inner Hebrides while the silhouette of a mountain can be seen in the background, topped with clouds.
Richard Williams, pictured left holding his child Rosie, enjoys a walk with wife Lizzie along the picturesque coastline of their island. There are no shops or roads and mail and daily essentials are delivered from local shops, 25 miles away in Ullapool
A man looks out across the incredible seascape at Tanera Mor with towering mountains showing through the haze in the background. There are five established holiday letting cottages on the island while courses include a Royal Yacht Association recognised sailing school which has operated throughout the summer
Peaceful: Also included in the package is (left to right) the old herring station, the fishermen’s cottage, Rowan Cottage and a pier
A spokesman for Savills/CKD Galbraith said: ‘The island is currently managed and run as a successful tourist enterprise, incorporating a number of facets.
‘Alongside the five established holiday letting cottages, the business has been expanded to include residential courses including a Royal Yacht Association recognised sailing school which has operated throughout the summer.
‘The café and post office operate from a building lying close to the main pier and are open for seasonal daily visits from April until September.
‘The café is a popular stop off, not only for the regular tourist boats from Ullapool and Achiltibuie, but also visiting yachtsmen and small, upmarket cruise ships such as the Hebridean Princess and the Noble Caledonia fleet.Tanera Mòr offers great potential for rural entrepreneurs.
‘Scottish islands are often favoured for the establishment of wellness centres, outward bound activities and nature conservation projects. Tanera Mòr could certainly be considered for any of these enterprises.’
The agents added that with three piers and the scattered location of cottages along the eastern side, the island could be divided into three distinct parts, perhaps appealing to a consortium of buyers keen to re-establish a self-sustaining island community.
The view from Tigh an Quay Pier, and the mid-point of the Anchorage Bay on the island. Dark clouds gather over distant mountains and a stack of lobster pots has been left on the quay in the foreground. Mail and deliveries come in via boat while the nearest big town is 25 miles away
Tanera Mòr has attracted interest from as far afield as China, the USA and the Falkland Islands, but no buyer could be found for the island, which is the largest and only inhabited island of the Summer Isles
The tiny collection of cottages which surround a quiet and sheltered bay on the island. The asking price includes nine homes, some of which are already set up for holiday lettings
Pretty: As well as the 766-acres of virtually unspoilt island and stunning seascape views, the island also has its own salmon fish farm, several holiday cottages, a small sailing school, a café and a post office
Sun sets over the island and the water is glassy and still off the coast. The Anchorage Bay fish farm, pictured from the summit of nearby Meall Mor, is included in the £1.95million price tag for the idyllic island
