Escape lockdown on a private island: Londoners can get back to nature in a secluded retreat for as little as £85,000

Agents say demand for private islands from Londoners has surged.
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Londoners inspired by lockdown to seek a quieter life, close to nature and far from the coronavirus threat, can buy a secluded private island for less than a fifth of the price of the average home in the capital.

Crehan Island in Northern Ireland is on the market for £85,000. The six-acre, tree-covered island is in Lough Erne in an Area of Special Scientific Interest.

It’s close to the National Trust’s Crom Estate and the border towns of Belturbet and Ballyconnell in the Republic of Ireland, while the county town of Enniskillen is three hours’ steaming downstream.

The freehold island has a wood cabin currently used for storage or camping, but Emma Sharples of Vladi Private Islands, which is overseeing the sale, says this could potentially be upgraded to a modest holiday retreat, subject to planning permission being granted.

The existing chalet on Crehan

“The existing chalet is more of a temporary base at present and isn’t suited to long-term living. It’s a good option for brief excursions to the island or more adventurous types,” she says. “It would most likely be possible to replace it with a more liveable log cabin later down the line.”

There’s also a private wooden jetty for smaller sailing boats to moor and a sheltered berth for a motor cruiser of up to 12 metres, although during the summer when the water levels are low, a larger adjoining island can be reached via a stone causeway.

The current owners are offering their boats and membership at the local marina to store the boat when not on the island for an additional £7,500.

Sharples says the island has been getting a lot of interest from buyers attracted to the abundant bird life. “Crehan is a great option for people simply looking to unwind and enjoy nature from their own peaceful vacation retreat,” she says.

Those looking to buy an island at this level tend to be well-off enough to pay in cash, she adds, noting that while “there’s no getting around that it’s a luxury asset”, they’re not the super-rich.

“It sounds crazy but if you can afford a smart new car, then you can afford an island. And would you rather have your own private island or a Mercedes-Benz?”

For sale for £250,000: the Isle of Linga in the Shetlands

Also for sale and attracting enormous interest from city buyers fleeing Covid-19 is the 63-acre Isle of Linga in the Shetlands in Scotland, which is “the most in-demand island in our portfolio at the moment”, according to Sharples. It is on the market for £250,000, just over half the price of the average London home.

“There has been phenomenal interest in the past couple of weeks. We’ve had hundreds of enquiries from all over the world, thanks to the rugged beauty of the Shetlands,” says Sharples.

“The majority of interest is coming from the UK with the coronavirus situation, with people thinking about safety as well as the implications for international travel, even once lockdown is lifted. It’s got people dreaming again and we’ve had some serious interest — and even some tentative offers in, before people can visit as soon as travel restrictions end.”

The island is uninhabited “apart from a few sheep” but there are some derelict cottages, which the current owner – a Scottish expat with Shetland links – had planning permission to restore, along with building some new cottages. He also planned to add a windmill, solar panels and other eco-friendly features.

New residents will need to invest in some building work if they wish to live on the island.

They may not harbour such ambitious plans as those the vendor had in mind but whatever their intended development, it will need to generate some kind of greater good for the community, according to the laws governing the purchase of Scottish islands.

Linga can be seen from Mainland, the archipelago’s largest island, and it takes around 15 minutes to reach by boat.

Sharples says there’s a strong correlation between keen sailors and island lovers and she expects the future owner will have their own boat so they can maintain independence — although it is possible to get a local fisherman to ferry you over from Mainland.

For aspiring remote workers, Sharples says there’s a number of programmes in the Shetlands to get rural communities online, from satellite internet to underwater cables depending on budget, while the island already has mobile phone service.

“Looking at property prices in London it’s quite something. People want to get away from that rat race, slow down and reconnect with nature,” she says.