Private islands seem to be reserved for the stars (think Branson’s Necker Island, George and Amal Clooney’s island on the Thames, or Beyoncé’s tropical paradise in the Florida Keys), but you too could own a private island – and at a much more affordable price.
Torsa, a rugged, grassy island in the Inner Hebrides, is for sale for the first time in 85 years, listed with Savills for £1.5 million.
Torsa Island – which means “Thor’s Island” – is located off the west coast of Scotland. It is 1.2 miles long and 800 meters wide and covers 270 acres. It has no inhabitants other than you.
Set in inky blue waters, Torsa has over four kilometres of private shoreline and rises to a height of 62 metres at its centre, offering panoramic views across the Inner Hebrides and out to the mountains and lochs of Argyllshire.
“What really sets Torsa apart is its location amongst all the other islands and this spectacular part of Scotland’s west coast,” says Luke French, the property’s agent. “The views of the surrounding islands, inlets and down to the Sound of Jura are simply breathtaking.”
To the south of the small island there is a sheltered anchorage for yachts and motorboats. To the southeast there is a collection of dilapidated stone farm buildings that French said could be restored.
The main building on the island, Torsa Farmhouse, is a whitewashed stone building which sits adjacent to the farm buildings. The building is set over two floors and has a kitchen/diner, sitting room and conservatory on the first floor with views across the mouth of Loch Melfort. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom.
The property is currently used as a holiday home and second home by the island’s owners and has been “regularly modernised and improved over the years”, according to Savills.
But now that they live in the south of England with their young family, the owners “don’t get there nearly as often as they would like,” says French, and have decided to put Torsa up for sale. “I think they realised that someone else could get more out of the island than they could.”
As well as being able to continue the holiday rental business, potential buyers could also build on the island, subject to planning permissions. “I think someone with the right vision could do something very exciting with the existing farmhouse and homestead. There’s a decent building footprint,” says French. “I think that’s one of the big appeals of buying this island: what can you create there in terms of a home?”
Currently, much of the land on Torsa is grazed by sheep, pigs and cattle under an agreement with farmers from the neighboring island of Luing. This also provides a source of income and helps protect Torsa’s flora and fauna. French says both the farmers and the current owners are keen for the agreement to continue.
In addition to livestock, Torsa also has plenty of other wild animals to keep a buyer company – even if there are no neighbors. On land there are hares, deer and foxes; in the sea there are otters, seals, dolphins and porpoises; and in the sky there are seabirds, buzzards and eagles.
Torsa is accessible by private boat. The Scottish mainland is just a short crossing away (around 10 minutes), while the nearest post office, shops, restaurants and pubs are on the neighbouring islands of Luing and Seil. The nearest town, 18 miles away, is Oban.
Scotland has 790 offshore islands – rugged, windswept rocks and green, fertile outcrops – that occasionally come on the market. Pladda, off the coast of Arran, was offered for £350,000 in 2022, while the island of Danna was part of the 3,380-acre Tayvallich estate, which was offered for £10.465 million. The Shetland island of Vaila, which included a 17th-century manor house, was offered for £1.75 million in the same year.
“Getting an island on the market is quite rare – we only see a Scottish Hebridean island on the market every few years,” says French. “They have always been very sought after. It’s wonderful to own your own island and all that that entails.”
So far, French says he has received interest from a “wide range” of buyers, including artists, business people and sailing enthusiasts. “The west coast of Scotland is known for its light and has always been popular with artists. (There are also) international business people who spend their time sailing up and down the west coast of Scotland. Scotland and I’ve always liked the idea of owning something. If you enjoy sailing, having your own island with direct access to the water is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“They’re all looking for privacy and seclusion – they want to escape the hectic lives we all lead,” adds French. “Regardless of who they are or where they come from, they generally have one thing in common: they appreciate the peace and quiet that comes with owning your own island.”
