Hildasay, a remote island off Shetland’s west coast, has been put on the market for £350,000 (€414,000). Extending to approximately 110 hectares and accessible exclusively by boat, the Scottish island offers a rugged coastline, two freshwater lochs and abundant birdlife that varies with the seasons. Although a small community inhabited it in the nineteenth century, its present accommodation consists of a traditional stone-built cottage, accompanied by a small pier.
Inside, there is a lounge warmed by a stove that burns solid fuel, an elevated sleeping space in an open layout, and a bathroom of its own with a shower, basin and toilets. Its principal practical limitation is the absence of a mains electricity connection. Previous owners relied on a small wind turbine and a diesel generator, but Kelvin Anderson, the estate agent handling the sale, says prospective buyers will have to make their own arrangements. Upgrading the accommodation would also require planning permission and other statutory consents, making the property particularly suited to those comfortable with basic living conditions.
The island previously attracted attention following the publication of Chris Lewis’s book, ‘Finding Hildasay: How one man walked the UK's coastline and found hope and happiness’. Lewis spent three months on Hildasay during the pandemic, and the book recounts his walk around the UK coastline. A crowdfunding campaign intended to help him purchase the island was proposed but subsequently abandoned, according to the Shetland Times. The current sale offers the island as a remote, off-grid retreat.
