A private Scottish island that was once the holiday retreat for the speedboat-racing Countess of Arran could be yours for £500,000.
The 103-acre Inchonnachan Island in Loch Lomond is covered in woodland and lush green vegetation, with a number of secluded bays dotted along its two-miles of pristine shore.
The property, owned by the Colquhoun family since the 14th century, includes a derelict 1920s timber bungalow – once the summer home of the Countess of Arran, Fiona Gore, who became the fastest woman on water in 1980 after reaching 102mph in a powerboat on Lake Windermere.
It also includes a boathouse and pier, and comes with planning permission for a new four-bedroom lodge and a one-bedroom warden’s house.
Despite its secluded location, the remote island is famous for its colony of wallabies, which are thought to have been introduced to the area in the 1940s.
The derelict private island in Scotland and is surrounded by acres of lush green vegetation, a number of secluded bays and a shoreline
A secluded timber property, which comes with planning consent for a house, is located on Inchonnachan Island in Loch Lomond, Scotland
The 103-acre land sits between the islands of Inchtavannach to the west and Inchmoan to the south and has been vacant for around 20 years
Sitting between the islands of Inchtavannach to the west and Inchmoan to the south, the island is covered in ancient woodland, including oak, aspen, alder, Scot’s pine, Douglas fir and larch trees.
And it is visited by an array of wildlife throughout the year including deer, jays, coal tits, crossbills, collared doves and, occasionally, nesting ospreys.
The island, which is being marketed jointly by Savills and Knight Frank, is only accessible via boat which is a short trip from the pier at Luss.
While the existing derelict bungalow, boathouse and pier on the island were constructed in the 1920s, reportedly by the retired tea merchant Admiral Sullivan who designed the property in the style of an Indian tea plantation bungalow, in 2015 estate agents obtained planning consent to replace the original home.
The planning permission, which was obtained from the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, will allow the new owner to replace the existing house with a new four-bedroom lodge and a one-bedroom warden’s house.
Despite its seclusion, the island can be a base for all manner of outdoor activities including wake-boarding, sailing, mountain-biking, kayaking, angling and hill walking.
Cameron Ewer from Savills said: ‘This is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire a beautiful and completely private, yet accessible, retreat and create a wonderful new residence there.
The island, which is on the market for £500,000, sits between the islands of Inchtavannach to the west and Inchmoan to the south
The island currently which is being marketed jointly by Savills and Knight Frank, is predominantly covered with ancient oak woodland
The private island is surrounded with acres of coniferous woodland, including Oak, Aspen, Alder, Scot’s Pine, Douglas Fir and Larch
Green vegetation including blaeberry, bryophytes, heath bedstraw and wood sorrel, also surround the private island in Scotland
The stunning Island is famous for its colony of wallabies and welcomes an array of wildlife throughout the year including sika deers, jays, coal tits, crossbills, collared doves and, occasionally, nesting ospreys
In 2015, the estate agent received permission to replace the existing property with a new four-bedroom lodge and one-bedroom warden’s house. Pictured: Plans for the new replacement property
‘For those seeking peace and seclusion, yet wanting all that this part of Scotland has to offer in the way of nature and water-based sport and activities, this is surely the ultimate prize.’
The derelict timber property, which has been vacant for approximately 20 years, was once the summer retreat for the Countess of Arran who became the unlikely powerboat champion at the 1980 Segrave Trophy.
The prestigious title, which is given to those who demonstrate ‘outstanding skill, courage and initiative on land, water and in the air’ is awarded by the Royal Automobile Club, with past winners including Sir Stirling Moss, Lewis Hamilton, Colin McRae, Damon Hill, Nigel Mansell and Sir Richard Branson.
Born on July 20, 1918 to Geraldine Bryde Tennant and Iain Colquhoun, the seventh Baronet of Luss, Lady Arran, became a record holder by reaching a top speed of 102mph in her powerboat Skean-Dhu on Lake Windemere in Cumbria’s Lake District.
The Countess, who married Sir Arthur Kattendyke Strange David Archibald Gore in 1937, was said to have been drawn to the small house on the Isle of Inchconnachan on Loch Lomond and often boated there.
For more information on the property visit: https://search.savills.com/property-detail/
The secluded island in Loch Lomond was once the summer retreat for the Countess of Arran, Fiona Gore (pictured in her speedboat in 1982), who became the unlikely champion powerboater at the 1980 Segrave Trophy
The island, which is being marketed jointly by Savills and Knight Frank, allows for a range of activities including wake-boarding, sailing, mountain-biking, kayaking, angling and hill walking
The derelict bungalow, boathouse and pier were constructed in the 1920, is only accessible via boat which is a short trip from the pier at Luss
The Fastest Woman on Water: How badger-loving aristocrat followed in her hero’s wake to break world powerboat speed record
Lady Arran (pictured in a speedboat in 1980) became the fastest woman on water when she reached 102mph in her powerboat Skean-Dhu on Lake Windermere
Fiona Bryde Gore set many records – notably the first woman to travel on water at over 100mph- and was often called the fastest granny on water.
She followed in the steps of her hero Donald Campbell, who broke eight world speed records on water and on land in the 1950s and 1960s, and began racing her speedboat Highland Fling across Windermere in an effort to surpass the Class 1 record to 85.63mph.
The keen powerboater, who was 53-years-old at the time, went on to compete in 12 more races and won on three occasions.
In 1980, the countess, who was also a painter, became the fastest woman on water when she reached 102mph in her powerboat Skean-Dhu on Lake Windermere and won the 1980 Segrave Trophy.
The countess, who was born on July 20, 1918 to Dinah Tennnant, a champion golfer, and war hero Sir Iain Colquhoun, the 7th Baronet, married Sir Arthur Kattendyke Strange David Archibald Gore, nicknamed ‘Boofy’, in 1937.
Sir Arthur went on to succeed his brother to become the 8th Earl of Arran and became an active member of the House of Lords in 1958.
He became well known during the 1960s for his weekly column in the London Evening New which ran until 1978 and was also a passionate advocate for homosexual rights.
As her husband continued in his political endeavours, Lady Arran pursued her own powerboat interests and would often retreat to a small house on the Isle of Inchconnachan on Loch Lomond where she was brought up.
The countess was brought up mostly on the island and was introduced to the powerboating when she was driven across Loch Lomond in Miss England III, a hydroplane powered by Rolls-Royce aero-engines.
Later in life, Lady Arran, who was a friend of Ian Fleming (the creator of James Bond), helped design and construct a revolutionary electrically-propelled 15ft hydroplane, An Stradag, known as The Spark.
In 1989, at the age of 71, she also flew the tiny craft to another record of 50.825mph.
During her life, the countess along with her husband, regularly campaigned for the protection of badgers, and eventually helped pave the way for the Badger Protection Bill.
She died at the age of 94 on the May 16, 2013, in Devon.