Nestled within the storied waters of Loch Lomond, the 100-acre Inchconnachan Island represents a rare and enchanting slice of Scottish wilderness, now available for a new custodian. BBC broadcasting veteran Kirsty Young and her husband, Soho House founder Nick Jones, have placed their private island on the market, presenting a unique opportunity that intertwines natural history with luxury potential. Purchased for £1.6 million in 2020, the island carries a price tag of £3 million in its current, untouched state—a figure that belies the true cost of realizing its full vision. For a buyer seeking a turnkey escape, an additional £7 million would transform the raw, wooded landscape into a completed luxury retreat, bringing the total investment to a staggering £10 million. This sale marks the end of the couple’s personal plans for the island, a decision prompted by a profound shift in perspective following Jones’s successful battle with prostate cancer.
Inchconnachan is no ordinary parcel of land; it is steeped in quirky history and ecological novelty. For over two decades, the island has stood uninhabited, its sole structures being the remnants of a derelict cabin, a legacy of its former owners, the aristocratic Colquhoun family. The island’s true residents, however, are its most famous inhabitants: a colony of red-necked wallabies. These marsupials, believed to have been introduced in the 1940s by Lady Arran Colquhoun, who relocated them from her English estate, have thrived in the island’s temperate climate. Their presence has earned Inchconnachan the charming nickname “Wallaby Island,” making it the only place in Scotland where these exotic animals roam wild, a living testament to a bygone era of private menageries and aristocratic whimsy.
Young and Jones initially envisioned themselves as stewards of this unique heritage. Their ambitious plan, lodged in 2021, was to sensitively develop the island with a single, discreet holiday home, a boathouse, and a jetty, all designed to coexist with the natural environment. Central to their proposal was the employment of wardens to oversee conservation efforts, ensuring the protection of the wallabies and the island’s lush woodlands. This vision sought to balance the creation of a personal sanctuary with a responsibility toward the island’s unusual ecosystem. However, life’s unpredictable currents redirected their course, leading to the difficult decision to sell and pass the baton to someone who might bring that careful vision to life.
The listing, held by Sotheby’s, explicitly offers the island with the benefit of that existing planning permission, presenting two clear paths forward. The £3 million option is for the purist or the visionary—a buyer who acquires the raw, magical land with its approved plans, taking on the project and its inherent responsibilities themselves. The £10 million “fully completed” option, however, is for those seeking unparalleled seclusion without the burden of a multi-year build. This package promises a luxury retreat constructed over approximately two years, a haven designed for “extreme comfort,” family gatherings, golfing weekends, and quiet reflection, all delivered ready for occupation.
The island’s allure is undeniably potent. Marketing materials praise its “extraordinary seclusion,” where elevated viewpoints and sweeping shorelines offer breathtaking, uninterrupted vistas toward the majestic Ben Lomond. Its location is both remote and conveniently connected; a mere ten-minute boat ride provides access to the prestigious Loch Lomond Golf Club, blending wild isolation with world-class amenities. Nick Jones himself articulated the intended atmosphere, describing a retreat crafted for meaningful connection and peaceful solitude. It represents the pinnacle of private escape, a place where the rhythms of nature dictate the pace of life.
Ultimately, the sale of Inchconnachan Island is more than a high-value real estate transaction; it is the transfer of a legacy. It offers the next owner a chance to write a new chapter for a place rich with natural wonder and human history. For Kirsty Young and Nick Jones, letting go is part of a conscious choice for a “slightly smaller life,” a poignant reminder of how personal journeys reshape our dreams. Now, this unique kingdom of forests, loch views, and unexpected wallabies awaits its next chapter, promising its future owner a realm of beauty, tranquility, and a most singular slice of Scottish legend.
