With some properties it's hard to know where to start. And in the case of Inchmarnock — an island in the Firth of Clyde, just across the water from Rothesay and just 40 miles as the crow flies from Glasgow — you begin to wonder if the word 'property' is even adequate.
This beautiful island of 660 acres — which is for sale through Strutt & Parker with a £1.4m price tag — has been used by people for thousands of years. It's been a Bronze Age settlement, a medieval monastery, a burial ground for the Scots who were slain 750 years ago at the Battle of Largs, a 17th century hermit's retreat, a smugglers' hideout and a D-Day training ground.
It's been inhabited, abandoned, repopulated, farmed and very probably used as a centre of learning by early Christians. Before the current owners took it on in 1999, it had been uninhabited for a quarter of a century.
Today, it offers a huge range of possibilities for whoever decides to take the place on. Herds of prime Scottish cattle have been raised here in recent years, and that farming could easily continue — but there are also fabulous sporting and leisure opportunities on an island that has five miles of coastland, woodland and open country.
One thing the island doesn't currently have is a home — but the purchase does include a fine, four-bedroom house across the water at Straad, on the west coast of Bute.
The house, currently used as a holiday home, has its own slipway for The Marnock, a ferry that was specially-built for transporting livestock and machinery to and from Inchmarnock.
The house is modern but very pleasant with open plan kitchen, dining room and sitting room, a large master bedroom, two more good-sized bedrooms and a box room.
It's been used as a holiday home by the owners of Inchmarnock for many years and never rented out; the views are utterly charming, looking out across this beautifully-unspoilt landscape of sea, sky and islands.
While the island itself has no home at the moment, there are a number of ruined buildings — some ancient, some more modern — which could, subject to the usual approvals and procedures, be turned into habitable accommodation again.
While it'd be wonderful to see the island repopulated, of course, but there are possibilities of all sorts forsuch a prime piece of land — the ruins in particular could become magical holiday homes, for example. It's hard to imagine a prettier, safer or more secluded place for a family holiday.
Given that, and given the extraordinarily reasonable-sounding purchase price of £1.4m, it's no surprise to hear that agents Strutt & Parker expect global interest in the place.
'Inchmarnock is a stunning island rich in possibility,' says Diane Fleming of Strutt & Parker's Edinburgh office. 'It's stunning, with great heritage and is a peaceful and secluded haven, yet it is relatively accessible from Scotland’s central belt. We expect significant interest from national and international buyers.'
Inchmarnock is for sale via Strutt & Parker at £1.4m — see more details and pictures.
Spectacular Scottish castles and estates for sale
A look at the finest castles, country houses and estates for sale in Scotland today.
Credit: Strutt & Parker
An estate with glorious views and a library tower on the shores of Loch Ness
This spectacularly-located estate on the banks of Loch Ness offers grand accommodation, miles of land and a castellated tower with
Lowther Castle: The spectacular and historic gardens that rise from one of Britain's most evocative ruins
The gardens at Lowther Castle, Penrith, Cumbria, rise artfully from the ruins of their spectacular setting — yet the effort
-
The Glovebox: Return of the Bentley Supersports, the ultimate rural Range Rover and the car collection fit for The KingA century after it was the first Bentley to top 100mph, the Supersports is back and looking better than ever.
-
The Alpine rescue dog built for blizzards, bred by monksAs snow fell across the UK this week, I found myself day-dreaming of St Bernards striding through the Alps — a snow-day dog worth celebrating.
-
12 fabulous rural homes,. from £650,000 to £4 million, as seen in Country LifeOur look includes a magnificently-situated home in Devon, a village home in Somerset and a historic Welsh farmhouse.
-
The Old Rectory for sale in a village up the road from Jane Austen's home, where the family lived that might have inspired some of her most memorable charactersIn the village of Dummer, close to Jane Austen's family home at Steventon, a beautiful old rectory has cone to the market. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
The pink granite chateau that the Cointreau family built in the Loire Valley is for sale at £3.5 millionThe great country seats of the Guinness family have an equivalent over the Channel, where the chateau built by the Cointreau family is on the market.
-
Is this the end of the Forever Home?The classic dream of finding a family house in which you can settle down, raise a family and grow old has never been harder to obtain. So has the concept of the 'Forever Home' had its day? Annabel Dixon reports.
-
An Arts-and-Crafts home that sits in prime position in the most exclusive (and priciest) road in HampshireWith its own private jetty on the Beaulieu River, The Rookery is a rare and beautiful home. Penny Churchill takes a look.
-
A home where medieval, Georgian and modern come together in rare styleSet in a couple of acres in the leafy outskirts of Essex, Rochfords is a family house that blends old and new with charm and a sense of fun.
-
A private island in the Thames Estuary is up for sale at £50,000, complete with its own Victorian fortDarnet Fort is seeking a new owner — but it's going to need someone of great vision and spirit.
-
A 500-year-old house with Soho House-style interiors, Chelsea gold medallist gardens and a grass tennis courtHaslingfield Manor is an extraordinary mix of styles and ideas, from Tudor Britain to the cutting edge of modern design. Penny Churchill takes a look.
