Hildasay, a 267-acre island off the west coast of Shetland, has been put on the market for £350,000. The island is only accessible by boat from the surrounding mainland and islands and includes its own pier.
The property boasts an extensive coastline, two freshwater lochs, and gently rising ground that reaches around 105ft at its highest point. It also offers views across the surrounding landscape and sea, along with a traditional bothy hut for shelter. The island is home to a variety of birdlife as well as marine and coastal wildlife.
A Distinctive Private Island
Kelvin Anderson estate agents describe Hildasay as a truly distinctive property offering privacy and heritage in one of Britain's most remarkable island settings. A spokesperson called it “an extraordinary opportunity to acquire Hildasay, a beautiful and historic private island lying off the west coast of Shetland.”
The spokesperson noted that the island is accessible by boat from the surrounding mainland and islands and benefits from its own pier, providing a principal landing point. “Its scale and unspoilt character create a genuine sense of escape, with open landscapes and uninterrupted views across the surrounding waters,” they added.
Historic Industrial Past
The island was once home to dozens of people who worked in local industry. According to the spokesperson, Hildasay has a history closely connected to Shetland's fishing and quarrying heritage.
“In 1891, the island was home to around 30 people, with granite quarrying and herring curing forming important local industries. Hildasay's distinctive red-green granite was quarried on a considerable scale and transported to the harbour along a purpose-built railway before being shipped further afield, reportedly reaching destinations as distant as Australia,” the spokesperson said.
“Remnants of this remarkable industrial past remain visible today. Substantial abandoned granite blocks and traces of the historic railway can still be found across the landscape, providing a tangible connection to a time when this now peaceful island supported a thriving community.”
A Rare Opportunity in Shetland
The spokesperson added: “Today, Hildasay represents something increasingly difficult to find - the opportunity to own an entire island in Shetland.”
In recent years, Hildasay gained attention when it hosted charity coastline adventurer Chris Lewis during the Covid pandemic. The 39-year-old had been sleeping in a tent on mainland Shetland when lockdown restrictions were imposed to limit the spread of coronavirus. He was given special permission to live in the island's one house with his dog Jet. Lewis later released a book called Finding Hildasay, documenting his travels around the UK coastline.
