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Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The beautiful Scottish island on sale for the same price as the average UK home
Do you dream of owning your very own island? There's one for sale in a remote region of the UK – and it's just had its price slashed. The entire island, complete with wooded areas, sandy beaches, and diverse wildlife habitats, was first listed in 2024 with a guide price of £325,000. But it has since been reduced to £275,000, meaning the inhabited stretch of land is around the average cost of a home in the UK. According to the latest data from Zoopla, the average British house would cost around £268,400. The island is also around half the price of an average London flat, which data from 2024 shows was an eye-watering £545,000. Eilean Mor is located within Loch Sunart, on the west coast of Scotland, near the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. It covers an area of 30 acres, and can be reached by boat or low-tide causeway. The island 'offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue', according to Bell Ingram, the estate agency handling the sale. 'The island's diverse terrain and tidal nature make it a fascinating destination for adventurers and nature enthusiasts alike. 'The waters around Eilean Mor are teeming with marine life and the island itself is a haven for seabirds, making it an excellent spot for birdwatching. 'The untouched natural environment provides a sanctuary for various species, offering visitors a glimpse into the thriving ecosystems of the Inner Hebrides.' The advert notes that the island, which has been owned by the same family for generations, comes without any form of planning permission. And potential buyers should be aware that Eilean Mor is part of the Sunart Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Sunart Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This means that development and construction are strictly regulated to protect the island's rare habitats and wildlife, limiting what can be built or altered on the island. The local area also offers a range of activities, from exploring nearby hiking trails and ancient woodlands to visiting the Ardnamurchan Lighthouse — the most westerly point on the British mainland. The island 'offers a unique blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue', according to Bell Ingram, the estate agency handling the sale Wildlife cruises, kayaking, and visits to local distilleries provide further opportunities to enjoy the stunning natural surroundings and rich cultural heritage of the region. Last month, another island – an uninhabited 90-acre parcel of land off Scotland's west coast – was put up for sale for offers over £500,000. Insh Island was previously owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The island was left to the organisation in the will of David Brearley, who reportedly lived in a cave on the island for 30 years up until 2003. In a move criticised by some, the National Trust for Scotland reportedly put the island up for auction in 2019 with a guide price of £125,000, but sold it for £353,000.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
I moved to a holiday paradise with my family but when we came back to the UK I struggled - here's why
A mother who fled the UK with her family to travel the world has shared four key things she 'doesn't miss' about living in Britain. Lucy Argent - along with her partner, Paul, and their three young children - packed up their home in December 2023, rented it out on Airbnb and set on a 'global adventure' that would allow them to 'spend more time together.' The mother registered her children, who were five, four and one years old at the time, with a world school program called Boundless Life. The 'experiential learning-based education system' is designed for families who want to experience living - and learning - in eight locations across the world by providing furnished apartments and homes close to community hubs. Lucy and her family have since had the opportunity to visit far-flung destinations such as Portugal, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Spain, Uruguay and now, Bali, Indonesia. They've documented on Instagram their day-to-day life during their six-month stay on the island - which includes regular outings to beaches, wildlife and water parks. In a recent video, uploaded to their page, @therichardsons04, in December 2024, the family returned to the UK for 10 days to visit family and friends - though Lucy admitted the trip wasn't without struggles. She went on to detail four things the family are happy to leave behind in the UK, starting with the weather. Lucy recalled not only had it 'rained every day' during their return, they also encountered a storm which had caused traffic chaos and led to public transport. She then complained of traffic itself, as she added: 'NO WORD of a lie I spent most of the time in traffic. It was actually soul destroying.' Next, Lucy highlighted the 'rushed' nature of the UK, describing the family's as constantly dashing through the day to catch transport and hurry to each destination up until 'bedtime.' She noted how she hadn't noticed the 'rat race' lifestyle in her native country until she grew accustomed to a 'slower pace of life' in Bali. Lucy finally showcased the price tag of a Bludie pink reindeer decoration, which was on sale in a shop for £15.99, before complaining of the cost of items in Britain. She added: 'One of the main reasons we left was the rising cost of living but this time round it really felt things had got out of control.' It comes as another family sold their home to travel the globe with their three children after becoming 'fed up with the UK education system. ' Chris and Tamira upped sticks with their children, Olivia, 11, Scarlett, nine, and Bella, five, in 2023. Since, they have visited Thailand, China and Malaysia, and are currently exploring Dubai - all while home schooling their three girls. Tamira revealed, via their TikTok account (@thehutchinsons), that they sold their home in January 2023. By May they had hopped on a plane, uprooting their family to travel the world. She told her followers: 'Yes we did sell our family home that we lived in for ten years. 'In 2022 in August we put it up for sale, and it was a really gruelling period not knowing whether it was going to sell or not, and then in January 2023 we got an offer and it was all completed in May.'
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Britons are racking up VAT-free shopping bill on Continent of £742MILLION
British shoppers are deserting UK stores and flocking to the EU to benefit from tax-free shopping. VAT-free spending on the Continent by Britons increased fivefold from 2021 to £742 million last year, Association of International Retail (AIR) data shows. The figures pile fresh pressure on ministers to reintroduce tax-free shopping for international visitors to the UK. Rishi Sunak scrapped it in 2021. But the move enraged many businesses, and the Mail's Scrap The Tourist Tax campaign was launched in support of calls for it to be reintroduced. Campaigners believe that the decision to axe the scheme is driving tourists away from London and Edinburgh to cities such as Paris, Madrid and Milan. Derrick Hardman, chairman of AIR, said it makes 'no sense for the UK to remain the only destination in Europe not offering tax-free shopping'. Hotelier Sir Rocco Forte added: 'The decision of the last government to scrap tax-free shopping, which had been available for decades, should be reversed immediately.' A HM Treasury spokesman said: 'We are supporting the continued growth of this industry.' Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been blamed for pushing restaurants and pubs into 'survival mode' as two venues have shut per day for the first half of 2025. The number of hospitality sites plunged by 374 to 98,746 sites at the end of June, market research firm NIQ and consultancy AlixPartners found. Labour's tax raid on employers was blamed for the fall.
