Perhaps you’ve returned from Glastonbury and are done with crowds. Or maybe you’ve just spent too long on the Tube in the hot weather. Either way, it’s easy to fantasise about living on this remote Scottish estate, which comes with 1,860 acres of land and 5.2 miles of coastline — and where the nearest large town is 57 miles away.
Located at the far end of the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, the most westerly point of the mainland of Scotland, Grigadale Estate is currently on the market with Strutt & Parker for £1.2 million.
Known as “the headland of the great seas,” the wild, dramatic peninsula was shaped by an ancient volcano, which brought dark basalt to the white sands of its bays, silvery mica to its rocks and two curved cliffs to Grigadale’s rugged coastline.
Until 1900, Ardnamurchan was only accessible by sea. Now, there’s a winding single-track road — but it remains one of the most remote peninsulas in the West Highlands. It is still easiest to access the estate by ferry, while the nearest village is 4.5 miles away. Fort William, the nearest large town, is 57 miles or just over two hours away by car.
To the north of the magnificent estate, overlooking Loch Grigadale, is the white-painted Grigadale House. Covering 1,750 sq ft over two storeys, there are three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and utility room downstairs. There is a sheltered area for outdoor dining in the garden, which is surrounded by a white stone wall. Crucially, there is no other house in view — only the estate’s own rolling land.
As well as the main house, the estate includes a collection of farm buildings which are currently used as storage and to house livestock, including a modern three-bay shed, traditional stone store adjacent to the house and a farm building by the loch.
Grigadale’s green, craggy 1,860 acres contain pasture, grazing land — home to a flock of 170 sheep — and three lochs. Grigadale Loch is the largest, marked as a conservation area because of its freshwater pearl mussels. The more isolated Loch Caorach, in the centre of the estate, is prime for trout fishing, while Lochan Druim na Claise, also good for fishing, is only accessible by foot.
Then there are the beaches. Two — Port Min and Briaghlann — are white shell-sand bays, lapped by clear blue waters. The third, a stony bay to the south, is best accessed on foot or by boat.
From the cliffs behind Port Min, there are views of the Sound of Mull and out towards the Treshnish Isles, while the remnants of a former croft house provide an opportunity to develop off-grid beachside accommodation.
There may not be neighbours at Grigadale Estate, but there are plenty of animals to keep buyers company. As well as the 170 sheep, which belong to a grazier under a 40-year agreement, there are deer, foxes, pine martens, wild cats and eagles. On trips out to sea, it’s possible to see otters, seals, dolphins and even basking sharks and minke whales.
In the winter months, the Northern Lights are sometimes visible from the property, which the owners describe as “a truly magical place”.
The sellers, who have owned the estate for 20 years, use Grigadale House themselves for half the year, letting it as a holiday home between spring and autumn. Now, however, their property is on the market.
As well as having potential as a holiday let — the house goes for £223 a night on average — the estate would suit adventurous buyers in search of seclusion, says Douglas Orr at Strutt & Parker.
“Grigadale is like no other [estate] I’ve had the pleasure of bringing to the market. It offers a kind of escapism that you don’t often see — and it brings it in buckets. There are picturesque beaches hidden along the coast, acres of land and plenty of sporting opportunities. It would be the ultimate private retreat.”
