Castle-equipped Scottish island lists for the first time in 80 years and its accessible only by boat or helicopter

An entire private island off Scotland’s rugged west coast — complete with a ruined castle, a working farm and a cluster of off-grid holiday cottages — is hitting the market for the first time in nearly 80 years.Shuna, a 1,100-acre island in the Inner Hebrides, is being offered for about $7.44 million, marking the end of an era for a family that has stewarded it since World War II.The Gully family has owned the island since 1945, when Viscountess Selby, reeling from the war’s aftermath, walked into a London estate agency and inquired — somewhat famously — if they had “any islands on the books.”As family legend goes, they had one.She bought it sight unseen and relocated her family to the Atlantic outpost.“It’d been a pretty traumatic time for lots of people and she was looking for a new start,” her grandson, Jim Gully, told Bloomberg.

“They thought it was a fairly eccentric question.”Spanning roughly 3 miles by 1.5 miles, Shuna boasts dramatic shorelines, secluded coves, white sand beaches and rich biodiversity — from red and fallow deer to sea eagles, seals and dolphins. It’s reachable only by boat or helicopter, with no cars, roads or full cell service — an increasingly rare retreat from modernity.“It’s really been such a dream island and a huge part of all of our lives,” Gully said.He and his brother were homeschooled on the island by their grandfather.

“It was such an idyllic place to grow up and explore and have adventures.”The island currently supports a modest tourism business.Seven cottages — rented seasonally from April to October — can accommodate up to 52 guests. Each comes with its own boat, and activities range from sheep gathering to archery.“It’s a very simple, relaxed setup,” said Gully, noting many guests return year after year, often spanning generations.Power is supplied by solar panels, wind turbines and generators, as Shuna is off the national electricity grid.

There’s also an eighth home...