Fund a West Coast island life

They may have small populations but with a real growth in tourism thanks to the whisky industry, the islands of Jura and Islay in the Inner Hebrides have a buzz about them.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Jun 2016, 13:00 BST
Updated 13th Jun 2016, 12:00 BST
Frisco in Craighouse on the isle of Jura is a three-bedroomed shoreside cottage. The house takes its name from a previous owner who escaped the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Recently refurbished, Frisco Cottage has beach access and its own mooring. Price £165,000. Contact Bell Ingram on 01361 566122.Frisco in Craighouse on the isle of Jura is a three-bedroomed shoreside cottage. The house takes its name from a previous owner who escaped the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Recently refurbished, Frisco Cottage has beach access and its own mooring. Price £165,000. Contact Bell Ingram on 01361 566122.
Frisco in Craighouse on the isle of Jura is a three-bedroomed shoreside cottage. The house takes its name from a previous owner who escaped the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Recently refurbished, Frisco Cottage has beach access and its own mooring. Price £165,000. Contact Bell Ingram on 01361 566122.

With the recent spell of excellent West Coast weather, Islay has been particularly busy but there are plenty of reasons to consider permanent relocation and there are various property opportunities which could fund an island life.

At 25 miles long and 15 miles wide, Islay has a relatively mild climate and its famous whisky distilleries such as Laphroaig and Bowmore draw visitors from all over the world.

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Bowmore is home to around a third of the population with almost 1,000 residents.

An Taigh Osda is a detached property with six ensuite bedrooms, two reception rooms, a professional kitchen and a one-bedroomed annexe. It's a stone's throw from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay, so it has potential to be run as a guesthouse with separate owner's accommodation. Price £450,000. Contact Stewart, Balfour & Sutherland on 01586 553737.An Taigh Osda is a detached property with six ensuite bedrooms, two reception rooms, a professional kitchen and a one-bedroomed annexe. It's a stone's throw from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay, so it has potential to be run as a guesthouse with separate owner's accommodation. Price £450,000. Contact Stewart, Balfour & Sutherland on 01586 553737.
An Taigh Osda is a detached property with six ensuite bedrooms, two reception rooms, a professional kitchen and a one-bedroomed annexe. It's a stone's throw from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay, so it has potential to be run as a guesthouse with separate owner's accommodation. Price £450,000. Contact Stewart, Balfour & Sutherland on 01586 553737.

Port Ellen, Port Charlotte and Portnahaven are the other main villages on the island.

Despite having a definite island mentality, it isn’t that remote, with daily car ferries connecting it to the mainland and its own airport.

Bus services are frequent and cycling is a great way to get around.

The stunning landscape is another major perk for residents, as is the number of birds that live on the island and the beaches are excellent.

This pretty cottage in Portnahaven on Islay is on the market for £80,000. It has two bedrooms and views to the harbour and lighthouse. The cottage could do with some upgrading but the price reflects that. Contact GSPC on 01475 327972.This pretty cottage in Portnahaven on Islay is on the market for £80,000. It has two bedrooms and views to the harbour and lighthouse. The cottage could do with some upgrading but the price reflects that. Contact GSPC on 01475 327972.
This pretty cottage in Portnahaven on Islay is on the market for £80,000. It has two bedrooms and views to the harbour and lighthouse. The cottage could do with some upgrading but the price reflects that. Contact GSPC on 01475 327972.

Visitors come for the golf, fishing, hillwalking, and to follow the distilleries trail. There are also a number of festivals which attract tourists year round and make a holiday accommodation business a good option for those who want to relocate and work from home.

Meanwhile its neighbouring island of Jura, accessible from Islay via a quick car ferry crossing or a passenger ferry from the mainland, seems a world away.

There is only one very small village, Craighouse, and a few houses dotted up the east coast with just over 200 inhabitants.

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The rest of the island is one of Europe’s great wildernesses, with not even sheep or cows competing with the native Jura deer.

An Taigh Osda is a detached property with six ensuite bedrooms, two reception rooms, a professional kitchen and a one-bedroomed annexe. It's a stone's throw from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay, so it has potential to be run as a guesthouse with separate owner's accommodation. Price £450,000. Contact Stewart, Balfour & Sutherland on 01586 553737.An Taigh Osda is a detached property with six ensuite bedrooms, two reception rooms, a professional kitchen and a one-bedroomed annexe. It's a stone's throw from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay, so it has potential to be run as a guesthouse with separate owner's accommodation. Price £450,000. Contact Stewart, Balfour & Sutherland on 01586 553737.
An Taigh Osda is a detached property with six ensuite bedrooms, two reception rooms, a professional kitchen and a one-bedroomed annexe. It's a stone's throw from Bruichladdich distillery on Islay, so it has potential to be run as a guesthouse with separate owner's accommodation. Price £450,000. Contact Stewart, Balfour & Sutherland on 01586 553737.

Famous for being the rural retreat of George Orwell, these days it has a lively tourist trade of its own with its distillery at the centre.

There are opportunities to provide bed and breakfast and self catering cottages are in demand.

Both islands, like the malts they produce, might take a lifetime to explore.

For those who want to make a living from settling on an island though, property is worth a look.