Castaway island yours for £2m

The uninhabited Hebridean island of Taransay is to go on the market with an asking price of more than £2 million.

The island, two miles off Harris, was the setting for the BBC series Castaway, which followed the fortunes of an experimental community in one of the early reality television shows.

The property is owned by brothers Norman and Angus Mackay who live in Harris and are said to be selling for business reasons.

The most famous of the Castaways, Ben Fogle, yesterday appeared to rule himself out of the race to buy his one-time home.

He said: "Ever since my year on Taransay I have always dreamed of buying the island myself.

"The birth of my new daughter, Iona, named after the island in the Inner Hebrides, is testament to my love of the Western Isles.

"Taransay is a remarkable island and I hope it falls into the right hands of someone who will care for the island and love it as much as those who have been lucky enough to visit and spend time there. The price tag is a little high for a new father with responsibilities, but I'd be interested in exploring Taransay opportunities with others."

Taransay, which is made up of two islands connected by a peninsula of sand, covers 3,445 acres. The original buildings on the island were renovated for the TV series and since 2002 they have been used as self-catering holiday cottages.

The farmhouse has also been recently refurbished and the old school chalet has been upgraded, while the bothy offers more basic accommodation.

According to property consultant CKD Galbraith, the selling agent, the island also offers an abundance of activity for sportsmen, with hill lochs teeming with brown trout, coastal and sea fishing, and a herd of about 200 red deer.