Inchmarnock

Is Inchmarnock for sale, and how much does it cost?

Inchmarnock is a 661 acres private island in Firth of Clyde (Argyll & Bute), United Kingdom (Scotland). It is currently offered for sale: £1,400,000 (guide). Tenure is freehold. Foreign ownership is permitted subject to local approvals. This is an editorial profile drawn from public record, clearly attributed, not our listing.

Summary

Offered in 2025 at a guide of two million pounds, Inchmarnock is a 661-acre organic-farming island in the Firth of Clyde, just off the Isle of Bute and within about two hours of Glasgow. It comes with traditional farm buildings, notable early-Christian and medieval archaeology, its own ferry and landing craft, and the option of a mainland-side Port House with slipway by separate negotiation. A working island with a fold of Highland cattle rather than a turnkey home, it suits a buyer drawn to farming, conservation and heritage within surprisingly easy reach of Scotland's central belt.

Land & Waterfront

The island's roughly 661 acres combine grass leys, permanent pasture and several hundred acres of rough grazing with native woodland, framed by nearly five miles of varied coastline of rocky shore and sandy coves. It sits in the sheltered Firth of Clyde off Bute, its low, farmed landscape supporting an in-hand organic operation and a fold of pedigree Highland cattle. Ancient ruins and archaeology across the island add historic depth. The mix of productive farmland, woodland and beaches gives it genuine estate variety in a mild, accessible west-coast setting.

Access & Utilities

Access is by the island's own ferry or boat from the Isle of Bute, with Bute itself reached by the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay CalMac service and Glasgow around two hours away. The optional Port House on Bute provides a slipway and direct views to the island, easing logistics. As a working farm the island operates off-grid with private services; exact power and water provision should be confirmed from the brochure. The inclusion of a landing craft is a practical asset, but a buyer should treat services and the ferry arrangement as key diligence items.

Ownership & Use

Scottish freeholdOutright ownership of the land itself, indefinitely — the strongest form of title. transfers cleanly to any buyer with no nationality restriction. Inchmarnock's natural uses are as a continuing organic farm, a conservation and archaeology holding, or a private island retreat with development of the farm buildings subject to consent. Buyers should clarify whether Port House and the slipway are included, confirm the protected status of the archaeological sites, and verify the ferry and utilities. For those seeking a large, income-capable and historically rich island unusually close to a major city, it is a distinctive and comparatively attainable proposition.

Provenance

Inchmarnock was farmed in three parcels with its last resident leaving Northpark in 1986; Lord Smith of Kelvin (Alliance Trust chairman) bought the then-empty island in 1999 and spent two decades restoring it, running Highland cattle and funding an archaeological dig, before first listing it for sale in 2019 — the guide price has since swung from £1.4m (2019, Strutt & Parker) to £2m (2025, Stanley Wright) back to today's £1.4m+ (2026, Stanley Wright).

Specification

Status	Available
Offering	For sale
Region	Northern Europe · Firth of Clyde (Argyll & Bute)
Country	United Kingdom (Scotland)
Size	661 acres · 267.5 ha
Tenure	Freehold
Access	boat
Nearest airport	Glasgow about two hours via the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay ferry to Bute
Power	off-grid
Water	private
Communications	mobile
Structures	traditional farm buildings, ancient ruins/archaeology, Port House on Bute (by separate negotiation)
Foreign ownership	Permitted (see notes)
Publicly marketed	since 2019

Price record

Documented public figures over time — asking prices, reported sales and reductions, each attributed. This record is maintained editorially and may lag the market.

The full traced record — ownership lineage and every dated event back to the earliest public mention — is in The Ledger, for members.

Legal & Ownership Notes

Scottish freehold transfers cleanly with no nationality bar

Zoning: Development of farm buildings subject to planning consent; archaeological remains may carry protection

• confirm status of archaeological sites
• clarify inclusion of Port House and slipway
• verify off-grid utilities and the island's ferry/landing craft

Satellite reference: ESRI World Imagery / Google Earth — Inchmarnock, Firth of Clyde, Scotland.

Common questions

How much does Inchmarnock cost?

Inchmarnock is profiled at: £1,400,000 (guide). Figures reflect public record at time of writing and may change; the profile keeps a dated price record.

What tenure does Inchmarnock have?

Inchmarnock is held on freehold tenure. Always confirm the exact instrument and any remaining term on the title.

Can a foreigner buy Inchmarnock?

Foreign buyers may own property here subject to local approvals. Scottish freehold transfers cleanly with no nationality bar

How do you get to Inchmarnock?

Access is by boat. Nearest airport: Glasgow about two hours via the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay ferry to Bute.

How big is Inchmarnock?

Inchmarnock is approximately 661 acres (267.5 hectares).