Gully family to sell Hebridean island estate after 80 years of stewardship.
The Island of Shuna, a 1,000-acre private island off Scotland’s west coast with historical ties to aquaculture and a now-ruined Edwardian castle, has been listed for sale by the Gully family after eight decades of ownership.
Located in Loch Melfort, near Oban, Shuna has long served as a mixed-use estate, combining farming, holiday accommodation, and coastal activity. It is being marketed by Sotheby’s International Realty at a guide price of £5.5 million.
Though best known for its white-sand beaches, historic ruins, and wildlife, Shuna also lies in a region with significant salmon farming activity. The Gully family’s long stewardship of the land included managing a working farm and providing logistical support to local marine operations. Industry sources note the island’s proximity to active salmon aquaculture sites.
The property includes six holiday cottages with capacity for up to 52 guests, a jetty, boathouse, sustainable energy infrastructure, and a helipad. The estate was managed for the past 12 years by resident caretakers Rob and Kathryn James. Their decision to step back triggered the family’s decision to sell.
Jim Gully, whose father Eddie was raised on the island from infancy, said the sale marked the end of a formative chapter. “It’s been a huge part of all our lives,” he told BBC Scotland, adding that the decision was “tinged with relief” as his father, now 80, reduces his responsibilities.
Shuna Castle, a flat-roofed neo-Gothic structure commissioned in 1911 by New Zealand adventurer George Buckley following his Antarctic voyage with Ernest Shackleton, has been in ruins since the 1980s due to high maintenance costs. According to family lore, the castle’s architect and plans were lost aboard the Titanic.
The listing is one of the few full-island offerings in Scottish waters and includes historical lime kilns, burial mounds, and remnants of past settlements dating back 4,500 years. It is being pitched as suitable for family use, hospitality, or wellness development.
Viewings are now open.