EXCLUSIVEYearning to live on an island? Here are 18 affordable homes for sale on one in the UK - including a detached cottage with land on the real-life 'Treasure Island' for just £105,000
Waking up to the sound of the sea, taking a morning walk along a sandy beach and breathing in the fresh coastal air – it's the kind of lifestyle most enjoy for only a week or two on holiday. But that needn't be the case.
With remote working becoming the norm, many are swapping urban living for life on one of the UK's 123 permanently inhabited islands.
From a remote idyll in the Shetlands with £105,000 cottages and white sand beaches that could rival the Caribbean, to a Welsh island regularly topping the list of the happiest places to live, there are plenty of options for Britons wishing to live out their island dream on a budget.
Here are Britain's most affordable island homes currently on the market.
Unst, Sheltand Islands, Scotland
Escape the hustle and bustle and get back to nature on the island of Unst, home to many puffins
As the most northerly inhabited part of the UK, Unst is the ultimate place to get away from it all.
The island is said to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island after the author visited in 1896 with his father, pioneering lighthouse engineer Thomas Stevenson, to inspect the Muckle Flugga lighthouse that Thomas had started building in 1854.
Closer to the Faroe Islands than it is to Edinburgh, Unst offers untouched nature and raw elements.
This island's 632 residents enjoy spotting puffins and strolling along deserted white sand beaches that could rival the Caribbean (albeit a touch colder in temperature).
'Although Unst is probably as remote a location as you can find in the UK, there is a fantastic sense of community with lots to offer for a range of buyers,' says Kira Spofforth, estate agent for Harper Macleod.
'Unst's rich cultural heritage and tradition, coupled with its stunning scenery, landscape and wildlife, mean it is a popular place for visitors and those looking for a more permanent stay.
'From a property perspective, although the number of homes on the island is relatively small, they are always in strong demand when they come to market.'
A wholesale shift in lifestyle is driving enquiries across the Shetland Islands, according to Ms Spofforth.
'We've certainly seen a growing attraction towards island life whether that be from Shetlanders returning to the islands having moved away, or people looking for a completely different pace of life.'
On the market:
1. This two-bedroom detached cottage in Unst sits within an acre of land and has sea views. It is ideally situated near a local primary school and Unst's leisure centre and swimming pool. It is for sale with HM Harper Macleod LLP for offers over £105,000 harpermacleod.co.uk
2. A three-bedroom home in the village of Uyeasound, in Unst, presents an opportunity for someone to change their lifestyle, as it comes with a separate studio and 120 acres of agricultural croft land (which means the new owner must live on the property and tend to the land, in accordance with crofting rules). For sale with HM Harper Macleod LLP for offers over £295,000 harpermacleod.co.uk
3. This four-bedroom detached home was built in 1889 and contains some original features including the flooring and a decorative glass window. It comes with a large patch of land (size to be determined) and a detached stone workshop/store. It is for sale with Arthur and Simpson for offers over £190,000.
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Skye's the limit with a mix of natural and man made attractions for those seeking a different way of life
If you're after miles of dramatic coastline, rugged rock formations and a thriving culinary scene, Skye is the place to go. The largest of Scotland's Inner Hebrides, Skye has plenty to offer for those seeking a different way of life.
The pretty capital harbour town of Portree, with its colourful houses, is home to the Aros Centre offering live music, theatre and art.
There's also a good selection of restaurants throughout the island, including Michelin-starred Loch Bay, voted Scotland's best restaurant, renowned seafood eatery Three Chimneys and fine dining venue, Kinloch Lodge.
Locals (there are some 13,000 of them) spend many weekends hiking to the rock formations of the Old Man of Storr and the Quiraing and Cuillin mountain ranges, and swimming in the blue waters at the Instagram-favourite Fairy Pools.
For access to the mainland, there is a handy bridge or a 45-minute ferry to Mallaig. Inverness, and its airport, can be reached by car in two and a half hours.
On the market:
1. This well-presented detached property in Dunan village, on the Isle of Skye, has three bedrooms and large panoramic windows overlooking a loch and nearby islands. It has the potential for a loft extension and a timber shed in the garden. It's for sale with The Isle of Skye Estate Agency for offers over £320,000 iosea.co.uk
2. A rural two-bedroom detached cottage on the north west of Skye comes with just under two acres of land and a stone cattle shed that has the potential to be converted into a separate dwelling, pending planning permission. It's for sale for offers over £240,000 with The Isle of Skye Estate Agency iosea.co.uk
3. This well-presented three-bedroomed detached property sits on one acre of land and is just seven miles from Skye's capital, Portree. It has a large driveway for multiple cars and two wooden sheds. It's on the market with Re/Max Skye Estate Agents for offers over £290,000 remax-scotland.net
Isle of Wight, South East England
The famous Needles lighthouse on the Isle of Wight, which is a great place to relocate
With sweeping bays and a 68-mile-long coastal path, the Isle of Wight is a quintessential English holiday destination. But there's more to the island than buckets and spades.
It's a walker's paradise, with two seasonal walking festivals held on the island each year. Cycling enthusiasts will also love the varied terrain and relatively quiet roads while keeping their eyes peeled for red squirrels.
You can sail, swim and surf to your heart's desire – and then relax with a glass of wine at the island's vineyard.
Aside from nature, part of the Isle of Wight's allure is that prices remain relatively low for the south, with an average house price of £266,000, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The island, home to 142,000 residents, offers all the amenities of the mainland, including supermarkets and cinemas and there are regular ferries and a hovercraft to connect locals to the South of England.
On the market:
1. This five-bedroomed stone cottage in Ryde is close to the seafront and has a quaint walled garden. It comes with a garage, a brick-built workshop and utility room. For sale with Watson Bull & Porter for £300,000 watsonbullporter.co.uk
2. A detached house in Atherfield has three bedrooms and countryside views from the front and rear. It comes with a driveway and a substantial garden cabin with sundeck. For sale with Susan Payne Property for offers over £400,000 susanpayneproperty.co.uk
3. This detached period property with two bedrooms has a large garden and the potential to extend due to planning permission being previously approved. This home dates back to the 1800s and has original fireplaces and wooden floors. For sale with watsonbullporter.co.uk
Isle of Anglesey, Wales
Anglesey with its mix of coastline, green space and sense of community is an attractive option
Rich in dramatic coastline and community spirit, one-third of this island in north Wales is classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty thanks to its limestone cliffs, beaches and sand dunes.
Anglesey produces its own cheese, wines and chocolate and enjoys annual food festivals.
The island, home to 70,000 residents, has been voted among the happiest places to live by Rightmove, thanks to its mix of coastline, green space and sense of community. And house prices remain below the national average at £263,539.
It's a small island – you can drive around its 75km of main roads in a day – and it's well connected to the mainland thanks to the Menai Suspension Bridge.
On the market:
1. This quaint detached cottage in Bryngwran village has three bedrooms and plenty of character in the form of exposed beams and stone walls. It has a mature garden with a vegetable patch and parking for three cars. For sale with Williams & Goodwin for £299,950 tppuk.com
2. A semi-detached four-bedroom house comes with plenty of off-road parking. It also has an attached self-contained apartment, in need of modernisation, which is currently being used as a dance studio, and has planning permission granted for a conversion into a three-bedroom house. It's on the market with Dafydd Hardy for £279,000 dafyddhardy.co.uk
3. This detached four-bedroom home in Holyhead has an open plan kitchen and dining area, is close to the beach and has a sunny garden with a pond, shed and off-road parking. It's for sale with Purple Bricks for £345,000 purplebricks.co.uk
Orkney Islands, Scotland
An aerial view of St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, the main town of Orkney, a group of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland
This 70-island archipelago with Viking roots at the northern tip of Scotland has previously topped a list of the best places to live in Britain.
And for good reason; high employment, low crime rates and good schools put this collection of Scottish islands' happiness rates through the roof, according to Halifax Bank of Scotland's Quality of Life survey.
Locals (there are some 22,000 of them) have no qualms about embracing the elements – which include long dark winters and bright summer days.
Spotting whales is common and Orkney is thought to be one of the best places in the UK for watching the Northern Lights – known locally as the 'Merry Dancers' – thanks to its low light pollution and clear views.
Flights from Edinburgh or Dundee take an hour and there are multiple ferries from different parts of the northern Scottish mainland.
On the market:
1. This attractive three-bedroom converted schoolhouse has views across the nearby loch. It comes with a driveway, garden shed and storage building and is for sale with Lows Orkney for offers over £250,000 lowsorkney.co.uk
2. This five-bedroom detached house has a sunny garden with raised vegetable patches, a greenhouse and separate stone storage building. It is on the market with McEwan Fraser Legal for offers over £200,000 mcewanfraserlegal.co.uk
3. This four-bedroom detached property on the island in Heddon comes with views across the Bay of Firth and a separate garage with electric door, sat within just under an acre of land. For sale with Lows Orkney for offers over £195,000 lowsorkney.co.uk
Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire, Scotland
A ruined castle on the Isle of Arran, a scenic spot to soothe even the weariest of souls
Known affectionately as 'Scotland in miniature' due to the hilly north and relatively flat south, the Isle of Arran's vast landscapes are in the process of becoming a protected UNESCO Global Geopark.
From waterfalls and lochs to sweeping beaches, the scenery on this small isle is enough to soothe the weariest of souls.
Locals (there are 4,600 of them) enjoy the island's brewery and two distilleries as well as seven golf courses and two castles. And thanks to two ferry routes, it is one of Scotland's most accessible islands, with Glasgow reached by car in 2.5 hours.
The island is handy for the whole of the central belt of Scotland which can be reached by a one-hour ferry crossing from Ayrshire.
'Arran is a fantastic place to bring up a family – as I did – with lots of small village schools and one larger high school,' says Elaine Wood, who works at Arran Estate Agents, an island-based office established almost 35 years ago. 'There is an interest group for just about any subject you can think of on Arran and you end up meeting and mixing with people from all walks of life.'
She adds: 'There are lots of job opportunities, many based around hospitality and tourism, which is our main industry –- but also in farming, construction and artisan food production. '
Sheila Gilmore, chief executive of VisitArran adds that beyond Arran's 'beaches, fabulous cafes, red squirrels and handsome stags', there is a strong sense of community.
'The people of Arran are genuine and authentic and will go out of their way to help if they can,' she adds.
On the market:
1. This four-bedroom detached villa has front and rear gardens, a large driveway and views over the loch. It's for sale with Watermans for offers over £249,995 watermans.co.uk
2. With scenic views of the nearby valley, this three-bedroomed detached cottage is the perfect spot for people who value peace and tranquillity. It has an outside storage area and a wooden cabin complete with BBQ grill, set within a third of an acre of land. On the market with Arran Estate Agents for offers over £295,000 arranestateagents.co.uk
3. This three-bedroomed detached traditional red sandstone cottage has wooden floors and a spacious living area. Located in the heart of Brodick village, it has raised timber planters for vegetables and a spacious driveway. On the market with Arran Estate Agents for offers over £310,000 arranestateagents.co.uk
