Larkhall haulier buys Scottish island for £426,000

Feb 25 2010 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A LANARKSHIRE businessman has splashed out on a small Hebridean island.

Haulage contractor David Hamilton has bought Rubh’a Chruidh in Oban Bay at a cost of £426,000.

Mr Hamilton lives in Larkhall and owns the family business of William Hamilton and Sons, based at Dovesdale Farm in Stonehouse.

The 52-year-old plans to use the island, which is connected to the nearby island of Kerrera at low tide, as a base for yachting trips.

The island had been on the market at offers over £350,000, and the deal was clinched only a few days before the closing date.

Mr Hamilton flew to the island in his helicopter on the same day he saw it advertised, and lodged the offer two days later.

He and wife Grace had been looking for a house on the west coast as a second home.

But when they saw Rubh’a Chruidh, they became captivated by the beauty of the island.

Mr Hamilton explained: “It was very close to the closing date for offers when we saw it advertised, and, when we saw it, it really blew us away.

“We have a boat and the west coast has some of the best sailing waters in the world, so this ticks a lot of boxes.

“It only takes 50 minutes to fly to the island from our farm in Larkhall.

“I’d be hoping to semi-retire in three years time, so we are hoping to spend a lot of time there.”

In Gaelic, Rubh ‘a Chruidh means “Headland of the Cows”.

The island already has a bungalow, but the Hamiltons are hoping to build a new house there which is sympathetic to the setting.

Estate agents Bell Ingram said the island had attracted international interest when it was put on the market.

Archie Melville of Bell Ingram said: “I don’t know of anything island similar in Scotland which is as small as this.

“It’s a tidal island, connected to Kerrera at low tide, and is quite a rare thing to come on the market in this day and age.”