Private island off the coast of Northern Ireland for sale for less than the price of a London flat
Ever wanted to make like Richard Branson and escape to your own private island when the hustle and bustle of city life gets a bit too much?
Now’s your (very rare) chance and all for less than the price of a London flat, thanks to a recent listing that’s just a short hop, skip and a plane ride away from London in a particularly beautiful part of Northern Ireland.
On the market for £395,000, Long Island is a 10-acre private island located in the beautiful surroundings of the Fermanagh Lakelands just minutes from Enniskillen by boat and close to the luxurious amenities of the five-star Lough Erne Golf Resort.
The Catalina restaurant is a celebration of Irish flavours and is a solid reason by itself for investing in property nearby, as is the Ireland-meets-Thailand-inspired spa and the 36-hole golf course played by Sir Nick Faldo, Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington, amongst other sporting greats.
The island comes with a detached house, multi-berth marina, private jetty, cleared lawns, woodland area and lakeside views for days, but there’s development potential for those with the vision and budget.
The island has a Certificate of Lawfulness of Existing Use or Development (aka the ‘green light’ for buiding) while the agent has visualised the kind of property that could be built to replace the current residence — a contemporary and minimalist ‘cabin’ complete with an expansive entertaining area that wouldn’t look out of place in the Hamptons).
The current residents have owned the island since 1978 and use it as a second home where they come to relax, enjoy nature and indulge their passion for watersports — waterskiing, rowing and wakeboarding are particularly popular pastimes in this neck of the woods.
And while it may seem remote from the capital, with the Irish Sea necessitating either a plane or boat ride, commuting from Northern Ireland is becoming an increasingly popular option thanks to more affordable property and access to nature.
“There has been a considerable increase in people moving home from London since Covid,” explains Claire Graham, director at Henry Graham, which specialises in sales and lettings across Northern Ireland.
“In many cases, that’s because those still employed in London are now able to work remotely, while others are realising they can get much more for their money over here and a better standard of living when compared to the sky-high property prices and the cost of living in the capital.
“Childcare costs, in particular, have risen dramatically in recent years, which is another reason people choose to return – many have family here who can help.
“Lastly, the IT sector here is very advanced and you can get an excellent position at a company with a high salary – certainly a change from years ago when most had to leave and go to the mainland for employment.”
Ireland may not have the weather on its side, but in terms of accessibility it has the edge on a tropical paradise.
Flights from Heathrow to Derry are just under one-and-a-half hours, while Derry to Enniskillen by car is roughly the same, making it a three-hour round-trip (give or take).
Not bad to be rewarded with your own slice of paradise at the end – it would take significantly longer to get to Necker Island.
Long Island in Lower Lough Erne is for sale for £395,000 through Colliers New Homes.