* Ownership of Sanda Island includes the neighbouring Sheep Island and Glunimore Island.
A beautiful island of about 400 acres, situated 1 ½ miles off the southern tip of the Mull of Kintyre. It consists of sandstone and rock, and moderately high cliffs form parts of its shores; one of these is pierced with a very large natural arch and forms a very picturesque object. The island is covered with grass. It measures 1 ¼ mile in length, ¾ mile in breadth and has a circumference of 4 miles.
Sanda can be reached by boat from Southend, which is the nearest village south of Campbeltown Harbour. There are twice daily air services to Campbeltown from Glasgow. Alternatively a helicopter may be chartered from Glasgow direct to the island. It is a flight of approximately 45 minutes.
The owner is entitled to use the title “Laird of Sanda” and has the right to issue own postage stamps and to mint own gold coins.
History
Sanda has an interesting and varied history and was first mentioned in the 7 th Century by Adamnan, disciple and biographer of St. Columba. In the Early Middle Ages, the island was used as a rendezvous by the Norsemen who terrorized this part of Western Scotland. They called it “Sandey” (sandy island) – this probably refers to the Oitir Buidhe which lies between Sanda, Glunimore and Sheep Island. Another name that appears to have been attached to the island is “Havin” (and numerous variants such as “Aven”, “Avona”), this is cognate with the English “haven” and probably refers to the anchorage on the north coast.
It is also named in the Saga of King Magnus Barefoot of 1093. From this time until the Reformation, Sanda was owned by the church. The island is known for the ruins of a chapel built by Saint Ninian and for its Celtic crosses which remain under the protection of the Department of the Environment. In the 16 th Century, the island was granted to a branch of the MacDonalds. In the Civil War, however, the Campells disposessed them for a few years, after killing their chief in the massacre of Dunaverty in 1647. At the Restoration of Charles II, in 1660, the MacDonalds returned and Sanda remained in their possesion until 1926.
The property
Sanda Island amounts to some 400 acres and comprises a self-contained hill farm. There is a central area of arable ground of about 45 acres with hilly pastures taking up the remainder.
The farmhouse and outbuildings lie on the edge of a sheltered bay with convenient access to the pier and boathouse. The main house is a stone construction with a slate roof and has fine views to Sheep Island and beyond. It comprises two reception rooms, a kitchen, dairy, 3 bedrooms, bathroom, W.C., boxroom and an attic.
Adjoining the house is a stone-built barn with workshop and store. There is also a further store/workshop, a walled kitchen garden and a dilapidated disused house.
The stone-built boathouse with launching rails is set in a sheltered position to the south of the bay, and boats may be launched at any state of the tide.
At the southern tip of the island there is a lighthouse built in 1850. When seen from the seat to the south, the natural arch and the lighthouse on the rock can look like a ship, hence its name "The Ship" on marine charts.
Natural life
Sanda has a great variety of birdlife, with many migratory species being seen on the island. The waters around the island make for excellent sea fishing.
