The island of Taransay is known for its stunning white beaches and diverse wildlife. Throughout history, it has been home to pagan Celtic settlers, witnessed a violent conflict between medieval clans, and gained recognition through the BBC reality show Castaway in 2000.
The current owners of a large Scottish island that is privately owned have announced their intention to restore it to its original state and transform it into a sanctuary for survival.
Adam Kelliher, the owner, stated to the Times that our goal is to restore the island to its pre-intensive grazing state, resembling the Bronze Age. The land will be enveloped by the Atlantic rainforest, featuring a diverse range of deciduous trees instead of just the Scottish straight pine.
The TV show produced by BBC brought attention to Taransay, a previously unknown vacation spot, and turned it into a well-known Scottish island. Over 9 million viewers tuned in for a year to follow the journey of 36 individuals who were left to fend for themselves in the tough terrain and cultivate their own food.
Taransay, a stunning and unspoiled island in the Outer Hebrides, was purchased by Adam and Cathra Kelliher just two weeks after being listed for sale in 2011 for £2 million. The island was previously owned by brothers Angus and Norman MacKay, who were raised in the nearby island of Harris. Their father, John MacKay, acquired Taransay in 1967.
According to Cathra’s statement to the Times, once all the sheep were removed in 2019, there was a sudden surge in flowers and wildlife. However, this was soon followed by an overgrowth of grass that threatened the wildlife due to the absence of mammals to consume it.
“If we were to simply leave it without any intervention by reintroducing mammals, the outcome may not be favorable. It is not solely a matter of leaving it as is; it also involves undoing the harm we have caused.”
John Bound, a representative from CKD Galbraith, informed the Guardian in 2011 that the new owners had no intentions of altering the current purpose of Taransay, which primarily involves sheep farming and serving as a vacation spot for self-catering guests.
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The pair has now sought out Tim Coles, the creator of Operation Wallacea, a group that runs research expeditions focused on conservation, as reported by the Times. They have also enlisted Eliza Brown, the creator of Rvival.
The business provides personalized survival adventures on Taransay, allowing individuals to escape to their own private and uninhabited island. They have announced the opening of a limited selection of exclusive and uninhabited islands to a new group of people seeking a castaway experience.
In 2011, Ben Fogle, a well-known member of the original castaways, expressed his disappointment about the sale of Taransay on X. Fogle had been raising funds to purchase the island and had reached a total of £1.5m.
Source: theguardian.com
