The ‘breathtakingly beautiful’ island 100 miles from the mainland where everyone wants to live

100 miles off the coast of northern Scotland, you’ll find Shetland – which, on top of being the windiest place in the UK, has seen the highest percentage growth in house prices over the last year.

As per new research, the average house price in Shetland is now £215,170, which marks a whopping increase of 21% since 2023 and 22% since 2019.

However, recent statistics from the Registers of Scotland suggested an even starker uptick, placing the growth at 30% since 2018. This marks a considerable difference from the mainland, which has seen comparative increases of 23%.

Unsurprisingly, it isn’t just Shetland that’s seen house prices skyrocket in recent years.

As per estate agent Hamptons findings, Cherwell in Oxfordshire was in second place with an average house price of £367,770, marking a year-on-year increase of 9.3% and a five-year increase of 30%.

Elsewhere, East Renfrewshire in Scotland has seen prices jump up by 8.9% – placing them at an average of £303,980 – while Blaenau Gwent in Wales has undergone an uptick of 8.4%.

Why does Shetland appeal so much?

For starters, it’s no secret that the islands are breathtakingly beautiful – which no doubt is a push point in influencing people to relocate there.

Between 1971 and 1981, the population rose considerably – by 31% – on account of the oiling industry. However, since the 1980s it’s stayed relatively stable, increasing from just 22,000 to 23,000, as per data from the Shetland Islands Council.

And, as the UK’s most northerly inhabited place, Unst – a North Isle of the Shetland Islands – is often referred to as the ‘real life’ Treasure Island because the location heavily inspired the book’s author, Robert Louis Stevenson, who famously visited in 1869.

He even signed the visitors’ book at Muckle Flugga Lighthouse, which was designed and constructed by both his father and uncle.

Striped with white and yellow, the same colours appear on the lighthouse in Treasure Island. What’s more, the book describes Treasure Island as having an appearance like ‘a fat dragon standing up,’ which no doubt echoes the island’s shape and rugged landscape.

But the man who wrote the historic tale was keen to preserve the sanctity of the island, as the BBC notes that in 1893, he told the Sydney Morning Herald: ‘I only wish myself that I knew where it was.’

He added that he wanted to be ‘careful to give no indication as to its whereabouts for fear that there might be an undue rush towards it,’ even directing readers towards the ‘West Indies.’

Shetland is also inundated with stunning scenery and outdoor walks. In Unst, the prime beauty spot is found at Hermaness National Nature Reserve, from which there are views of Da Waithing Skerries, the group of offshore rocks where you’ll find Muckle Flugga – the lighthouse that made it onto the pages of Treasure Island.

It’s also home to the UK’s most northerly sandy beach: Skaw Beach. Nestled in a hamlet which also houses the UK’s most northerly house (are you spotting a theme here?), the beach itself is gorgeous, white and pearly.

Elsewhere, the Shetland Tourism Board has described the isles as a ‘photographer’s dream,’ recommending West Sandwick Beach and the Sands of Breckon, the Eshaness Cliffs and Lighthouse, and Dore Holm as prime beauty spots.

Are locals being priced out of living on Shetland?

All that aside though, there are concerns that Shetland’s skyrocketing house prices are beginning to price locals out. However, the Scottish Government has committed to building new affordable homes in a bid to combat this.

‘Since April 2016 the Scottish Government has supported the delivery of more than 1,100 affordable homes on islands across Scotland and our commitment to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 – at least 10% of which will be in our rural and island communities – continues to be supported by our Rural and Islands Housing Action Plan,’ housing minister Paul McLennan said of the Registers of Scotland research earlier this year.

‘The Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund and Rural and Islands Housing Fund are key elements of our approach to addressing specific rural and islands housing issues where they arise.

‘We have also delivered secondary legislation enabling local authorities to make decisions about the council tax treatment of second homes to determine the balance in the use of housing to meet local needs. I have encouraged councils to fully consider the role that second homes have in their communities and to use these additional powers where required.’

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