A SCOTTISH island is up for sale for a bargain price – 20 years after it was won as the star prize on a German TV show.
Tiny Dun Maraig is about the size of half a football pitch, has no modern amenities of any kind, no planning permission for anything, and is a six-hour, 250-mile trek from the nearest big city.
But for anyone simply wanting to boast that they own a Scottish island it could be yours for as little as £10,000.
Dun Maraig – roughly 50 metres long by 25 metres wide – is close to the north-west tip of Skye and can even be walked to a low tide.
The island was given away on a 1994 episode of Meine Show – “My Show” – on German television.
Viewers sent in postcards or Teletext messages to the music show suggesting which acts should play.
There was also a phone-in competition for prizes which included cars, luxury goods – and your own Scottish island.
Dun Maraig winner Stefan Schluznus, 20, who lived near Bremen, and said at the time he hoped to build a house on the island to “enjoy the view”.
Mr Schluznus and his family have avoided publicity ever since and it is not even known if any of them ever visited their Scottish possession.
The island is now up for sale and is estimated to fetch anything between £10,000 and £50,000.
The island is being sold by Vladi Private Islands, a worldwide broker whose portfolio includes vast Caribbean islands complete with pools and dozens of properties among its sites for sale.
But Vladi struggle to wax lyrical about Dun Maraig, describing it as: “A rocky structure, covered by grass; attentive owners may even find the remains of a fort if they look closely enough.”
Senior Vice President of Vladi Private Island Pedro Arez said: “With this kind of island it is very hard to say what is the right price.
“To own your own island is very special.”
Mr Arez added: “The right value is the right value. Between £10,000 and £50,000 is my feeling.”
Speaking in 1994 about his win, Mr Schluznus said: “I am very happy, very excited. I am jumping in the air.
”I know you have the Loch Ness monster, whisky, bagpipes, and nice scenery but that is all I know. But all that is going to change.”
Mr Schluznus continued: ”I have seen photographs of my island. I am told it is easy to get to in a small boat.
”I am much looking forward to it. Maybe I can build a small house on the island and sit and admire the view.”
