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It was once home to Norwegian Viking chiefs
A magnificent private island, complete with 6.5 miles of coastline and a 17th century mansion, could be yours for £1.75 million.
The Isle of Vaila, in the west of the Shetland Islands archipelago, encompasses rugged cliffs, rocky outcrops, caves and beautiful pebble beaches. Ideal for someone in need of a fresh start, it has uninterrupted views and is just a short 10 minute boat journey from the island's private shore base.
Once home to Norwegian Viking chiefs, the sale includes an 18th century watchtower, a three-bedroom farmhouse, two-bedroom cottage, 142 acres of grazing, 581 acres of heathland, and the mainland shore base which has accommodation, parking, a pier and slipway. It's also the perfect location for boating, sea fishing and hiking, thanks to its enviable position.
The main property – a sprawling mansion called Vaila Hall — was developed from a laird's house into a grand summer residence in the late 19th century. After it was snapped up by current owners in 1993, it underwent an extensive and sympathetic restoration project, with highlights including a baronial great hall with a massive stone fireplace, full height stained glass windows, a functional kitchen and a sun-soaked conservatory with fine views across the croquet lawn.
"At the meeting point of the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, this is a wild and beautiful part of the world. The juxtaposition of the dramatic, elemental land and seascape with the exquisite craftsmanship of historic Vaila Hall makes for a quite extraordinary property," Luke French from Savills says.
"A rare prize indeed for the next owner but also one which benefits from practical forethought by the sellers with the shore base building providing ease of access and the farming enterprise, farmhouse and cottage creating a variety of opportunities."
Animal lovers may want to consider putting down an offer, as the island currently carries 200 pure-bred Shetland ewes (the flock is available in addition).
Want to make this home your own? The island is available to buy for offers over £1,750,000 via Savills. Take a tour at what lucky owners will be getting...
An inflatable tent can make your life easier, and this one does just that during the set-up process. It's quite large, so you'll need three people to pitch it, but our testers found this quick and easy to do. Putting it away was another kettle of fish, and they struggled to get it back in the bag, but once successful, they liked that they could carry it around like a backpack.
Its separate sleep pod and large porch area provided plenty of space, the windows let in natural light and the hook for hanging a torch proved handy.
This tent was so easy to pitch that our tester didn't have to consult the instructions and got it done alone. They were impressed with the poles and pegs' quality, too, with the poles almost slotting themselves together.
Once pitched, the tent's size was slightly disappointing, and the family of four felt a little squished. If it isn't raining, however, you can use the porch flap to add some more space. It's perfect for shorter stays and avoiding the faff involved in pitching a more complex tent.
If you're in the market for something a little special, this tipi-style tent will tickle you pink. Its design lends it a glamping feel as well as making it easier to pitch, since it only requires one connecting pole. Our tester's children loved the removable top, which is intended for air circulation but doubles as a stargazing window.
This tent felt very spacious, with a good standing height, but this did make it quite heavy to carry. Another snag was having to zip in the ground sheet, which came separately to the rest of the tent. Still, all of that feels like a small price to pay for a beautiful, high-performing tent.
No prior camping experience is required to put this tent into action. With clear instructions, colour-coded poles and pre-attached guide ropes, two people were able to pitch it in hardly any time at all. The inner pod was really easy to fit, too.
Inside, there wasn't enough height to comfortably stand, but it otherwise felt spacious. Expect ample room for two people in each pod, plus some storage space in the middle. Comfort-wise, it felt light and airy, and our testers liked that the door doubled as a shade. It's great value for just over £90.
This tent did a great job of protecting our testers from the elements; not only did it keep them warm on a cold night, but it also came with cross-bracing straps that stopped the tent from bending in the wind. You can unclip said straps to free up more space, but there's plenty – two queen-sized bedrooms, a living area and storage pockets.
The instructions were mostly clear, though they didn't mention the front porch feature, and our testers pitched up with little difficulty. They did advise being careful with the poles, which felt like they could snap if handled with too much force. The pros far outweighed the cons here, though – this is a lightweight, spacious tent that's also made from recycled plastic for eco credentials.
Decathlon's highly rated inflatable two-bedroom tent for a family of four is spacious, portable and easy to set up. It's designed for those who like plenty of room, with blackout technology to keep the two bedrooms cool and dark. The sleeping areas frame the living room, which is large enough for a person to stand up.
The waterproof tent boasts a zip-in ground sheet, too. Happy campers say it's "well worth the money" and "kids love it".
For super-fast pitching, a strong structure and full stand-up head height, look no further than Vango's Odyssey Air 600 SC. The six-person family tent comes with a pre-attached sun canopy and one of its best features is its pitching speed that means less time setting up and more time enjoying your camping holiday.
Helping you to feel at home, this tent offers full mesh doors, lantern hanging loops, storage pockets and large 'Diamond Clear' windows so you can take in the lovely views outside.
This double skin design is one of the best family tents available, sleeping two to four campers comfortably for 3 season camping. Satisfied users have said it's "easy to assemble," "lightweight" and "good for short, family camping trips". Meanwhile, one camper added that they're beginners to camping and managed to get it up in 20 minutes.
The family tent features a communal area, two double bedrooms and a sunshade entrance. We like the 3000mm Hydrostatic Head for rain protection and bedrooms with sewn-in groundsheets and privacy doors.
One of Amazon's best-selling dome tents is a family-sized style that offers 360-degree views from the six windows. It's sturdy and easy to pitch thanks to the colour-coded poles.
The family tent comes as one extra large room with a removable partition curtain so you can separate it into two areas if you wish. It's 100% waterproof thanks to Coleman's Weather Tec system combined with taped seams and a fully sewn-in groundsheet to keep you dry.
With enough room for seven people, this family tent from Outwell has three bedrooms with large windows, a generous living space that's great for large families and there's quick and quiet access between the outer and inner zones.
A rain-safe canopy over the side door gives easy, flexible access, while the rear ventilation system adjusts air flow from fully open to zip-sealed.
Small families will love Vango's Tryfan 300, which has an extremely roomy internal space and good head height. It offers plenty of air ventilation, with two extra large side vents and mesh door options.
The family tent pitches inner first and can be pitched inner only for when it's especially hot. A canopy provides additional space and shelter, and if the weather's bad, the vents can be securely closed using the zip panels, keeping you and your gear dry.
Sleeping up to six glampers, this family tent features pre-angled FRP poles ensuring full headroom throughout. The yurt-style tent offers all the size and freedom friends need, while allowing you to connect with nature and share the outdoor fun.
There are PVC windows for internal light, toggle-up curtains for privacy and a wide, fold-flat entrance. A covered rear vent provides ample ventilation and easily adjustable fresh airflow.
Made for large families of eight, this tent is very easy to set up and dismantle, with four bedrooms, a mosquito net window and storage pockets in the living room and bedrooms.
It's ideal if you want less heat and light in your tent, so you can decide when to wake up. One happy camper says: "Went up very well with simple easy to follow instructions, stayed in place during 40mph winds overnight."
An inflatable tent designed fit for four campers wanting maximum comfort, this family tent features one bedroom and a spacious living room.
The fabric reduces heat inside the tent in the sun and the black fabric means the sun won't wake you up in the morning if you're spending the night outside. One happy customer says: "I’m blown away by how easy and quickly a tent this size goes up and down. It’s very spacious inside and the blackout bedroom is a great addition."
Looking for a tipi that fits more than just two? This one from Robens will sleep six of you and features zip-close gussets on each side of the door which, when undone, allow the whole front to be opened using poles converted from the door’s A-frame. Cool, right?
This reveals the inside and creates a shaded living space where you can socialise and enjoy the views out on sunny days. The Bedouin-style family tent is especially appreciated in hot climes so if you're after something you can take abroad too, it's worth checking out.
This large family tent for four has an extended open front porch area offering more living space with protection from the elements during the great British summer. The front porch can be closed off for extra weather protection, too. The tent offers great head height throughout and a lightweight package, as well as several large windows for plenty of light.
The two bedrooms are extra-large and comfortably fit larger airbeds, while the BlackOut Bedroom technology blocks daylight and reduces the temperature during the day. You'll also find zipped window shades on the windows, ensuring flexible levels of privacy. The zipped cable entry points allowing access for powered accessories and multiple lantern attachment points are particularly handy.