The small island where Gavin Maxwell, author of the Ring of Bright Water, lived out the final years of his life is likely to be put up for sale. Eilean Bàn lies beneath the Skye Bridge and is currently owned by Transport Scotland who say that they no longer require the land.
Gavin Maxwell moved to the island from nearby at Sandaig, where he had lived with a number of semi-tame otters, and continued to write from the island as well as develop plans for a wildlife park. The island is currently leased to the Eilean Bàn Trust who run tours to the island from their base at Kyleakin.
The island also has a lighthouse, built in 1857 by Thomas Stevenson, father of Treasure Island author Robert Louis Stevenson.
A spokeswoman for Transport Scotland said: “We recognise the importance of Eilean Bàn and our first steps will be to talk to other government departments and agencies, including Scottish Natural Heritage and Historic Scotland amongst others, who may be interested in taking over ownership of the island. Whilst the land is no longer required by Transport Scotland, the Eilean Ban Trust’s current lease runs until 2015 and any subsequent owner would have to honour that lease.”