![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-1368267423-5197.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe \u2018white house\u2019 is the most isolated property in the world (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tThe \u2018white house\u2019 is the most isolated property in the world (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Being a city-dweller can be overwhelming. There are heaving trains, belching smoke, and eye-watering rent to contend with, for starters.<\/p>\n
Who among us hasn\u2019t dreamed of retreating to a remote island<\/a>?<\/p>\n Anyone looking for the most solitary end of the remote spectrum might pause for thought at what is described as the world\u2019s \u2018loneliest\u2019 house <\/a>\u2013 the sole property on an isolated island, population: 0.<\/p>\n Sitting south of Iceland<\/a>, Elli\u00f0aey Island is part of the Vestmannaeyjar archipelago, a group of 18 islands with a total population of 4,414.<\/p>\n And right in Elli\u00f0aey\u2019s middle is the white house, a property completely shrouded in mystery and abandoned for years.<\/p>\n The house has fuelled an array of conspiracy theories, including \u2013 but not limited to \u2013 that it was intended as the perfect retreat from the zombie apocalypse, that it\u2019s been used by a religious cult, and that it\u2019s actually owned by Icelandic singer Bj\u00f6rk. All claims which are, of course, untrue.<\/p>\n \t\t \t\t\t\tReady to start your homebuying journey?\t\t\t<\/p>\n You can access completely fee-free mortgage advice with London & Country (L&C) Mortgages, a partner of Metro. Customers benefit from:<\/p>\n \u2013 Award winning service from the UK\u2019s leading mortgage broker<\/p>\n \u2013 Expert advisors on hand 7 days a week<\/p>\n \u2013 Access to 1000s of mortgage deals from across the market<\/p>\n Unlike many mortgage brokers, L&C won\u2019t charge you a fee for their advice.<\/p>\n Find out how much you could borrow online<\/a><\/p>\n Mortgage service provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registered number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.<\/p>\n So how did this lonely little dwelling get there, and why was it abandoned? It wasn\u2019t built by someone with hopes of living there, but by the Elli\u00f0aey Hunting Association.<\/p>\n When was the \u2018World\u2019s loneliest house\u2019 built?<\/p>\n It was constructed in the 1950s as a space for visiting hunters, namely targeting puffins, which it remains legal to do in both Iceland and the Faroe Islands<\/a>.<\/p>\n But despite being one of the most isolated houses in the world, the white house hasn\u2019t been without its visitors.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n In 2021, YouTuber Ryan Trahan<\/a> documented his visit to the home, which he visited for 24 hours. <\/p>\n Notably, he said locals believed it was treacherous for anyone without professional experience to try to travel to the island \u2013 but he did it anyway.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n After taking numerous boats to get there, including a ferry and a tiny boat crossing rocky waters and heavy fog, Ryan is pictured using a rope to scramble up the side of the cliff to secure his landing, almost like a reverse abseil.<\/p>\n Inside the house, we see a cabin-type feel to it, as it\u2019s decked out with wooden floors and walls, and even a log burner.<\/p>\n Supposedly, there\u2019s no electricity or indoor plumbing, but the property secures its water connection using a rainwater collection system \u2013 which is also used to power the sauna.<\/p>\n \t\t As we see from the visitor\u2019s book with multiple entries, Ryan hasn\u2019t been the only visitor over the years, either. In fact, he\u2019s been beaten to it by 11,264 other people since it was first built 70 years ago.<\/p>\n As for the wider history of Elli\u00f0aey, various families lived in huts on the island around 300 years ago.<\/p>\n However, in the 1930s, the entire community left for more populated horizons, as they realised they\u2019d be afforded better opportunities elsewhere \u2013 and wouldn\u2019t have to live largely by fishing and raising cattle.<\/p>\n Interested in staying at the white house? You can\u2019t do so without permission \u2013 but you could try contacting the Elli\u00f0aey Hunting Association, which owns the property to this day.<\/p>\n This article was first published on November 6, 2024.<\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-2168610493-feb7.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt\u2019s the third largest of the Archipelago of the Westman Islands (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/GettyImages-1215932700-8da7.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe home was originally built for hunters (Picture: Getty Images\/iStockphoto)<\/p>\n
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