Compound Living: 9 Self-Contained, Private Estates

Greta Garbo not-so-famously observed, “I never said, ‘I want to be alone.’ I only said, ‘I want to be let alone!’ There is all the difference.” For those who crave privacy, the best way to be let alone is in the ultimate of private homes: the luxury residential compound.  

Within these exclusive, expansive properties, residents and their guests can enjoy rest, relaxation, and recreation in utmost privacy and—by default—security in that seclusion.  

In this Luxury Defined collection, we explore exclusive properties far from the glare of the spotlight. Consider a 5,925-acre ranch preserve in British Columbia, a private hamlet in the Dordogne, or a remote lighthouse on Ireland’s rugged west coast. Perhaps, even, a private game reserve in South Africa. Somewhere, Garbo is smiling. 

1. Private Hamlet in the Dordogne, Aquitaine, France 

This former hamlet in the heart of the Dordogne countryside has been reimagined as a magnificent, 190-acre private estate. 

There are seven dwellings, which extend to nearly 30,000 square feet with 25 bedrooms and 23 bathrooms. 

The ancillary structures include three conference rooms, a professional recording studio, and a leisure center with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a gym, game room, and private spa with massage room, hammam, and sauna. 

The grounds are composed of beautiful private parkland, an arboretum, woodlands, pastures (used for organic farming), a fishing pond, and several water sources. 

The estate is offered turnkey, including all furnishings, fixtures, and equipment. An additional 10 acres of land is available for further development. 

2. Clare Island Lighthouse in County Mayo, Ireland 

Clare Island Lighthouse has been a nautical landmark on Ireland’s rugged west coast for more than two centuries. The original lighthouse, built in 1806 by the Marquis of Sligo, was reconstructed in 1818 after a fire destroyed the lantern and part of the tower. It guided seafarers to Clew Bay until it was decommissioned in 1965.  

The coastal views are among the best in Ireland, taking in the Atlantic Ocean and Keem Bay on Achill Island, one of the film locations of the Golden Globe-winning and Oscar-nominated The Banshees of Inisherin. 

The main lighthouse keeper’s residence and five outbuildings were sensitively restored to preserve their original character while providing every modern convenience.  

The 2.35-acre property also has its own helipad. Ferry time between the island and Roonagh Pier on the mainland is about 20 minutes. 

Related: See Properties on More than 100 Acres

3. La Cieba, Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas 

Asian and Caribbean design converge at La Ceiba, a multi-generational family compound in Nassau’s exclusive Ocean Club Estates. 

The manor house has five bedrooms, two kitchens, a gym, wine cellar, and four-car garage, as well as 2,400 square feet of covered seaside verandas, recreation spaces, and outdoor lounging areas. There are an additional five bedrooms between the two guest cottages and the separate staff quarters.  

The Zen-like tropical grounds are graced with waterfalls and two swimming pools (an infinity-edge pool and lap pool) and lead out to a 300-foot strand of powder sand.

Adding to the resort ambience is an entertainment hub with a cinema, games room, croquet/bocce ball court, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, and a hot tub in the dunes. 

4. Private Game Reserve on the Western Cape, South Africa

This private game reserve is the epitome of unspoiled Africa. Located in South Africa’s Cape Winelands, the 1,195-acre property offers the ultimate retreat for those seeking a secluded, quiet haven with awe-inspiring, uninterrupted views of the savanna. 

A 1.8-mile-long, paved drive winds through rolling plains to a luxurious residential compound of five buildings. The contemporary design is enhanced by traditional African design elements and a water-wise landscape of towering acacia trees, ponds, and rock walls.   

In contrast, the interiors are stark white, yet intimate and comfortable with floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall windows to take in the breathtaking vistas. Verandas invite alfresco dining, entertaining, and, an opportunity to observe abundant wildlife such as zebra, eland, kudu, springbok, and red hartebeest. 

5. The Peninsula in Porto Heli, Peloponnese, Greece 

This one-of-a-kind waterfront estate occupies a private peninsula with a boat dock, heliport, and pebble beach in Porto Heli, a cosmopolitan beach resort on the Peloponnese coast. 

The main villa and various cottages and bungalows offer more than 13,000 square feet of living space with 14 en suite bedrooms. 

The interior spaces include several elegant reception rooms, three kitchens, four powder rooms, a game room, and expansive sea-view terraces for alfresco dining and entertaining. 

Mediterranean gardens, a swimming pool, and a pergola-covered beachfront terrace (with an open kitchen, bathroom, and changing rooms) add to the resort-like ambience. Just across the turquoise waters of the Aegean is the island of Spetses. 

6. Rupelmonde Estate in Nieuwersluis, Utrecht, Netherlands 

Rupelmonde is a magnificent country estate on the banks of the River Vecht. 

The stately manor house was built circa 1753 and completely restored to Dutch conservation standards in 1976. Among the ornate architectural details are veined marble finishes, decorative plasterwork, and murals designed by French artist Noël-Nicolas Coypel. 

There are several ancillary structures. The self-contained five-bedroom cottage has a private driveway, a garage, and a garden, while the garden house, set in the charming walled orchard, offers potential for an indoor pool. 

Surrounding the dwellings are nearly 14 acres of formal gardens and private parkland. The property has an idyllic rural setting close to the village of Nieuwersluis and about 30 minutes from Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. 

7. Four Hearts Ranch in British Columbia, Canada

Four Hearts Ranch is quite simply a wild, Canadian paradise. This biodiverse expanse in British Columbia’s South Cariboo Mountains encompasses 5,925 acres of forest, pasture, grasslands, lakes, river gorges, and preserved wetlands.  

Four Hearts Ranch has been a multigenerational family compound since the current owners began acquiring land in 2008. There are eight stand-alone residences, including the 10,000-square-foot log-style main residence.  

The equestrian center is a world-class facility with stabling for 10 horses, an indoor arena, hay barn, carpentry shop, wrangler’s cottage, round pen, and acres of fenced pastures. 

Four private lakes include one of British Columbia’s top fly-fishing spots. An aircraft hangar with airstrip, and a private network of roads are further highlights. 

Related: Explore the Timeless Charm of Ivy-Covered Country Estates

8. Valley Trunk Estate on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

A jewel of the British Virgin Islands, Valley Trunk Estate is an ultra-private 18.4-acre estate overlooking the white sands and turquoise waters of Virgin Gorda’s Big Trunk Bay. 

The main compound comprises five freestanding villas with nine en suite bedrooms, a formal dining room, and professional-grade kitchen. There are ample places for alfresco dining, as well as a cinema and bar space with billiards room. 

The two-story principal villa opens to tropical gardens and the infinity pool with panoramic views of Sir Francis Drake Channel, Tortola, Beef Island, Scrub Island, and the Dogs. 

A separate four-bedroom villa with a tennis court; two-story Balinese-style beach pavilion; equipment storage building; maintenance center; and staff houses are further highlights of this one-of-a-kind offering. 

9. The Golden West Lodge in Bigfork, Montana

The Golden West Lodge is a classic Flathead Lake cabin estate just south of the village of Bigfork, Montana. The historic 1924 lodge offers the traditional log cabin experience with all contemporary comforts. 

The property encompasses 15 acres with 888 feet of lake frontage. Its seven cabins have been beautifully refurbished or built anew to match the original live-edge siding and cedar interiors of the 1920s design. The living spaces are luxuriously appointed for relaxation after a day’s hiking or fishing. 

Further amenities include an entertainment lodge; fitness center; lap pool; lakeside fire pit; and two covered docks with a combined seven boat slips. Five acres of forest and a two-acre cherry orchard provide the finishing touch.