Entire private island off Welsh coast on sale for half the average London house price

No mains electricity, a water system that may or may not be working, and an intense possibility of flooding.

These are just some of the amenities available on Ynys Gifftan, a private island off the coast of North Wales which recently hit the market for £350,000.

It may not come with many mod cons, but it’s perfect for getting away from it all, with just a single building on its 17 acres of land.

Built during the Victorian period, this stone farmhouse was lived in until the 1970s — but after subsequently being abandoned, it’s now begging for a new lease of life.

Ynys Gifftan was given to ancestors of landowner Lord Harlech in the 1700s, and its name translates to ‘Anne’s Gift Island’ in English.

At the turn of the 20th Century, the inhabitants had to wade through the Dwyryd estuary (near Portmeirion) without their shoes go get to the mainland.

Nowadays, it’s a journey typically taken by boat, although when tides are low, you may need to go on foot for some of it.

Being around four miles from Harlech and the Eryri National Park, agents marketing the island promise an ‘expansive and unspoilt landscape with uninterrupted panoramic views across the coastline and surrounding mountains.’

As for the house included in its price tag, there are two bedrooms, a living room, a sitting room, a utility room, and a kitchen; all of which are in ‘need of extensive renovation’.

Still, it’s almost half the price of a property in the capital, which according to Rightmove averaged out at £656,665 over the last year.

The question is whether it’s still such a bargain once you’ve factored in the cost of actually making it liveable.

As Damien Jeffries, founder of Jefferies London, tells Metro, buying a private island is rarely an efficient use of money.

Paying £350,000 for an entire island might seem an attractive prospect, but bringing a site like Ynys Gifftan up to scratch will undoubtedly be a hefty financial commitment.

‘Once you account for renewable energy systems, water collection and filtration, storage, land management, transport links, and essential infrastructure, you are quickly looking at well over £50,000 before you even begin refurbishing the existing property,’ Damien explains.

‘Refurbishing the current farmhouse alone is likely to cost in the region of £75,000 to £80,000, meaning buyers could be approaching £500,000 in total investment before they can comfortably call it home.’

However, owning a private island does come with a certain prestige, with Damien noting that the ‘complete privacy, exclusivity, and long-term legacy appeal’ may be worth the investment for some.

‘That said, these purchases are more commonly associated with tropical or Mediterranean locations rather than the Welsh coast,’ he adds.

‘Although this island does still offer the benefits of seclusion without the need for extensive international travel.’

Essentially, these types of purchases tend to be trophy assets meant for a very specific, niche type of buyer — so if you’re looking for ‘the same predictable returns or liquidity as more traditional high-end property,’ it’s probably not the place for you.

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