An uninhabited private island in northwest Wales —featuring an abandoned farmhouse, tidal pools for swimming and views of Snowdonia— could be yours for less than the price of a London flat.
Ynys Gifftan, which stands in the Dwyryd Estuary near Portmeirion, is for sale with Carter Jonas with a guide price of £350,000. Substantially less than the £427,700 it currently costs to buy an average flat in London, according to Land Registry data.
Spanning 17.74 acres, Ynys Gifftan is a small, rocky outcrop, topped with rugged grassland and pasture.
400 metres away from the mainland, it’s possible to walk to the island at low tide — although wellies are advised. At high tide, you’ll need a boat — or a paddleboard.
“The island is completely cut off and impossible to reach at high tide without a boat,” advises the Discovering Britain website, which is run by the Royal Geographical Society. “Visitors prepared to roll their trousers up can be rewarded with an adventure unlike any other.”
The island previously belonged to the royal family, with Queen Anne gifting it to Lord Harlech in the 1700s. Ynys Gifftan means “Anne’s Gift”.
During the 20th century, the island was inhabited by the local Roberts family.
“Clearly, living on the island meant that trips to the mainland were dependent on the tides and depth of the river, so my mother frequently waded across the estuary on her weekly commute to Blaenau,” wrote John Roberts for the BBC in 2006.
“Even in her 70s my mother would think nothing of taking off her shoes and rolling up her skirt to cross the river to reach the house on Ynys.”
The family left in the 1960s, and the island has been uninhabited since. However, their former home — an abandoned stone farmhouse — still stands, overlooking the estuary towards the village of Talsarnau.
Arranged over two floors, the building has two reception rooms, a kitchen, bathroom and pantry downstairs, with an ensuite bedroom above.
According to the agents, the “characterful dwelling” is “in need of comprehensive renovation throughout”, although it has the potential to be restored and enhanced.
Beside the house, there is also a traditional stone outbuilding, which can be used for storage or adapted, subject to planning permission.
Ynys Gifftan, though, is not connected to electricity. It was connected to mains water in the 1980s, but, the agents advise, this may not still be active. The island has a private drainage system.
Previously used for grazing, the island’s 17.74 acres of grassland and pasture are now overgrown in places and would “benefit from grazing and general land management to restore it to its full potential and productivity”.
The highest point of the island is 39 metres high, offering panoramic views back towards the mountains and over the estuary. At its southern tip, there are a series of deeper tidal pools which are suitable for swimming.
“Floating, swimming or diving into these remote pools from the surrounding rock ledges are one of life’s greatest pleasures,” reads the Islandeering website, a blog dedicated to discovering the UK’s islands, coastlines and waterways.
Ynys Gifftan is still under the ownership of Lord Harlech and is not currently in use.
“Ynys Gifftan presents a truly unique opportunity for a buyer who appreciates its exceptional location and potential,” says Hugh O’Donnell, partner at Carter Jonas’ Bangor office.
“We expect interest from buyers looking for an exciting lifestyle project in one of Wales’ most beautiful coastal landscapes or someone who is looking for their very own secluded haven.”
