A beautiful island to call your own, for the price of a one-bedroom flat
A budding Robinson Crusoe is needed to take over this gorgeous island, which lies just off the coast from Portmeirion.

The stunning Ynys Giftan Island is one of just 43 unbridged tidal islands in Britain, situated in the Dwyrd Estuary and accessible across the sand at low tide.
Its 17.74 acre expanse includes beautiful hills, sandy beaches and delightful woodland, as well as a stunningly romantic stone-built farmhouse.
And it's now available on a 20-year lease, with the owners looking for just £500 a month – a price which wouldn't get you a one-bedroom flat in most parts of Britain.
There is, as you might have guessed, a catch: this is an 'improving' lease, which is to say that the future tenant will take over the island on condition that they renovate the derelict farmhouse.
And that won't be easy: there is no electricity on the island, and while there is a water supply pipe and a septic tank, nobody is quite sure whether either is fit for purpose any more.
For some, those issues might be a deal-breaker. For others, the challenge is sure to be intoxicating.
And looking on the bright side, there is at least a decent mobile phone signal on the island in case you need to get hold of your building suppliers.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
"This is a blank canvas offering," says Thomas Hanmer of Strutt & Parker, who are brokering the deal for an estate owner who is keen to see the place flourish and "enhance the public’s affection for the Island and North Wales."
Several proposals have apparently been received already for ideas with what might be done, and the owner is happy to be flexible both on usage and price – the island could certainly be a tourist destination, given its location within the Snowdownia National Park, but it sounds as if nothing is being ruled out at this point.
That magnanimity is particularly fitting: the very name 'Ynys Giftan' means 'Anne's Gift', referring back to the moment when Queen Anne gave the island to Lord Harlech's ancestors in the early 18th century. And while this 20-year lease isn't being given away, it's lovely to see it thrown open at a price which means a courageous individual can take it on just as easily as a development company.
That makes it one of the most exciting opportunities we've seen in a while. Let's hope that somebody comes along who can make the most of it – if you think it might be you, Strutt & Parker's website has more details.
Credit: Garmony House, Isle of Mull
A magnificent Georgian house on the Isle of Mull for the price of a Guildford semi
This house for sale on the Isle of Mull is a vision of Georgian cosiness in an idyllic natural setting.
Credit: Savills
Lord Attenborough's Scottish bolthole up for sale
Credit: Knight Frank
A house by the waterside where magnificent views meet all mod cons
The houses we feature at Country Life are often hundreds of years old. This one is a relative baby – but
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
A delightful 16th century home with some of Kent's most beautiful gardens has come on to the market
The Grange puts the 'garden' into the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Craig Hamilton Architects
Craig Hamilton Architects is an internationally renowned architectural practice.
By Country Life Published
-
A delightful 16th century home with some of Kent's most beautiful gardens has come on to the market
The Grange puts the 'garden' into the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Embrace off-grid living on this Scottish island for sale, but you'll have to share it with the local seal population
A dot on the map of the west coast of Scotland has come up for sale.
By Toby Keel Published
-
18 beautiful homes, from charming cottages to a Highland mansion with unbeatable views, as seen in Country Life
Our look at some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life in the past week includes Georgian manor houses, charming commutable homes and the grandest home in Newcastle.
By Toby Keel Published
-
The gorgeous Somerset home of the designer behind one of Glastonbury's chicest spots
The Manor in Hinton Blewitt is a glorious Georgian home that ticks every box.
By Toby Keel Published
-
826 years of history, painstaking restoration and 'a garden like no other' at this former National Trust house which has come to the market in Kent
A blooming property in Kent showcases the original garden of England. Penny Churchill takes a look.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A wisteria-clad delight with lawns running down to the Thames at the prettiest riverside home for sale in London today
Deodar Road, near Putney High Street, offers unrivalled views of the Thames and is characterful in excess.
By James Fisher Published
-
Five of the most majestic properties for sale in Britain today, from a 1,700-acre estate to a private island, as seen in Country Life
Our look at the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week includes some genuinely breathtaking places.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Save me: A castle on the Isle of Wight designed by James Wyatt is up for sale
Norris Castle Estate also comes with 225 acres of gardens and grounds, and needs a little TLC
By James Fisher Published