Buying a private island may sound like a billionaire fantasy but off the Welsh coast it comes with a very practical condition: timing the tide. Ynys Gifftan, a 17-acre tidal island in the Dwyryd Estuary
near Portmeirion in Gwynedd, is up for sale for around Rs 3.7 crore. The island includes a Victorian stone farmhouse that was occupied until the 1970s and now needs extensive renovation, according to estate agents Carter Jonas.
While the island offers a secluded setting and sweeping coastal views, access depends entirely on the tide. At high tide, Ynys Gifftan is cut off and can only be reached by boat. At low tide, visitors can walk across the sands but only for a limited window.
The guide price of £350,000- slightly above the UK’s average house price- reflects both the appeal and the challenge. The land has become overgrown in places, though it includes the farmhouse and was previously used for grazing sheep. The island’s name translates to Anne’s Gift Island, after it was gifted by Queen Anne in the 1700s to the ancestors of Lord Harlech.
Surveyor Elis Jones said selling an island was a first for them.
“I don’t think we have ever sold an island before,” he said, adding that interest has been strong. Accompanied viewings are being planned. Buyers have been cautioned to take care during visits due to uneven terrain, access routes and changing tidal conditions. Carter Jonas said the property would suit someone looking for a lifestyle project or a secluded retreat in one of Wales’ most scenic coastal areas.
According to the Royal Geographical Society’s Discovering Britain guide, the island is accessible on foot for up to three hours on either side of low tide. The walk across the 400-metre route can take about five minutes, but visitors are warned to turn back if the water in the river channels becomes too deep.
