Holiday home business on banks of Scottish loch for sale
The agent said that, with its established holiday rental business, the house offers potential as either a home or income-generating property, 'in a quiet location close to Fort Augustus'.
Inside and out. (Image: Strutt & Parker) The agent said: 'The home has excellent eco credentials, benefitting from efficient triple-glazing and a ground-source heat pump.
'The impressive 27-foot central reception hall with dual wooden turned staircase benefits from a cloakroom, polished stone flooring and glazed double doors that flow out onto the decked terrace.'
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The agent also said: 'Nestled among dramatic forests and mountain ranges, the property's generous wrap-around private plot is approached over a sweeping driveway.
'There is a raised decked terrace and a paved patio for dining al fresco, with a pathway meandering up to a viewing point with a panoramic outlook of the mountains towards Loch Ness.
'Large enclosed grassed gardens follow, with a wildflower meadow to the rear of the home, a variety of trees and shrubs and a timber outbuilding complete with a log store.'
The agent said: 'The property is set in an idyllic rural position close to the iconic Loch Ness, which offers a plethora of hiking, cycling, riding, fishing, swimming and kayaking opportunities.'
The village of Foyers offers a range of amenities, including a local shop, Post Office, café and a popular public house. Nearby Fort Augustus also offers additional services, the agent said.
Offers over £675,000 are invited.
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Wales Online
15 hours ago
- Wales Online
The man who lives in a £3m Welsh party pad you can only reach by boat or helicopter
The man who lives in a £3m Welsh party pad you can only reach by boat or helicopter Total silence, surrounded by nature, tides not traffic and a perfect place for parties and celebrity visits - island life in Wales Boat is the easiest form of transport to and from the island (Image: Staying on an island means no neighbours other than the bird and wildlife but the owner of the truly incredible Thorne Island, Mike Conner, says it does have a frequent and awe-inspiring visitor - the wild, Welsh weather. Mike explains what it's like staying on the Pembrokeshire island in a storm, saying: "Probably one of the most exciting things that happens on Thorne is the winter storms-when they hit Thorne, it's incredible. The spray goes over the top of the island, the gutterings get blocked up with shrimps, windows can get blown out. When we hear a storm is coming in, we just lift the boats out and wait for it to come in, and it is just awesome. "You know, a day at Alton Towers can be exhilarating, but this is like next level, you know, wind gusts that change direction, waves hitting the courtyard. It's really exciting, it's incredible!". But surely even more incredible is the fact that this one man took on the renovation of the empty fort on the island - and it's been an epic journey. For more property stories sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: Inside the most amazing home for sale in Wales sat on an island with its own helipad and private jetty YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Couple who rescued a chapel they loved have converted it into stunning home Very few people can tell you what it's like to stay on a private island in a historic fort (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) Mike has owned the island that is crowned by the historic Grade II fort since 2017 and it's been arguably one of the most challenging restoration and renovation projects in Wales by an individual for many years. Across Wales at this moment people are in the process of saving and restoring buildings of all shapes and sizes - there are standard renovations, large renovations, epic renovations and then there's saving the historic fort on Thorne Island. Thorne Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire is for sale for offers in excess of £3m (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) While other renovators might moan about late deliveries and the increase in price of materials, current island owner Mike's challenges included organising delivering materials by helicopter, building a crane on a rocky landscape to lift deliveries by boat, and trying to find tradespeople who were happy to stay on the island and work and not go home at the end of each working day. While other people working on renovations needed to sort out walls that were unstable and about to keel over, Mike was tackling a whole cliff face under the huge stone gatehouse tower that was becoming unstable and needed attention. The island has a mooring but more crucially a crane to do the heavy lifting (Image: It has taken many years and over £2m of Mike's hard earned money to turn the historic Grade II fort on Thorne Island from an empty shell beginning its inevitable slide into dereliction, save it, revive it and transform it into a simply stunning home. See inside the completed, renovated fort here. Some people find taking on a renovation project a sea of stress but it wasn't worry that kept Mike awake at night - it was excitement for working out the process of how to save the fort, the logistics, the challenges and the problems to solve. The Grade II listed fort looks imposing as you climb the cliff steps from the mooring (Image: Mike is no stranger to diving into a challenging project and turning it into an impressive success - he started his own tech company from a garage and has worked hard to build it into a worldwide business. When he saw Thorne Island and the state of the fort Mike felt compelled to save it and could visualise the incredible home it could become, even though the challenges have been constant and, in some cases, unique to restoring and preserving a piece of Welsh heritage on an island. Mike Conner has spent of £2m of his own money to save this Welsh historic building from inevitable dereliction (Image: Adrian White Photography) Thorne Island fort was originally built in the 1850s, one of twelve forts that were constructed around the entrance to Pembroke Dock as part of 'Palmerston's Haven defences' to protect against Napoleonic invasion. Where people in towns and cities need to consider busy road routes and commuter traffic, for Mike and his family travelling to the island it is all about tides, boats, and shipping lanes and being a 'townie' Mike confesses that at the start of this epic renovation he knew nothing about any of it. Mike says: 'Y ou need to know when high tide is, when low tide is, when slack tide is - the range of the tide each day. You then need to become very aware of the weather and wind directions and swell directions and, you know, these things that eve ry seafarer knows inside out." Stormy seas and wild wind that batter the island Mike says are 'incredible' (Image: Mike Conner) Obviously there are no neighbours other than the bird and wildlife and, coupled with the weather, Mike says the island teaches you to slow down, observe what is around you, and feel truly blessed to feel surrounded by nature. Mike says: " I think one of the things I really enjoy about the island is the fact that it's got its own ecosystem. Because, as it's an island, the birds know no predator, so there's a robin that follows me around and there's a seal at the island at the moment that, when we first got here, was a pup, now she's now had her own pup. You get to feel very close to something much, much bigger than yourself. The substantial formal dining room with lounge area at one end (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) "I think it's like being part of the sea, you know, we get woken by gulls, we get visited by dolphins and porpoises too, I had no idea any of this stuff kind of went on. It's like Mother Nature screaming, 'look at all the stuff that's going on' and I think that's just good for you, gives you a bit of peace. "It's completely silent inside the fort because the walls are so thick and it's double glazed. You know, it can be kicking off outside and you won't hear anything. The former soldiers' barracks, where trademen also slept as they worked to save the fort, is now a spacious 'dormitory' (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) "How often do you experience total silence? You know, you always hear a car in the distance, you know, but here it goes properly silent and, yeah, that's pretty special. I sleep like a baby when I'm there." Every now and then though the island is not silent or cloaked in birdsong, sometimes there's a party and they are arguably as epic as the island and fort itself - with no neighbours to complain about noise and guests arriving by boat and sometimes even helicopter. Mike says some visitors opt for hiring a helicopter to get to the island (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) The unique location has attracted attention from TV programmes and companies with Mike saying filming has occurred with Dizzie Rascal and Jason Fox, and Channel 4's property programme 'Hugh Dennis Huge Homes' also a visitor, as well as Red Bull as a potential base for an athletes' retreat. Perfect place for a party with no neighbours to complain (Image: Mike Conner) Mike says the fort works very well as a place to party as he's built a roof top bar and there's a dance floor downstairs, a substantial internal outdoor courtyard, as well as a one of the bedrooms being a dormitory, that was once the soldiers' barracks and with tents too, the island has slept around 80 guests. But you have to be organised with the supplies you need as it's not like you can pop down to a mini supermarket at the end of your street when you run out of milk. When Mike, now aged 52, was working on saving the fort it was these added island complications that had to be considered, and it was more complicated and expensive than running out of milk. The roof top bar is a special spot with amazing views of the sea, the coast, the sunrise and the sunset (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) Mike says: "I t's been a development project and you know, I guess having the odd party there is upside of that. But most of the time, you know, I'm there with different trades, fixing stuff, and it's not that glamorous." For more property, renovation, and interior design stories join our Amazing Welsh Homes Facebook group here. Of course the challenges have been many, Mike says: "I think the initial logistics of just helicoptering everything on to the island was actually a brilliant idea but it relies on a very specialist helicopter and skilled pilot who was willing to do 360 drops over two days. Hugh Dennis arriving for filming for Channel 4 TV series 'Huge Homes with Hugh Dennis' (Image: Mike Conner) "You've got to do so many loads because you're taking rubbish off the island like broken baths and fridges and old generators. So you have to plan every one of those rubbish packages and trips - emptying a skip can take a day. "The staff at Travis Perkins were really helpful. They weighed all the bags of materials to make sure that everything was in 500 kilogramme loads, so when the helicopter came, we knew it could pick it up and take it over." Ample space for a badminton court too (Image: Mike Conner) Mike says he used local tradespeople, skilled crafts people, local businesses and suppliers, and boat companies as much as possible but the team working on the fort every day had to see his vision too. He explains: "Getting skilled labour at the fort who want to go home in the evening isn't really an option, I had to find like-minded people who are probably a bit unhinged and get really passionate about projects like this." But he did find those people to create the team and the result of their hard work is nothing short of spectacular. The only neighbours are the bird and wildlife, the weather and the occasional passing ship (Image: Mike has always had in the back of his mind the struggles of the original builders too. He says: "The fort is made from massive granite, which would probably be about 10 tons a block. How on earth did they get this stuff up there? Wow! Before hydronics and electric winches and all that sort of thing? Because it would have all been block and tackle and blokes pulling ropes. "So from the outside, the fort has got a kind of Stonehenge sort of aura, you know, how did they do that? A thousand men over two years - that really is remarkable" But Mike is not the only one to have spent time living on Thorne and there's one past islander that he has extra admiration for, he says: "Mary Pearson was a well heeled debutante who just was fed up with post-war London living and so moved to Pembrokeshire and bought the fort from the Ministry of Defence. The internal courtyard and bespoke built roof terrace are perfect for social gatherings and have seen some parties - with no neighbours to complain about the noise (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) "All the windows in the external walls were cut by her - an unbelievable effort because those walls are about three feet thick - and she had children at the fort and used to get them to school by boat -incredible." Mike is a very busy entrepreneur and his business takes him around the world so he and his family don't get to Thorne Island as much as he would like and so, with a heavy heart and a pinning for the inspiring 360 degree panoramic views he will miss, he has put the island and fort on the market for offers in excess of £3m with Strutt and Parker. Options for a new owner include a home or a business, or both, from corporate events and weddings to exclusive holidays, with Mike saying in the past he has rented the island and fort out to private individuals for around £10,000 without doing any publicity at all. Thorne Island off the coast of Pembrokeshire includes the fort built in the 1850s and now Grade II* listed (Image: Strutt and Parker, National Country House Department) Article continues below Mike says: " It will be a wrench because I bought the fort because I didn't want to just let it fall apart, to become derelict, and I've put so much into it, I will really miss it. It's such a great place but it just doesn't get used enough. " I think it could be turned into you know, something touristy that sort of helped drive the local economy that would be amazing. Yeah, it would be a shame if no one gets to see it. I think it's got to be one of the most interesting buildings in Wales, I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more interesting place to visit or stay maybe in the world, not just Wales."
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Stunning Welsh island hits the market for £3m
Every right-minded Briton dreams of owning a private island with a helipad, rooftop bar and ramparts to repel the French. But doing so is no longer an Ian Fleming-inspired fantasy. Thorne Island, a Grade II listed 19th-century fort off the coast of Pembrokeshire, has hit the market – and it could be yours for £3m. After an 'extensive and carefully-planned' restoration, the fort comes equipped with underfloor heating, mezzanine bedrooms, a sea-view office, and a 10-metre hydraulic crane for lifting boats and supplies. The property is listed with estate agency Strutt & Parker, which describes the island's surrounding caves, fishing spots, rocky outcrops and sandy beaches as 'an adventurer's paradise' and 'a fantastic coastal landmark now offering something very different'. The island lies three nautical miles from the seaside town of Milford Haven in south-west Wales. It can be accessed either by boat to a private jetty, or by air to a helipad on the western edge of the island. A YouTube tour of the fort shows patches of moss clinging to the sea-blasted outer walls as swirls of gulls circle the ramparts above jagged rocks. Thorne Island was built in the 1850s as part of Lord Palmerston's coastal defence network to defend against the France navy. Designed to house 100 men, its purpose was to guard the Royal Dockyards at Milford Haven. Over time, its military role faded and it changed hands several times. It was used as a hotel and family home before being left to deteriorate. Mike Conner, a tech entrepreneur, who bought the island in 2017, spent £2m restoring the dilapidated fort, which was waterlogged, windowless and without water or electricity. Mr Conner spent £240,000 on hardwood double-glazed sash windows and £300,000 on renewable energy and waste systems – including solar panels, battery storage, an air source heat pump and a biodigester system. The listing describes the property, which boasts five bedrooms and 2.49 acres of land, as 'completely off-grid and self-sufficient'. It adds: 'Upon entering the property through the historic entrance gates, you are welcomed into [the] entrance hall leading into the large open plan reception, dining and sitting room with exposed traditional brickwork, vaulted ceilings, double aspect sash windows and wood burning stove. 'The kitchen is open plan with a modern, equipped kitchen and adjoining snug with wood-burning stove, exposed brick work and sea views.' 'Outside is a courtyard laid to lawn, providing a sheltered entertaining space with adjoining storage rooms. Steps lead to the elevated grounds of the island which is home to the helipad and roof-top bar with inbuilt bar and games room.' Strutt & Parker recommends offers in excess of £3m.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
UK households issued brutal warning that 'Britain's mortgage cliff is here'
Mortgage experts have warned that ultra-low mortgage rates five years ago will move onto far higher rates in the months ahead, with hundreds of thousands of households set to be affected UK households are on the brink of a financial precipice as experts caution that "Britain's mortgage cliff is here," with many set to "feel the drop" imminently. Mortgage specialists have sounded the alarm, predicting a shift from the ultra-low mortgage rates of five years ago to significantly higher rates in the coming months. Borrowers are bracing themselves for a "face a brutal reality check" in today's mortgage market. Patricia McGirr, founder at Burnley-based Repossession Rescue Network, has issued a dire forecast: "Britain's mortgage cliff is here and hundreds of thousands of households are about to feel the drop". This news comes after ' thousands of Brits get a shock letter from HMRC after drastic new tax rule comes into force '. She highlights the looming issue for homeowners whose five-year fixes taken out during the pandemic are expiring, warning: "Five-year fixes taken during the pandemic are now expiring, and many homeowners are about to face a brutal reality check". Birmingham Live reported McGirr's warning of a steep increase in monthly repayments, especially for those who secured deals at sub-2 percent rates and are now facing rates between 4 percent and 5 percent. The financial strain could lead to drastic changes in personal circumstances, with McGirr noting: "For some, this means scrapping life plans just to stay afloat". She added: "With squeezed affordability, we could see home-movers freeze, downsizers accelerate and first-time buyers pause". The founder suggests that the resulting lack of movement in the housing market could indirectly affect property prices: "That could stall fluidity and indirectly chill prices. For those who took out two-year fixes during the 2022 post-mini-Budget panic, they'll actually see payments fall". McGirr describes the current situation as a divide between the fortunate and the less so, urging lenders to provide support. She pleaded: "It's a mortgage market of haves and have-nots, and we need lenders to be ready to step up with solutions for those facing real challenges". She calls for immediate action to assist those caught in this predicament, emphasising the need for clear communication and fair treatment: "Consumers caught in this horizon event need clarity, flexibility and fair treatment now more than ever". Ranald Mitchell, director at Norwich-based Charwin Mortgages, concurred: "For many borrowers, 2025 will prove the hangover after the house party". He highlighted the stark reality for homeowners by explaining how "millions are waking up to find their cheap-as-chips pandemic mortgage deals have vanished, replaced with monthly payments that bite". Mitchell painted a grim picture for those coming off low-rate deals, sharing: "For five-year fixers coming off sub-2% rates, some are facing £300–£500 extra a month. It's not just a shock, it's a financial slap. This won't crash the market, but it will chill it". He also suggested a shift in the property landscape: "Potential movers may pause and reflect on their new monthly financials. The days of borrowing big and breezing through affordability checks are over."
