Private Welsh Island With Historic Fort Listed for £3 Million
A fully private island off the coast of Wales, complete with a Grade II-listed coastal fort, has been placed on the market with offers invited in excess of £3 million. Thorne Island, situated in Pembrokeshire, is being marketed as a secluded luxury retreat just minutes from the UK mainland.
What does Thorne Island offer prospective buyers?
The property extends to approximately 2.49 acres and includes a fort originally built in the early 1850s to repel a potential French invasion. The fort has since been converted into substantial accommodation featuring five bedrooms, five bathrooms, an entrance hall, dining and sitting rooms, a kitchen, workshops, and storage areas. A former lookout has been transformed into a glass-fronted private office, and the island also boasts a courtyard, rooftop bar, games room, and terrace.
According to the listing on Rightmove, the island provides complete seclusion while offering a waterfront location with its own boat moorings, a private jetty, five moorings, and a 10-metre hydraulic crane for lifting boats and supplies. Planning permission is already in place to operate a hotel on the site.
How is the island powered and maintained?
Thorne Island operates entirely off-grid. Power is supplied through a series of solar panels and a generator, with heat pumps providing hot water and heating. The property also includes systems for harvesting and storing rainwater, as well as its own sewage treatment facility.
What has the current owner said about the property?
The fort was renovated by Mike Conner, who invested approximately £2 million of his own funds into the restoration. Speaking about his time on the island, Conner described the unique experience of living surrounded by nature.
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.
Conner also noted the profound silence within the fort, saying, 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.
What could a buyer do with Thorne Island?
Conner suggested the island could be developed for tourism to support the local economy. He remarked that it would be a shame if no one gets to see the property, calling it one of the most interesting buildings in Wales and potentially the world.
The listing highlights the surrounding area as an adventurer's paradise, with caves, excellent fishing spots, rocky outcrops, watersport opportunities, and sandy beaches along the coastline.
Where is Thorne Island located?
Thorne Island lies approximately 0.4 nautical miles from West Angle Bay, with the village of Angle about half a mile inland. Milford Haven is roughly three nautical miles away, while Pembroke is nine miles to the east. The island is being marketed by Strutt & Parker.