Stack Rock Fort

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Island fort for sale at £150,000
If you are struggling to get on the property ladder in the UK, how about buying a fort just off the coast?
Stack Rock Fort, about 800 yards off the west Wales coast near Milford Haven, is for sale for £150,000.

The 19th Century fort - complete with a couple of cannons - dates back from the time of Napoleon, when it was initially built as a defence for the river Haven.

But it has nowhere to sleep at present, and the new owner will have to sort out sewage, water and power.

The fort, completely surrounded by water and with its own jetty, was built on a small island to protect the area from invasion.

Mary Joyce, manager at Haynes Agency in Pembroke, said they had never sold anything like it.

The current owner bought it at auction, but hasn't done much with it - I think he used to go there for picnics

Mary Joyne, Haynes Agency

"It is very rare - inspection is going to be difficult, as it has to be by boat, although we have lined up someone up who runs a helicopter and they are checking out landing areas," she said.

"There are no services from what we can see - there is damp inside and no accommodation, but there are a couple of guns inside."

Ms Joyce said there was no solid interest yet, but they had talked to a couple of developers, who had "talked about doing something in the tourist industry". "There has been a mention of a marine life centre, and someone talking about just using it as an island, a retreat," she said.

She explained that the previous Welsh-based owner had only visited the historic site a few times.

"The central part was built around Napoleon's time and the outer ring was built later - around the 1850s," she said.

"The current owner bought it at auction, but hasn't done much with it - I think he used to go there for picnics."

She said that the cost of doing it up completely depended on what the new owner had planned, but admitted buyers could have difficulty securing a mortgage to buy it.

However, she said she was sure it would sell.

"It is so unique, I think it might not be a local person who buys it, but there is always someone with an interest