Man Has ZERO Regrets About Buying Private Island Instead of a House

Bear Grylls, a British survivalist best known for his appearances on a multitude of TV shows about survival, has purchased a private island and a houseboat for less than the cost of a basic apartment in London.

And he has zero regrets.

At a glance:

  • Bear Grylls has no regrets about purchasing a private island and houseboat for less than £200,000, despite the challenges of island living.
  • The TV adventurer and his wife, Shara, bought Saint Tudwal’s Island West in North Wales in 2001, which initially had no power, water, or roof and was overrun with rats.
  • Grylls says the island life has been an “amazing adventure” and has shaped the lives of his three sons, who have grown up competent and respectful of the sea.

Bear Grylls, the famed TV adventurer, has no regrets about choosing a life of adventure, which includes owning a private island and a houseboat that he purchased for less than the price of a London flat. Speaking about his unconventional lifestyle, Grylls revealed that he and his wife, Shara, purchased Saint Tudwal’s Island West in North Wales, along with a houseboat on the Thames, for under £200,000 in 2001. Despite having to ferry groceries over by boat and the island’s initial derelict state, Grylls describes the decision as a rewarding one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoAqHCXhvrQ 

Grylls explained that while they sold the houseboat, the family spends most of their time on the island, where they have embraced a more remote and rugged way of living. The island came with its own set of challenges, including no power, water, or roof, and was home to rats when they first bought it. Despite these hardships, the island did have a 200-year-old lighthouse and two lightkeepers’ cottages, which Grylls saw as part of the adventure.

Reflecting on the early days after the purchase, Grylls recounted the first bath he took on the island: “I remember my first bath sitting in three inches of water pumped from the old tanks we’d cleaned out. There was rubble everywhere and rain coming through, but it was a great moment.” The island living experience hasn’t come without its difficulties. Grylls explained that ferrying supplies from the mainland has been challenging, with rough seas sometimes making it difficult to manage the boat. It took around 10 years for Grylls to gain permission to build a slipway on the island, which he described as “life-changing.” Prior to that, he had to keep the boat moored and row ashore, often walking a mile up the beach with groceries.

https://x.com/DailyMailUK/status/1844391856588587413 

Despite these challenges, Grylls, 50, believes the purchase has been worthwhile. Raising his three sons—Jesse, 21, Marmaduke, 18, and Huckleberry, 15—on the island has instilled in them a deep respect for nature and the sea. “The boys have grown up very competent and respectful around the sea,” Grylls said, explaining that island life has shaped their character.

Grylls himself was raised in Bembridge on the Isle of Wight, where his love for adventure was inspired by his parents, Sarah and Michael. His father, a former Royal Marines Commando, taught him how to sail and climb, skills that fueled his lifelong passion for the outdoors. “He taught me to sail at a young age and how to climb on those white chalk sea cliffs. I am so grateful for a wonderful childhood with beautiful parents,” Grylls said, reflecting on his upbringing.

A former Etonian who became one of the youngest people to summit Mount Everest, Grylls continues to live an adventurous lifestyle. He described his daily routine on the island, which includes working out in an outdoor gym and then running to the sea for a swim, often with seals following him. “The seals on the island join in, swimming five metres behind me,” Grylls said.

Despite the hard work and unpredictable seas, Grylls remains content with his decision to buy the island. For him, it has been the perfect setting to raise his family and continue living a life of adventure. The couple’s choice to take the “path less trodden” has led to what Grylls describes as an “amazing adventure,” and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

Better than living in a cramped apartment in London, isn’t it?