High living on the coast of Cornwall

The Life: It is arguably one of the most exclusive areas of real estate in the whole of the UK. However, the house in not located in Kensington or another pricey area of London, but perched on top of a rock on the Cornwall coast.

The Island is a remarkable Cornish landmark. Courtesy Lillicrap Chilcott

It is arguably one of the most exclusive properties in all of Britain.

However, the house is not in Kensington or another pricey area of London but perched on a rock on the Cornwall coast.

The Island, a large rock in Newquay, is surrounded by water when the tide is in, and the house can be reached only via a private, 30-metre-long suspension bridge, thought to be the only one of its kind in the country.

The three-bedroom house was built on top of the rock in the 1930s and has come up for sale just three times in the past 40 years.

It was once owned by Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge, the inventor of the spark plug, and it is said that his close friend the author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle visited many times.

Lord and Lady Long, the current owners, bought the house for £500,000 (Dh2.9 million) in 2001 as a holiday home and liked it so much they made it their permanent residence.

But the slippery granite steps at either end of the bridge are becoming a hazard for them. "We have decided to sell before this becomes a problem," Lady Long was quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

The couple first put the property on the market two years ago but have dropped the asking price by more than a quarter to offers of about £995,000.

The house has undergone an extensive renovation in recent years, according to the estate agency Lillicrap Chilcott.

The sitting room offers "spectacular" beach, coastal and sea views, with doors that open out on to a terrace. On the ground floor, there is also a conservatory, bedroom, large shower room and separate toilet, a recently refitted kitchen-and-breakfast room, a laundry room, dining room and study. The two remaining two bedrooms and a bathroom are on the first floor.

The Island is fenced all around for safety with sheltered sun trap patios for enjoying the views. Outside, there is ample space to extend the property, subject to securing all necessary consents.

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