Something special: an island with a private beach is put up for sale, but there is a nuance (5 photos)
Drake's Island, just 600 yards off Plymouth, England, is up for sale. It was used as a defensive line for hundreds of years, so the 18th-century cannons are included in the price. 
A six-acre island with a private beach, fortifications and planning permission for a luxury hotel has been put up for sale. It can be reached by boat in less than 10 minutes.
The piece of land still contains old barracks and many artillery pieces with shell pits and underground powder magazines. 
The Briton bought the island in 2019 for £6 million and has already received planning permission to build a 43-bed hotel. The man also runs tours for groups.
"Plymouth is trying to become a destination - it's getting there, but it's a long way off. What we really need is this island and someone with the budget to do it," he explains. 
The island is named after Sir Francis Drake, who set sail from it on his voyage around the world in 1577. There is no set price, but the refurbishment is estimated to cost around £25 million. The sale is being handled by Ali Rana of property consultancy Carter Jonas.
"Proposals include converting these outbuildings into bedrooms, and one of the owner's ideas is to use the space as a wedding venue, where guests can stay, and then have a restaurant or cafe at the end. It's one of those opportunities where, with a certain vision, you can create something special," the man said. 
However, the new owner may not be alone: there are 15 ghosts rumoured to haunt the place, all former military personnel.
"If you believe the mediums that come here... they are all British soldiers. They are here to protect us. That's what they did when they were alive and that's what they do now. I've seen enough to say that there are things going on here that I can't explain. But it's all very nice," Mr Phillips added. 
