Why Bear Grylls bought off-grid island for $180k instead of flat

TV adventurer Bear Grylls has revealed he and his wife ditched plans to buy a regular apartment in favour of an off-grid island with no roof, no power and no running water. The Man vs. Wild star bought St Tudwal’s Island West off the coast of north Wales at 25 for $US120,000 ($A180,000) alongside wife Shara after spotting an advertisement in the back of a magazine. Grylls, 52, said the unconventional purchase came after the pair baulked at the cost of a London flat, which was priced at about $288,000 in 2001. Instead, they acquired both a Thames houseboat and the 8ha private island for less than the price of the city unit. “There were many who thought us crazy,” Grylls said in a recent social media post. “The best adventures start with nay-sayers. Thank you Shara for being brave and saying yes!” MORE: ‘Times are hard’: Broke child star begs fans for cash Miami Vice star’s shocking $20m collapse ‘A**’: Charlize Theron’s ex vanished into the bush Adventurer and television star Bear Grylls. Picture: Supplied. Grylls has revealed he and his wife ditched plans to buy a regular apartment in favour of an off-grid island with no roof, no power and no running water. Picture: Bear Grylls/Ins...