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A large garage for a car situated in the lakeside village of Portinscale is also thrown in and a milkman in a canoe even delivers a daily pint.

In return there are several conditions that come with the tenancy.

The property is to be manned all year round and must be opened up to visitors for five days of the year.

^{The 18th Century property on the island. (BNPS)}

The occupiers will also be trained in how to look after important antiques, art works and furniture in the Georgian house.

Helen Lancaster, of letting agents Carter Jonas, said: "It has been the principal residency for 10 years of the outgoing tenants.

"The husband has got a business in the north west that he travels to but he has been lucky enough to have been able to work from home.

"The property is new to the market but we have already had wide-ranging interest from private individuals to CEOs of companies.

"Obviously this appeals to people who want to get away from it all and live a secluded lifestyle. It is easy to get romantic about this beautiful isle in the middle of a lake.

"But from another point of view, the practicalities involved of things like lugging bags of shopping onto a boat is less romantic.

"There is an application process that will involve an interview. People must be financially robust to take it on as well as show they can take on the mantle of custodian of a historic property for the National Trust.

"Thy need to be fairly robust and have a slight element of the adventurer about them.

"There are conditions that come with the tenancy and one is that the property has to be opened up to visitors for five days a year.

"The days are arranged three months in advance with the National Trust warden.

"The tenants can either make themselves scarce that day or throw themselves into it. For example, the outgoing tenants provide tea and cake for the visitors."

The village of Portinscale offers a shop and a tea rooms but there is a supermarket in Kewsick as well as schools.

Mrs Lancaster said: "There are no cars allowed in the island but it comes with a garage and parking area on the mainland.

"There is an agreement for the milkman to store his canoe in the garage in return for him making a daily delivery to the island.

"Of the two boats, one is shallow-hulled because the lake level rises and falls quite significantly.

"It can sometimes freeze over in the winter which leaves the residents stranded."

The property on the isle, that was formerly known as Vicar's Island. was built by eccentric banker Joseph Pocklington in the 18th century.

It is said that celebrated poet William Wordsworth was offended by the design of the house and thought it spoilt the view.

Edited by Sunita Patel-Carstairs