Bardsey Island (Welsh: Ynys Enlli) lies off the Lleyn peninsula, in north Wales. The island is the site of a monastery founded by Saint Cadfan in the sixth century, and of Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory. Its highest point is the summit of Mynydd Enlli.

It supports a small 'all the year' round population of less than 10 people which is swollen during summer months by visitors staying in the other houses on the island. Only one of the original 'crogloft' cottages survives as all the other cottages/houses were rebuilt during the 1870's with substaintial detached & semi-detached farmhouses. They all have a set of farm buildings surrounded by high walls to keep out the weather. All the buildings are listed by CADW - the Welsh Historic & Ancient Monuments organisation. Little has changed on the island since then - the last building to be put up was the chapel in 1875. There is no permanent electricity supply, most houses relying on candles and small gas lamps. A telephone link to the rest of the public network was established in 2001 but the telephone system on the island still uses 'wind the handle' telephones with the (permanently occupied) houses all being on the same party line.

The Welsh colloquial term "tŷ bach" ("little house") still refers to an outhouse on Bardsey (many of which are situated within gardens).

The Island is owned and managed by the Bardsey Island Trust (see external link below) who acquired it in 1979 after raising the money by public subscription. For many years previously, it had formed part of the estates of the Newborough Family of Glynllifon near Caernarfon. At its maximum, it supported a population 92 at the time of the 1851 census. By 1935 the population had dropped to 33. As the population dropped, the small school on the island, run by the Council, closed circa 1950.

Pilgrimage

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The island became a place of pilgrimage, especially popular with pilgrims who would come to die and be buried on the isle, hence giving rise to the tradition that twenty thousand saints are buried on the island. Three pilgrimages to Bardsey were rated as equivalent to one pilgrimage to Rome. Saint Deiniol and Merlin are both said to buried on the island.

Attractions

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Attractions on the island include a thirteenth century bell tower, several Celtic crosses, and a wealth of birds. Bardsey is a National Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The tallest square lighthouse in Britain built in 1821.

Occasional boats for day visitors sail to the island from Pwllheli and Aberdaron. Tel 0845 811 36554 for details.

Bardsey Island Apple

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Bardsey is also home to the Bardsey Island Apple, an apple originally unique to the island, although saplings can now be purchased. It was originally described by the media as "The World's Rarest Apple". The apple tree is believed to have been grown there since the 1300s, when the Island was inhabited by monks. However, due to the island's isolated location, it was not officially identified and classified until Ian Sturrock sent a sample to the National Fruit Collection, in Brogdale, Kent in 1998.

External links

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• Barsdey Island official web site
• BBC's Bardsey Island Webpages
• Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory
• Bardsey Island Apple website

Caernarfonshire | Geography of Gwynedd | Islands of Wales | Marilyns of Wales | Mountains and hills of north Wales | National Nature Reserves in Wales | Sites of Special Scientific Interest in West Gwynedd

Ynys Enlli | Bardsey | Bardsey