Enlli - Bardsey Island
Bardsey island lies across the Sound about two miles (3km) off Aberdaron at the tip of the Lleyn Peninsula - and a popular tourist attraction from Cae Garw self catering properties.
Bardsey -Ynys Enlli - has been a place of important christianity and pilgrimage since the 5th century, with a monastery being built here in the 6th century by St Cadfan . Indeed - three trips to Bardsey were considered equal to a pilgrimage to Rome. There are reputedly 20,000 saints buried on the island.
Atlantic grey seals are in abundance here -and a colony of up to 200 can be seen in the rocky bays of the island.
The waters around Bardsey are one of few places along the UK, where sightings of Risso dolphins can be seen from the land, indicating the great importance of the waters for the dolphin's feeding and breeding grounds.
The island is of great conservation importance, and carries the following list of national and international designations: National Nature Reserve (NNR) ,Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
In 2000, a chance discovery resulted in finding the Bardsey Apple- "Afal Enlli"- possibly from an orchard tended on the island by monks over a 1,000 years ago.
The Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory opened in 1953, and the island was bought by the Bardsey Island Trust in 1979. As the island lies in the migration paths of many birds , it is extremely popular with birdwatchers, twitchers and ornithologists .
Bardsey and is home to the red-billed choughs and oystercatchers; it is also common to see herons, peregrine falcons, wheatears, warblers and little owls. Sea birds such as gannets, razorbills , puffins and shags colonize the island.
The island is mostly associated, however, with the Manx shearwater - there is a breeding colony of ten to sixteen thousand birds on the island. Visitors having stayed on the island will recall their screaming calls as the come in to nest in burrows on the island overnight.
Bardsey welcomes many hundreds of day visitors during the summer months with day trips being operated from Porth Meudwy - a fishing cove near Aberdaron, or from the main town of Pwllheli . Day visitors are able to explore the island for a few hours - ( no pets allowed ). Trips from Porth Meudwy can be arranged by contacting Colin Evans - 07971 769895.