We’re coming to stay on Bardsey, what time will our boat leave?

We are unable to confirm the time of your boat crossing. You will need to phone Colin Evans, the boatman, on 07971769895, the evening before you are due to cross to Bardsey. Colin will leave a recorded message after 6.30pm that evening with time you will need to be at Cwrt Farm the following day with your luggage ready to be taken down to the boat in Porth Meudwy. As a rule, crossings start in the morning and run until early afternoon. Remember to label your luggage clearly with the name of your house you'll be staying in. Boxes and bags should be easy to handle on and off the boat and should be weatherproof for the journey.

What happens if the weather’s bad and the boat won’t be crossing as planned?

If the weather is too bad for the boat to cross on the day originally planned, Colin Evans, the boatman, will get you over on the next available day. The Bardsey Island Trust does not issue a refund if you are unable to get over to the island due to bad weather, but if you're lucky enough to get stranded on Bardsey you do not need to pay for the additional days. The Trust recommends you take out insurance for any costs incurred due to a delayed or cancelled crossing.

Do I need to book the boat crossing and parking?

We let the boatman know how many people are staying in each house, it is therefore very important that you let us know when booking how many people will be staying. You don't need to contact the boatman unless we have specifically asked you to, eg. if you have complex requirements. We will let you know how to pay for the boat crossing when we send you the bill for the final balance on your stay, usually around 12 weeks before you go. The boat carries up to 12 passengers on each crossing. If you have not confirmed how many people are staying, please let us know as soon as possible at post@bardsey.org Pease do phone the boatman after 6.30pm on the evening before your departure to find out what time your boat is crossing to the island. There will be a recorded message left for you. Tel: 07971 769895 We also let the farm know who's staying. Please pay for your parking on arrival, cash and cheque payment accepted.

What do we need to bring with us for our stay on Bardsey?

Please bring the following items for your stay on the island:

• Sufficient food and drink. There is no grocery shop on the island, except what is available from the farm and café, where evening meals and breakfast can be booked in advance.
• Footwear and clothing for all weather. Slippers for indoors, as floors are cold

• A sleeping bag or duvet for each bed

• Base bed sheet for each bed

• Pillowcases

• Warm pyjamas, as there is no heating in bedrooms

• Towels and washing kit

• Tea towels

• A good torch, head torch and spare batteries - the use of candles and tea-lights is not permitted.

Important

Medication - if you use any medication please ensure that you bring extra supplies to last at least another week.

Additional equipment
There is a limit to the amount of luggage that can be carried on the boat, however, the following may enhance your Enlli experience:

• Pair of binoculars

• Art materials

• Fishing rod / bait

• Musical instruments (not too big!)

• Camera and spare batteries (If you intend on taking any commercial photographs please contact the Bardsey Island Trust)

• Mobile phone - Please be aware that you may pick up a mobile phone signal from Ireland which may incur additional charges to your tariff. There is a signal for EE (best) and Vodafone from some areas on the island. There is no electricity to recharge your mobile on the island.

• Portable solar charger for smart phones and tablets

Please keep baggage to a minimum as the boat has only limited hold capacity. Pack all luggage in small easily-handled loads that are waterproof (wrapped in plastic) and well secured. Please do not use large heavy suitcases as these are very difficult to lift onto the boat. All belongings should be clearly marked with the name of the house in which you will be staying. Unmarked luggage may be delayed or go astray.

What happens if the weather’s bad and the boat won’t be crossing as planned?

If the weather is too bad for the boat to cross on the day originally planned Colin Evans, the boatman, will get you over on the next available day. Please call 07971 769895 for a recoded update on crossing times. Unfortunately the Trust is unable to issue refunds in this scenario, but if you're 'lucky' enough to get stranded on Bardsey you do not need to pay for the additional days. The Trust recommends you take out insurance for any costs incurred due to a delayed crossing. We are unable to recommend insurance companies.

How is all our luggage taken to the boat and to our accommodation once we arrive on the island?

Your luggage will be taken by a 4x4 and trailer down to the boat at Porth Meudwy and will be met from the boat by the tractor and trailer or a buggy once you arrive on Bardsey. Please ensure your luggage is in small easily handled boxes and bags, as they need to be lifted onto the boat. We kindly ask you not to pack everything into a large heavy suitcase.

Do you have bedrooms downstairs?

A number of the houses do have downstairs bedrooms, these are as follows: Tŷ Capel - 1 x double Nant - 1 x single Hendy - 1 x single Carreg Fawr - 1 x twin single beds

What are the cooking facilities like?

Each house comes with a fully equipped kitchen with crockery, cutlery, utensils, pots and pans, a gas cooker with hob, oven and grill and a small fridge freezer.

I’d like more information about the composting toilet, can you explain how it works?

The toilets for guests are simple compost toilets. They have a toilet seat above a bucket. When you use the toilet, only toilet paper must be put in the toilet, bins are provided for all other none compostable materials. A small sprinkling of sawdust is added after use. You will need to empty the toilet during your stay. Gloves are provided for this and the Wardens will explain the process on your arrival.

What lighting is there in our accommodation?

There is no electricity in any of the houses for hire on Bardsey. Small lamps and solar lamps are provided. We recommend bringing a head torch or two and some spare batteries for your stay...especially for any evening trips to the toilet! The good news is, you get to enjoy some of the darkest skies in Wales on Bardsey, plenty of opportunities for star gazing.

Is there a fridge/freezer in our accommodation?

Each house has a small fridge and freezer which is powered by solar panels. We'd recommend you bring UHT milk if you're staying longer than a week, or if there are lots of you staying.

Is there food available at the farm?

Please bring your own food and drink with you as there is no grocery shop on the island. However, the café, run by the Roberts family, serves various drinks, ice cream, snacks and homemade cakes daily. (subject to Covid19 restrictions) ​ Tŷ Pellaf is licensed to sell alcohol, reducing the need to bring your supplies with you. A full breakfast, especially on departure days, at a time to suit you, is now available and the café intends to offer evening meals or takeaways on specific nights as well as a cheese and wine evening once a week! Just ask for information. ​ If you need more details or specific information pertaining to your stay, please get in touch with the farm, prior notification of your requirements will help with preparation of your order. ​ As well as the café, the farm sells fresh free-range island eggs, seasonal vegetables, crabs and lobsters boiled or fresh straight off the boat, again please get in touch in advance to check availability and place an order. ​ To contact Tŷ Pellaf Café, please phone 07535 064943 or e-mail wgroberts@hotmail.co.uk

Is there a food shop?

There are no grocery shops on the island, please bring all your food and drink supplies with you. Drinking water is available from one of the island wells and must be boiled and filtered before drinking. You don't need to bring bottled drinking water with you. The café, run by the Roberts family, will still be serving various drinks, ice cream, snacks and homemade cakes daily. ​ Tŷ Pellaf is licensed to sell alcohol, reducing the need to bring your supplies with you. A full breakfast, especially on departure days is now available and the café intends to offer evening meals or takeaways on specific nights as well as a cheese and wine evening once a week! ​ As well as the café, sells selling fresh free-range island eggs, seasonal vegetables, crabs and lobsters boiled or fresh, straight off the boat. Please get in touch in advance to check availability and place an order. ​ To contact Tŷ Pellaf Café, please phone 07535 064943 or e-mail wgroberts@hotmail.co.uk

How are the houses heated?

Carreg Fawr, Carreg Bach, Plas Bach, Tŷ Capel, Ty Nesaf, Nant and Hendy all have multi fuel stoves. A supply of heatlogs is provided at the beginning of your stay. If you require more, packs are sold on the island at £6 per pack. Llofft Plas, Llofft Nant and Llofft Carreg (the chaplain's accommodation) and the volunteers' accommodation all have a Calor gas heater. Plas Bach also has an oil fuelled Rayburn which is on in April and September - October. This can be switched on during the summer at an additional charge, payable on arrival.

What's the bathroom and shower situation when we stay?

There are no bathrooms or showers in any of Bardsey’s guest houses, washing bowls are provided. You use water from the water butt outside (not the well water as this is for drinking and cooking only and must be conserved). You heat your washing water on the stove in a big pan provided. There are plenty of bowls in the houses, so you can take it to your room to wash. Plas Bach and Nant have rooms that can be used as washrooms. The toilet is a compost toilet located in the garden (except for Llofft Plas, where it is linked indoors).

Do we need to bring drinking water with us?

Houses are fed by water from one of the island's wells, which is drinkable once boiled and filtered. There are instructions in your accommodation on what to do. If it's been a hot summer, the well and our water storage tanks may run low. If this is the case, we'll let you know in advance and ask you to bring some water with you. If you don't hear from us, you don't need to bring any bottled water with you.

You appear fully booked on the dates I’d like to book. Do you have a waiting list?

We are unable to offer waiting list for accommodation. Please refer to the website’s availability page for any cancellations. The page is updated regularly.

It there WiFi on Bardsey?

There is no guest WiFi on the island, however, you may pick up a 4G signal on some parts of the island.

Can we fit an extra person in the house on the sofa or camp bed?

Under no circumstances may the number of occupiers exceed the maximum occupancy stated on our website. Infants under 2 years of age sleeping in a cot are not counted in the maximum (except for Carreg Bach, which is unsuitable for infants). We reserve the right to refuse admittance if this condition is not observed. Only those listed on the booking form may occupy the accommodation. ​

When can we book accommodation for 2022?

If you are a member of the Bardsey Island Trust, you have priority booking. This opens on 14th April 2021 (telephone bookings only on this day). We will be accepting bookings by email from the 15th April onwards from members. If you aren't a member of the Bardsey Island Trust, you can join here, or you may book from 16th June 2021 onwards.

We don’t want to stay a whole week; can we stay for a short break?

Yes, we offer a llimited amount 3 or 4-night short breaks. All we ask is that you begin your break on a Saturday and leave mid-week, or arrive mid-week and leave on a Saturday, as this is our changeover day. We don't do Friday-Sunday short breaks as this breaks into 2 letting weeks. Please email us at post@bardsey.org with the dates and accommodation you'd like and if we have availability, we will confirm the price.

I’m not bringing a car, what are my options?

There are regular train services to Pwllheli (the closest train station). From here you can catch the 17 bus to Aberdaron. Taxis are also available but we'd recommend booking ahead. If you need to stay the night before your boat crossing there are plenty of local hotels, B&Bs and bunkhouses. www.aberdaronlink.co.uk is a useful website with information about how to get to Aberdaron, as well as listing accommodation in the area.

Is camping allowed on the island?

Camping is not allowed anywhere on the island.

Can I bring my dog or cat?

No visitor pets are allowed on the island. Only working dogs or residents' dogs are allowed on the island by permission from the Bardsey Island Trust and Natural Resources Wales. As a SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and a National Nature Reserve, with ground nesting birds it's really important that we protect this special environment.

Can I fly a drone?

The Bardsey Island Trust has a no drone policy. The island is a unique, peaceful environment and home to important wildlife. Please see our drone policy for further information.

How do I book a day trip?

To book a day trip please contact Colin Evans on 07971769895.

You appear fully booked on the dates I’d like to book. Do you have a waiting list?

We are unable to offer waiting list for accommodation. Please refer to the website’s availability page for any cancellations. The page is updated regularly.

It there WiFi on Bardsey?

There is no guest WiFi on the island, however, you may pick up a 4G signal on some parts of the island.

Where can I buy some Bardsey honey?

Unfortunately, there is no honey available at the moment, but we hope there will be soon. If it becomes available to buy online, we will post a link here.

Will you issue a refund if our stay is cancelled due to Covid19 restrictions?

• If we are forced to cancel your stay for any reason, including Covid19 restrictions, we will refund you in full.
• We will refund your booking in full if you cancel due to the lead person in your booking being unable to travel due to Government Covid 19 Regulations.
• We will refund you in full if you have to cancel due to anyone in your group testing positive for Covid19 or has Covid19 symptoms in the run up to your stay. If other members of your booking do not have Covid and haven’t been exposed, you may continue with your booking.
• We may be forced to cancel your visit at very short notice if there has been a case of Covid19 in your accommodation during the week before your visit. This is to enable us to deep clean and allow the property to ventilate sufficiently before the next guests are due to arrive. The steps above and everything we’re putting in place on the island, will hopefully avoid this scenario, so it’s important you follow our cancellation guidance so that we’re not in a position of cancelling bookings due to Covid19 cases on the island.
• Please note that refunds will be for the amount you have paid us for your accommodation, we will not compensate for any expenses you have incurred in travelling to the island (including the boat fare) or accommodation on the mainland beforehand.

What are the latest Covid19 guidelines on mixed households staying?

The latest Welsh Government Guidelines can be found here. We have no more information than that provided on this website.

Please only travel if the guidelines permit you to do so. If you are unable to travel due to Covid19 restrictions, see separate FAQ on refunds.

Please note - the Welsh Government guidelines may differ from other areas in the UK.

What are the latest Covid19 regulations in Wales?

The latest travel guidelines for Wales can be found on the Welsh Government's website here. Please note that we have no more information than that available on the Welsh Government's website. Guidelines in Wales may differ to those in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

If my stay is cancelled due to Covid19, can I transfer the booking to next year?

If your booking is cancelled due to Covid19,we will issue a refund. We aren't transferring bookings to next year. We will be in touch as soon as possible to arrange the refund. Please be aware that we are very busy at the moment and may not be in touch immediately.