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

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.

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 cafe, where evening meals and breakfast can be booked in advance.
  
• Footwear and clothing for all weather. Slippers for indoors as floors are cold.

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.

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 Warden will explain the process on your arrival.

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.

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

Yes, we offer 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.

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.

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, from 2019, 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, 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 will be selling 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. Starting in 2019, 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, the farm will be 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 do I book a day trip?

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

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 £5 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 between April - June and September - October.

Can I bring my dog to Bardsey?

Guests are not permitted to bring their pets with them to the island.

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 I need to book the boat crossing and parking?

We let the boatman know how many people are staying in each house, you don't need to contact him unless we have specifically asked you to, eg. if you have complex requirements. We will let you know ho 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.

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.

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

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 voicemail between 6pm and 7pm that evening with time you will need to be at Cwrt Farm with your luggage ready to be taken down to the boat in Porth Meudwy. 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. 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.

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, more than is required for your stay, as occasionally the weather may prevent the boat from returning on your allocated day. There is no grocery shop on the island, except what is available from the farm.
• Footwear and clothing for all weather

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 camping allowed on the island?

Unfortunately camping is not allowed anywhere on the island.

Can I bring my dog?

No visitor dogs 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 its 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.