A couple from Cardiff is set to trade city life for the remote Welsh island of Bardsey, also known as Ynys Enlli, to manage its flock of 200 sheep and 25 Welsh Black cattle. The island, which has no electricity, shops, or schools, offers an off-grid existence that its owners describe as an 'opportunity of a lifetime'.
The Bardsey Island Trust is seeking expressions of interest for a tenancy that will see the successful applicants become the sole permanent residents on the two-mile-long strip of land off the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd. The new tenants will take over from Gareth Roberts, who has farmed the island since 2007 and will mentor them during a handover period.
Life on Ynys Enlli is simple and challenging: washing is done by hand, toilets are composting, and water comes from a handful of springs. Solar lights have been installed, but the island is Europe's first Dark Sky Sanctuary, so visitors are advised to bring torches. The livestock must be ferried across the treacherous Bardsey Sound, and lambs are taken to the mainland for sale.
The Trust is looking for a family or couple with farming experience, ideally Welsh-speaking, as Welsh is the island's everyday language. 'The most important aspect is becoming part of the community,' a spokesperson said. The new tenants are expected to start in 2026, with expressions of interest due by 7 November.
