Two miles off the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales lies the enigmatic Bardsey Island, known in Welsh as Ynys Enlli. This small island, once home to its own line of kings, has a history stretching back to Neolithic times, with traces of hut circles over 3,000 years old indicating long-term habitation.
In the fifth century, Bardsey became a major centre for the Celtic Christian Church. Saint Cadfan arrived from Brittany in the sixth century and founded St Mary's Abbey. By the seventh century, an estimated 2,500 monks lived on the island, with many choosing to be buried there. This may have given rise to the legend that 20,000 saints are buried on the island, a story dating from the early Middle Ages when three pilgrimages to Bardsey were considered equal to one to Rome.
A Bardsey Island Trust spokesman said: 'Bardsey was an important destination for Christians in the Middle Ages. A monastery was founded by St Cadfan in the sixth century and the island became a popular destination for pilgrims. The popularity of the pilgrimage is shown by the route of pilgrim churches along the Llyn peninsula.' The monastery thrived until the dissolution in 1537, after which the island was left to 'pirates and marauders' until farming and fishing communities established themselves in the mid-18th century.
Bardsey also had its own line of 'kings of Enlli' during the 19th and early 20th centuries, including John Williams II and Love Pritchard. The island has been suggested as a possible resting place for King Arthur or Merlin, or as a candidate for the mythic Isle of Avalon. Ghosts are said to haunt the landscape, adding to its mysterious allure.
Today, the remains of the monastery tower can still be seen. The island continues to attract visitors and researchers, with the Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory maintaining a presence. In 2015, Sian Stacey was chosen from 300 candidates to become the island's manager, reuniting with her boyfriend Mark Carter who was living there as part of the observatory. Whether or not 20,000 saints lie beneath the soil, Bardsey's strange enchantment endures.
