Bardsey Island Adds 2 Full-Time Wardens, Lifting Year-Round Population to 4

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 21

Lois Roberts and Aron Llwyd, both 29, moved permanently to Bardsey Island on March 1 after winning year-round warden roles advertised by Bardsey Island Trust in October 2025.
The couple had worked there seasonally as assistant wardens since 2024, but said disillusionment with Cardiff life and a desire to live more sustainably pushed them to make the full-time switch.
Their new jobs include maintaining visitor houses, learning storm-repair skills and expanding solar power, with summer preparations already keeping them busy.
Ynys Enlli in Gwynedd had only two permanent residents before their arrival and is also home to about 200 sheep and 30,000 breeding pairs of Manx shearwaters.
The island, certified as Europe’s first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2023, is where the pair say they hope to preserve its history and culture for years.

What are the unspoken daily challenges of living on a remote, four-person island?

Can a dream of off-grid life survive the harsh reality of preserving an entire island?

How will new leaders balance the island's sacred history with the financial demands of modern tourism?