Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) National Nature Reserve

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Overview

Bardsey Island, 2 miles off the Llyn Peninsula in North Wales, is internationally renowned for its wildlife. This includes birds, rare flowering plants, lichens, liverworts and mosses, coastal grassland and heathland, sea cliffs and marine wildlife. The Bardsey NNR is home to some spectacular seabirds, and is perhaps most famous for its 10,000 to 16,000-strong breeding colony of Manx shearwaters. Gannets, razorbills and shags are frequently seen, and recent evidence suggests that puffins may also be colonising. Other birds on the reserve include red-legged choughs, oystercatchers, herons, peregrine falcons, wheatears, warblers and little owls. Squill creates hazy blue carpets in early spring, followed by tufts of thrift and thyme and, later on, bell heather and ling. Rarer plants include western clover and small adder’s tongue, and the island has a rich variety of over 350 species of lichen. Atlantic grey seals can be seen in the rocky bays of the island, and a small number breed on Bardsey every year.

Location

Bardsey Island

About the area

The county of Gwynedd is home to most of the Snowdonia National Park – including the wettest spot in Britain, an arête running up to Snowdon’s summit that receives an average annual rainfall of 4,473mm. With its mighty peaks, rivers and strong Welsh heritage (it has the highest proportion of Welsh-speakers in all of Wales), it’s always been an extremely popular place to visit and live.