We swapped city life for a tiny island with more sheep than people

The new wardens of a tiny island with only a handful of human inhabitants say moving there full-time has been a "dream come true".

Lois Roberts and Aron Llwyd, both 29, grew up in Cardiff but craved a "different challenge" after becoming disillusioned with city life.

They were previously assistant wardens on Ynys Enlli, also known as Bardsey Island, which involved spending several months of the year there, but "never imagined" stepping up to live there year-round.

Ynys Enlli, in Gwynedd, became the first site in Europe to be awarded International Dark Sky Sanctuary certification in 2023, recognised for having one of the best night skies in the world.

Roberts said they were previously living in Cardiff in a place with a "tiny garden" when they decided to make a change.

"We just wanted to be close to nature and to be able to experience living sustainably," she said. "We felt that was quite hard to do in Cardiff."

In 2024, the couple began working on the island as assistant wardens, which involved seasonal work between March and October. They would leave the island each winter.

But in October 2025, Bardsey Island Trust advertised for full-time wardens to live on the island year round.

Roberts and Llwyd were successful and moved in permanently on 1 March, bringing the year-round population of the island to four.

Roberts said while they already "had a feel for the island", the "step up" had been "quite big".

There are several houses on the island, some of which are available to visitors during the summer months, and Roberts and Llwyd are responsible for maintaining them.

"We've been preparing the houses for all the guests to come, so it's just been a bit nonstop," said Roberts.

"A lot of painting, cleaning, mowing and gardening. Every day is different," said Llwyd.

"We are trying to get more solar power in the houses, which is very important for the community to live here without problems."

Llwyd described their time on the island as "a completely different way of life".

Some of these skills have had to be learned, according to Roberts, such as fixing damaged doors and roofs after strong winds on the island.

"We didn't do that as assistant wardens, so learning those skills as we go has been something new for us," she added.

Since making the transition, the couple have been able to appreciate things in life that they previously took for granted.

"We know exactly where our water comes from, we grow our own food, we can catch crab and lobster," said Roberts.