Once you take your first holiday on Bardsey, you will want to return again and again. Several houses are available for holiday lets - prices vary according to the size of the house.
Of the seven self-catering houses that the Trust has set aside for renting, two are substantial detached former farmhouses, three are substantial semi-detached former farmhouses and there is one charming, whitewashed traditional croglofft cottage as well as a beautifully converted stable.
All are sturdy and full of character.
The Observatory provides comfortable, hostel style accommodation and has room to accommodate up to 12 staying guests on a weekly basis. The main visitor season runs from March to October. Groups or individuals are welcome. Single, double and triple bedrooms are available together with shared communal areas. The cost is £90 per person per week including services and boat crossing, gas and limited electricity are provided and toilets are maintained. The Observatory runs a shop selling some basic provisions, but visitors must bring the bulk of their food (particularly fresh fruit and vegetables). There is also a gift shop selling postcards, Observatory gifts and local crafts. Visitors with no natural history expertise are welcome to stay at the Observatory, although it exists as a base for anyone wishing to come and discover more about the island’s natural history. Those visitors wishing to experience lighthouse attractions, bird migration or shearwater ringing should come to the island during the new moon period.
The Observatory is based at ‘Cristin’, a farm building which dates from 1873. It is one of eight houses on the island and was built by the late Lord Newborough, the one-time owner of the island. The two adjoined houses and outbuildings which form the ‘Observatory complex’ are now owned by the Bardsey Island Trust and are leased to the Observatory.
