Cardiff couple swap city life for 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.