Ynys Enlli, or Bardsey Island, is an Island of the coast of North West Wales. A place of pilgrimage since the 6th Century, a dark sky sanctuary and a site of Special Scientific Interest thanks to it’s natural environment and wildlife, this was a project of real cultural importance.
These days, as well as being a site of pilgrimage the island is also a popular destination for those seeking a wholesome break away from modern amenities, with a range of accommodation options available on the island.
A unique and truly special place, Ynys Enlli was long overdue an update to their online presence. Our brief was to deliver a site which would resonate with a wide range of audiences, communicate what makes the island so special, and allow people to follow the story of this living island, which at times had been seen as an historic one. There is a community on and around the island and we were keen to ensure that the new online presence reflected this.
For this project we worked closely with their team, to ensure no context was lost but also to collaborate with them where they had skill sets and expertise we could draw on. From the wardens living and working on the island, to the charity’s trustees, and the team’s environmental and wildlife experts, we formed a project team to ensure success.
Although predominantly a web project, we also helped them transform their internal operations, including a new accommodation booking system, as well as supporting with content and marketing services.
Date:
2025
Client:
Ynys Enlli
Services:
Brand | Design | Web
Outcomes
The new website has been a huge success for the Island, driving increased user engagement and giving the island and the people involved the spotlight they deserve. It’s been a testament to strong team work and a collaborative work ethic.
Fully bilingual, responsive and accessible, the new website has helped them to collect first-party data in the form of email sign-ups, promote and sell memberships, and share the beauty and stories of the island year round to an audience across the world. Behind the scenes we also developed a CMS that’s straight forward to use for the client, is flexible to allows for future growth.
Since launch we’ve been supporting the team with design and marketing input, as well as working on an online store, which will allow them to sell products made on the island to their followers. Historically these unique items were only available from the island shop and therefore only when visiting the island. Now however, you can pick up a culturally significant gift for you or someone else whenever and wherever you are.
We couldn’t be prouder seeing how our services have helped Ynys Enlli transform their online presence and get the attention it deserves, both in Wales and beyond. Alongside the marketing campaigns we’re working on, it’s allowed the team at Ynys Enlli to focus on protect and reinvest into the island for long term sustainability, knowing that that they have the platform and tools to turn interest in action.
We worked with Tropic to develop a completely new website for the Bardsey Island Trust. From the first kick-off meeting, the design development meeting with our whole staff team, to completion the Tropic team were fantastic to work with. They understood the brief brilliantly, to create a visually engaging website that reflected the feeling of being on Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island), bringing the heritage, nature, people and spirituality of Enlli to life. They created a website which invites you to travel across Bardsey Sound and step onto the island to explore and discover what makes the island such a special place, all whilst ensuring accessibility was paramount.