Bardsey 20-27 June 2026
Celtic Elements
A retreat to encounter the spirituality, wildness and stillness of Ynys Enlli/Bardsey Island
Enlli, the ‘island of the tides’, is an extraordinary space, a place of pilgrimage and encounter for over 1500 years. Whatever it is that draws you – the call of the seals (and opportunity to snorkel with them), the bird-life, the tranquillity that the Island and its ‘mountain’ and shoreline offers, its deep rootedness in Celtic spirituality, the centuries of prayer that have taken place here in the old Abbey, the simpler way of life in the rhythm of an island community or just the still presence of this ‘thin place’ – there will always will be something waiting to reveal itself to those who choose to make the crossing.
It is a great joy therefore to again be able to invite you to join us on this week-long retreat for a small group who want to come away with no other agenda than simply to open ourselves to the possibility of what we may encounter here. It is an opportunity to take time completely away from the responsibilities and pressures that normally fill our time and to bring our lives into a truer perspective – in relation to a greater, timeless order of things. It can be a chance to explore big questions that might be arising for us in our lives or simply a time to refresh physically and spiritually and to renew our energy and zest for life.
The retreat space we will hold while you are resident on the island will include elements of daily meditation and prayer, contemplative practice, poetry and music, walks, encounters with the natural life of the island, sharing as a group, one-to-one time with one of our guides and time in your own space and freedom, entirely as you choose. We will create a simple daily rhythm that will allow us to benefit from the space and privacy to do our own thing plus the richness of coming together and sharing experience in community. It will be run in an open, inclusive way that enables us each to engage fully whatever the diverse nature of our own spiritual practices and enquiries.
Accommodation will be in shared houses (see “Ty Capel”, “Nant” and “Hendy” on the Bardsey Trust website) with single, double, twin or triple occupancy bedrooms and shared living space. The retreat is self-catering and we will self-organise this as a community in our welcome calls prior to the retreat. Please note the information provided on the Bardsey Trust website regarding responsibilities of those travelling to and staying on the Island and also the nature of the accommodation including water, electricity and composting toilets.
Retreat hosts
The retreat will be hosted by Christopher Blakeley, Mary Monfries and Owen Griffith, all of whom are experienced retreat guides. Chris and Mary are also experienced spiritual directors who have their roots in the contemplative Christian tradition but are accustomed to working with people of all faiths and none and in many walks of life.
Chris Blakeley is the founder of Crossroads Retreats and Waverley Learning and Co-Director of the Society of Leadership Fellows at St George’s House, Windsor. Chris has pioneered the use of powerful ‘deeper’ learning practices with both groups and individuals and draws on insights from ancient spiritual tradition and modern psychology. Chris is a Benedictine Oblate, and his spirituality is founded in the Christian tradition with a particular leaning towards the simplicity of Celtic and contemplative practice. Chris is also a trained counsellor and Spiritual Director. Chris was born in Anglesey and his childhood in North Wales has given him a deep love of the mountains and the sea.
Mary Monfries is a retreat guide for Crossroads Retreats as well as a trained coach and spiritual director. She has two grown-up sons and stepped down from her full-time career in 2022 to spend more time supporting and accompanying people in times of transition, change, enquiry or simply ‘rest’. Her former business career gave her first-hand experience of both the challenges and the joys of the full and complex lives we can find ourselves in – and the need for retreating, respite and re-sourcing, a gift we rarely give ourselves. Mary’s Christian spirituality is rooted in stillness, in nature and in contemplative (silent) prayer.
Owen Griffith loves snorkelling with the seals or resting at the top of Mynydd Enlli to gaze upon the stars, and has been known to be lost for hours watching a snail make its way across a rock pool. For most of his career he led technology businesses across multiple countries, leaving all that in 2022 to run a small community initiative. For many years he has had the privilege to lead small groups seeking a deeper Christian spirituality. He enjoys taking time out in the remote areas of Wales and finds Ynys Enlli to be a place of deep connectiveness that nurtures and restores the soul.
Cost, travel and catering
The cost of the retreat is £500pp for sole occupancy and £300pp for shared occupancy. There are a maximum of 15 places available which will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. These costs cover accommodation on the island, boat crossings and all offered (but not compulsory!) guided retreat activities. Any charges for additional guided activities (e.g. those led by the bird observatory) will be advised at the start of the retreat. As accommodation and boat crossing has to be paid for well in advance on a group basis, we ask for full payment on booking to secure your place. If for any unforeseen reason you have to cancel we will try to re-fill your place and refund your money, but we cannot guarantee this.
People will be responsible for making their own arrangements for getting on time to Cwrt Farm, near Aberdaron, from where we are taken to Perth Meudwy for the boat to the Island (see the instructions given on the Bardsey Trust website), and also for bringing their own food and other recommended supplies for their stay on the Island. We may well like to have some shared meals together, and will organise a planning call before the retreat to arrange our provisioning for those and brief you on arrangements. Accommodation and boat crossings will be booked on a group basis by us on your behalf, but terms and conditions of stay will be as advised on the Bardsey Trust website.