Shell Island Campers
The very unofficial Shell Island Web Site

Official Shell Island WebSite

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Shell Island Information

Shell Island Llanbedr Gwynedd North Wales LL45 2PJ United Kingdom Telephone : 01341 241453 Fax : 01341 241501 Email : Enquires@shellisland.co.uk

Famous for Shells, Flowers, wild birds, Fishing and Fine Panoramic views of Cardigan Bay and the Magnificent Mountain Range of Snowdonia

Shell Island nestles on the coast of Cardigan Bay, on the coast of Gwynedd. Nearby are the villages of Llanbedr and  Dyffryn Ardudwy. To the north the medieval castle town of Harlech and to the south the small fishing port, and seaside town of Barmouth. Shell Island is an ideal place to take your holidays. Situated in the southern part of Snowdonia it is in an ideal position to explore Snowdonia. The ideal way to enjoy Shell Island is to bring your tents and try camping and spend a few days with us. Shell Island is famous for its shells, beaches, fishing, flora (wild flowers), sand dunes.  On site we have all the facilities including shops, a restaurant and even a pub.

How to find Shell Island

Click Here (Details from Streetmap.co.uk)

Shell Island is famous for Shells

During the winter months, the Shells are washed up by the winter storms. Shells can be gathered by the bagful in the Spring, in fact it is almost impossible to avoid treading on them. 

Some two hundred different types of shell are to be found washed up on the beaches. Oyster, Scallop, tusk, tellin, razor, cockle, dog cockle, saddle oyster, whelk, cowries and all sorts are washed up in the winter. There are some twenty different shells that would sit together on a 5 pence piece.

Shell Island Beaches

Bathing

Shell Island has three bathing beaches. Two small bathing beaches that are only available when the tide is out and the main Bathing beach at the south end of the 'island' that runs for 6 miles down to Barmouth. 

The South bathing beach is backed by fine sand dunes. The north beach is known as the dinghy beach as it is possible to launch small dinghies from it. The small central beach is the quietest and nestles amongst the rocky foreshore unnoticed by most people. In high summer these bathing beaches are probably the most popular private beaches along the coast.

Shell Beaches

The shell beach runs for most of the length of the 'island'. The rocky forshore helps to retain the shells from being washed further along. 

Estuary

The Estuary is a varied beach made up of mudflats, marsh, sanddune and streams. It becomes very much a popular place for children to explore. Fishermen, find bait. Ornithologist discover the area is rich in bird life. The Estuary when the tide is ideal for sailboards, canoes and dinghies.

Wild Flowers

As Spring arrives so do the wild flowers. Waiting for the wintering sheep to leave; first up are the bluebells, grassy banks turning blue just for a few days. Yellow corners where primroses take over. Then because the land has been left to its own devices for the last 25 years the whole island becomes smothered with wild flowers and aromatic roses growing side by side with tangles of wild strawberries, spiny restharrow, and germander speedwell. Hedges burst with foxgloves standing alongside yellow archangel, walls with navelwort clinging to the crevices. In June, the estuary turns a shade of pink as sea thrift blooms, before the big tides of July.

Fishing     North Point

At the North point of Shell Island, the main channel leads out from the Estuary to the sea, and is very popular with fishermen as the water runs deep and at times fast. Bass are the major objective although fishing for plaice and flounder provides good sport. On rare occasions mackerel have entered the estuary and the sea appears to boil with activity.

Bathing Beaches

During the day, the bathing beaches are too busy during the summer months. However as twilight approaches and the beach becomes quiet then the fishermen take over. Again bass is the major prize. From the bathing beaches Bass, Flounder Plaice Mackerel, Dog Fish, Skate, Thornback,and an occasional Sting Ray are all fished for

Fishing over the Rocks

Not for the faint hearted. Fishing over the rocks can be rewarding as in 1995 it proved to be for Graham Wilson. He landed the biggest shore caught bass in the UK .

Fishing over the rocks means floating your line and hoping not to get snagged. More often than not, you end up loosing your tackle.

Fishing by boat

Fishing from your own boat can be very fruitful. At the south end of Shell Island is a reef St. Patricks Causeway which runs out for 14 miles. Great days can be spent fishing for a few mackerel to provide an afternoon of sport fishing for Tope, Bullhuss, Doggies, Skate, Thornbacks. An afternoon fishing on the reef for black bream can provide a feast for the old evening Bar-b-cue. and indeed what a feast!

Bait

Peeler crabs are available to gather yourself from the rockpools. Lug worm can be dug from the estuary alongside the boats. Various shellfish, Cockles mussels and small clams can be gathered in the estuary. If really caught out, frozen bait can be purchased on the 'island'

Birds

Although there are many birds to be seen in the summer, the winter brings in the wintering wild fowl. Ducks, geese, grebes , cormorants, herons, lapwings, oyster catchers, redshanks, plovers, snipes, curlews to name but a few can all be found here. 

A Skylark

On quiet sunny days in spring, the silence is often broken by the sounds of the Skylarks as they call their songs from the heavens. 

A Heron

In the reeds down in the marsh, reed bunting are found darting in and out. On rare occasions, the kingfisher can be found resting on a reed at the edge of a pool, over by another pool a heron stands motionless, poised and awaiting its opportunity.

A family of Swans

During the spring the estuary supports two or three families of Swans often seen accompanied by their young.

A Kestrel

From time to time, kestrels are seen hovering, waiting to pounce on a poor unsuspecting young rabbit or mouse. Sparrow Hawks, Merlins and Buzzards are often seen.

Boating

History

Shell Island has always been connected to ships and trade. The Estuary which, at one time used to flow south, was the main way that goods were imported into the area. The Earl of Winchelsey, in 1819 cut a new entrance for the river, to improve the route of trading ships passing up river to Pensarn Wharf. Pensarn Wharf, prior to the arrival of the railway in 1871, was very important to the local economy. It was the main trading post, for the farms and villages between Penrhyndeudreath in the North, and Barmouth in the south. Trading vessels would bring in coal, grain, and manufactured goods, and leave with wool and slate from the local quarries at Llanfair and Llanbedr. Slate and stone from Llanbedr's quarry, was brought down to the wharf on flat bottomed skiffs, when the there was sufficient water in the river.

Boating Today

Boating today at Shell Island relies on Leisure boats. Boat owners started to bring their boats to Shell Island in the 1960's and the first mooring were put down in 1966. Today up to a hundred boats moor here and there is a waiting list to come in . At the South end of Shell Island about half a mile from the entrance there is St Patricks causeway which provides an ideal fishing reef for anglers. The Bay is ideally suited to the yachtsman as Abersoch, Pwllheli, Portmadoc, Barmouth and Aberdovey are all within a few hours sailing

Some or all of the content on this page is taken directly from the
 Official Shell Island Website