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 ho