Island 126 - Ynys Llanddwyn, Anglesey, Wales

Ynys Llanddwyn is a really magical place and it is one of my favourite islands.  It is separated from Anglesey by about 150 metres of sandy beach at Newborough Forest on the south west coast of Anglesey.  It is only cut off at high spring tides.  

When I paid my first visit in June 2011 the dunes had lots of wild flowers in full bloom and there were butterflies flitting around everywhere.  I paid a second visit in June 2014 on an equally sunny afternoon.  The flowers I could identify included bluebells, sea holly, meadow cranesbill, thrift, daisies, wild thyme, birds foot trefoil, purple vetch, red campion, speedwell and yellow horned poppies.  I saw lots of blue butterflies (I'm not good at telling the different blues apart from each other), small heaths and meadow browns.  There were skylarks singing beautifully way up in the sky and oystercatchers on the beaches.

The island doesn't get too busy because it is a mile walk along Llanddwyn Bay from the main Newborough Forest Car Park.

The marram grass on the island was used until the 1920s for producing ropes, baskets, matting and thatching materials.  The island is very interesting geologically with pillow lavas strewn across the beach as you approach from Newborough and a rare colourful melange of rocks at the south west end of the island. The wildlife artist Charles Tunnicliffe had a studio on the island for over 30 years. 

Llanddwyn now belongs to Anglesey Borough Council, who manage it with the Countryside Council for Wales.

View from Twr Mawr (big tower)

Pilots' Cottages with exhibition and Warden's House

 
Twr Bach (little tower) and thrift in flower

Twr Mawr

 

The ruins of the early medieval church of St Dwynwen -

the Welsh patron saint of lovers

Legend has it that Dwynwen fell in love with Prince Maelon.  He tried to seduce her but she resisted and they parted.  She lived on Llanddwyn for the rest of her life.

Twr Mawr

Celtic Cross

Celtic Cross

Cross and Twr Mawr looking towards the mountains of Snowdonia

Melange of rocks at the SW end of the island



Llanddwyn Island from Newborough Beach



Looking north up the west coast of Llanddwyn towards Malltreath Bay

Twr Mawr and Ynys yr Ardar

Llanddwyn in June with thrift in flower

Twr Bach on a separate islet now joined to Llanddwyn by a manmade breakwater

Twr Mawr and Pilots' Cottages

Looking south west down the coast of Llanddwyn towards Twr Mawr

Cross and Twr Mawr