Windy and Wet in North Wales Part 1

Now for many people, Wales is the land of rain and odd words. For many people the fact that the longest train station name in the world is in Wales (Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch - no I don't have the first clue how to even think about beginning to pronounce this). This first part will look at some beaches and lighthouse locations, and part two will show more about a marine park, puffin island and the Anglesey Coastal Path.

But the reality is that Wales holds some of the most inspirational, wild and beautiful scenery in the entire British Isles. I have previously written about the remarkable Snowdonia Mountain range in the northern region, as well as the green and rainy Brecon Beacons further South. But in this article I want to head even further North and share some of my favourite parts of the island of Anglesey. The only reason I ever heard about this Welsh island is because my grandparents have lived there for decades. I have met very few people who know about or have visited it, and it really is a remote and incredibly quiet place!

Empty and huge beaches

Although a sunny and warm day is something of a rarity, that shouldn't stop you from checking out some of the amazing beaches that you'll find on the island of Anglesey. This is not a place you come to to get a tan, but it is a place to explore nature and every town and village on the coast has a very real and tangible connection with the sea and the shore line. My favourite beach on the island is Traeth Cymyran Beach, and is also the closest one to my grandparents. It has a two-mile stretch of clear sands and much of my childhood holidays were spent running around on this beach, and searching the hundreds of rock pools for fish, crabs and other animals! This beach is also hugely popular with kite and windsurfers, as the near constant wind provides the perfect playground. There have been World Championships of all wind sport kinds held here, and the sleepy town gives no clue to the high regard that the area is held in by those of a wind-sport orientation.

Guiding the ships..

I also love visiting exposed and element-battered lighthouses, and the Trwyn Du Lighthouse, on the extreme eastern side of the island is romantically alone! It feels completely forgotten, and walking up to the point that it sits on feels like going back in time. The lighthouse has been guiding ships past the treacherous rocks since 1838, and still provides this service today (although with a solar powered upgrade). This feels like the end of the world here, and when the wind and waves are really going for it, this can feel like a truly wild place. And yet in the exact same location on a sunny day (rare) when the wind dies down, it's a remarkably peaceful and beautiful location. Wild or peaceful, it's a place to feel the power of the elements and feel alive!

Check out Part 2 of this article below

Climb on Snowdon Mountain, highest peak in Wales

Snowdonia National Park, Betws Garmon LL55 4UL, UK

Llanberis Pass

Pen-y-Pass, Caernarfon LL55, UK

Traeth Cymyran Beach

Holyhead LL65 3NY, UK

Trwyn Du Lightbhouse

Penmon, UK