At the end of Llanddwyn Beach lies Llanddwyn Island, the site of an early Christian settlement. Cut off by high tide, I have always regarded it as a semi-magical place with its row of four pilots’ cottages, two crosses and ruined lighthouse overlooking the Atlantic ocean. Island of the blessed, it’s called. Each year I cannot help but notice that access to it is more heavily policed. I suppose that this is an inevitable consequence of increased mass tourism and the need to look after the natural habitat. It just increases the urge to seek solitude.
This is the lighthouse, built in 1824 at the behest of the Trustees of Caernarvon Harbour:
And these are the pilots’ cottages, which had a lifeboat and a gun to summon the crew from Newborough:
