Ynys Llanddwyn (also known as Llanddwyn Island) is a small
tidal island
A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands, many of them have been sites of ...
off the west coast of
Anglesey
Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across the narrow Cymyran Strait and some islets and skerries. Anglesey island ...
(
Welsh
Welsh may refer to:
Related to Wales
* Welsh, referring or related to Wales
* Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales
* Welsh people
People
* Welsh (surname)
* Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...
: Ynys Môn), northwest
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
. The nearest settlement is the village of
Newborough.
Geology and geography
The island is of geological interest with
pillow lava
Pillow lavas are lavas that contain characteristic pillow-shaped structures that are attributed to the extrusion of the lava underwater, or ''subaqueous extrusion''. Pillow lavas in volcanic rock are characterized by thick sequences of disconti ...
,
jasper
Jasper, an aggregate of microgranular quartz and/or cryptocrystalline chalcedony and other mineral phases,Kostov, R. I. 2010. Review on the mineralogical systematics of jasper and related rocks. – Archaeometry Workshop, 7, 3, 209-213PDF/ref> ...
formations and
aeolian sand deposits. The island forms part of the
National Nature Reserve of
Newborough Warren
Newborough Warren ( cy, Tywyn Niwbwrch) near the village of Newborough, Anglesey, Newborough (''Niwbwrch'') is a large dune and beach system of , approximately half of which is a conifer plantation. The whole area is designated as a Site of Speci ...
which includes the extensive and floristically rich
sand dune
A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, fl ...
system.
Ynys Llanddwyn is a
tidal island
A tidal island is a piece of land that is connected to the mainland by a natural or man-made causeway that is exposed at low tide and submerged at high tide. Because of the mystique surrounding tidal islands, many of them have been sites of ...
; it remains attached to the mainland except at high tide. It provides views of
Snowdonia
Snowdonia or Eryri (), is a mountainous region in northwestern Wales and a national park of in area. It was the first to be designated of the three national parks in Wales, in 1951.
Name and extent
It was a commonly held belief that the nam ...
and the
Llŷn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula ( cy, Penrhyn Llŷn or , ) extends into the Irish Sea from North West Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the historic county of Caernarfonshire, and historic region and local authority area of Gwynedd. Mu ...
.
Tŵr Mawr lighthouse marks the western entrance to the
Menai Strait
The Menai Strait ( cy, Afon Menai, the "river Menai") is a narrow stretch of shallow tidal water about long, which separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales. It varies in width from from Fort Belan to Abermenai Point to from ...
.
IUGS geological heritage site
In respect of the site having 'spectacular, accessible and well-preserved exposures of late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian
mélange
In geology, a mélange is a large-scale breccia, a mappable body of rock characterized by a lack of continuous bedding and the inclusion of fragments of rock of all sizes, contained in a fine-grained deformed matrix. The mélange typically cons ...
with more than 200 years of study', the
International Union of Geological Sciences
The International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology.
About
The IUGS was founded in 1961 and is a Scientific Union member of the Inte ...
(IUGS) included the 'Ynys Llanddwyn late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Mélange' in its assemblage of 100 'geological heritage sites' around the world in a listing published in October 2022. The organisation defines an IUGS Geological Heritage Site as 'a key place with geological elements and/or processes of international scientific relevance, used as a reference, and/or with a substantial contribution to the development of geological sciences through history.'
Saint Dwynwen
The island is rich in legends, in particular in its association with
Dwynwen
Saint Dwynwen (; 5th century), sometimes known as Dwyn or Donwen, is the Welsh patron saint of lovers. She is celebrated throughout Wales on 25 January.
History and legend
The original tale has become mixed with elements of folktales ...
. The name Llanddwyn means "The church of St. Dwynwen". Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, making her the Welsh equivalent of
St. Valentine
Saint Valentine ( it, San Valentino; la, Valentinus) was a 3rd-century Roman saint, commemorated in Western Christianity on February 14 and in Eastern Orthodoxy on July 6. From the High Middle Ages, his Saints' Day has been associated with ...
. Her Saint's day is 25 January and is often celebrated by the Welsh with cards and flowers. The island bears the ruined remains of St Dwynwen's Church ( cy, Eglwys Santes Dwynwen). Unusually for churches in that region it has a
cruciform
Cruciform is a term for physical manifestations resembling a common cross or Christian cross. The label can be extended to architectural shapes, biology, art, and design.
Cruciform architectural plan
Christian churches are commonly described ...
floorplan.
Archaeologists examined the ruins of St Dwynwen's in 2011 and again in 2021. The 2021 dig discovered traces of even older buildings below the ruins.
Visitors and footpaths
Newborough National Nature Reserve & Forest, of which Ynys Llanddwyn is part, received 478,204 visitors in 2018.
There are more than of footpaths crossing Ynys Llanddwyn and Newborough Warren, including the
Anglesey Coastal Path
The Anglesey Coastal Path (formally the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path) is a long-distance footpath around the island of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) in North Wales. The route is part of the Wales Coast Path.
Description
The path mainly follows the c ...
, and it is a very popular place to visit. The island provides a worth-while goal after the mile-long walk along the beach from the nearest car park. Ynys Llanddwyn, with the neighbouring beach, has been awarded
Blue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) that a beach, marina, or sustainable boating tourism operator meets its standards.
The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE, which is a not-for-profit non-gov ...
status in recognition of the cleanliness of the sea and the beaches.
Time line
*1873 – Construction of lighthouse on Ynys Llanddwyn.
*1903 – Closure of the
lifeboat
Lifeboat may refer to:
Rescue vessels
* Lifeboat (shipboard), a small craft aboard a ship to allow for emergency escape
* Lifeboat (rescue), a boat designed for sea rescues
* Airborne lifeboat, an air-dropped boat used to save downed airmen
A ...
station on Ynys Llanddwyn.
*1911 –
RSPB
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a Charitable_organization#United_Kingdom, charitable organisation registered in Charity Commission for England and Wales, England and Wales and in Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, ...
establishes its first reserve in Wales at Ynys Llanddwyn
Bird charity born 100 years ago at Llanddwyn Island
BBC, 10 January 2011
*3 December 1920 – Five crew members from the Rhoscolyn
Rhoscolyn is a village and Community (Wales), community located on Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales. It is just over five miles south of Holyhead and is the most southerly settlement on the island. The name Rhoscolyn is said to mean "The Moor" ''(Rho ...
lifeboat are lost off Llanddwyn, Anglesey.
In film
*In 2004, Ynys Llanddwyn was used as a filming location in Demi Moore
Demi Gene Moore ( ; née Guynes; born November 11, 1962) is an American actress. After making her film debut in 1981, Moore appeared on the soap opera ''General Hospital'' (1982–1984) and subsequently gained recognition as a member of the Bra ...
's romantic thriller '' Half Light''. Tŵr Mawr was used as a lighthouse which plays a key role in the film. CGI was used to create the effect of a real light on top of the lighthouse.
*Bryn Terfel
Sir Bryn Terfel Jones, (; born 9 November 1965) (known professionally as Bryn Terfel) is a Welsh bass-baritone opera and concert singer. Terfel was initially associated with the roles of Mozart, particularly '' Figaro'', ''Leporello'' and ''D ...
filmed his video for Cavatina (arranged by Chris Hazell) on Ynys Llanddwyn "a very beautiful romantic place" ''(Bryn on BBC Breakfast)''
*In 2009, a scene for the Hollywood blockbuster '' Clash of the Titans'' was filmed at Llanddwyn.
* BBC Wales show ‘’The 1900 Island
''The 1900 Island'' is a Welsh television series produced by Wildflame Productions, made for BBC Wales and first broadcast on BBC One Wales, with a subsequent UK wide broadcast on BBC Two from 10 June 2019. The series was filmed on the island of L ...
’’ was filmed on the island the show was broadcast nationally in 2019.
Photos
File:ThelargelighthouseandcrossatLlanddwyn.jpg, Tŵr Mawr lighthouse and cross at Llanddwyn.
File:Stdwynwen'sChurchLlanddwyn.JPG , St Dwynwen's Church
File:PilotscottagesonLlanddwyn.jpg , Pilots' cottages
File:LlanddwynIsland1.JPG, Beach
File:LlanddwynIsland2.JPG, Beach
File:LlanddwynIsland3.JPG, View towards the mainland
File:Ynys Llanddwyn from Newborough Beach - low tide.jpg, Ynys Llanddwyn from Newborough Beach at low tide
References
*Hague, D., B., Lighthouses of Wales Their Architecture and Archaeology (, edited by Hughes, S., 1994)
External links
''Half Light'' Filming Locations
History of Llanddwyn Island.
Llanddwyn by Janet Wood
A walk on Llanddwyn and a few photos
Bird charity born 100 years ago at Llanddwyn Island
Aerial Video of Llanddwyn Island
{{Islands of Anglesey
Islands of Anglesey
Tidal islands of Wales
Rhosyr