Enchanted Nights at Tŵr Mawr, Ynys Llanddwyn
This really is one of the most magical, enchanting locations in North Wales. Ynys Llanddwyn is steeped in history, where the ruins of St. Dwynwen’s Church that was built in the 16th century is located. There is also a Celtic cross, two lighthouses, pilot cottages amongst other things to find on the island, with stunning beaches and rocks formed from ancient lava. In the day the views here are incredible, you can gaze over to the mountains of Eryri. You will also find a host of wildlife, with wild ponies grazing the land, a host of sea birds, and seals and dolphins can sometimes be seen out to sea.
But, to be here at night, is an even more magical experience. Not only do you have to contend with the weather, but the tide has to be right. The island gets cut off for an hour or two either side of high tide, so accessing this location takes a little more planning. But when it pays off, it is worth it!
This was a shot I wasn’t sure I would even make in 2024, I spotted a clear night and decided to head to Anglesey. I set off early, giving myself extra time to do the two hour journey. Everything went smoothly until I hit horrendous traffic due to a car fire near the tunnel, and my two hour drive turned into four. I was frantically checking the times, and wasn’t sure I would make it on the island before high tide. But as the forecast was favourable, I decided to risk it.
When I arrived and parked I hurriedly got my stuff together, and power walked across the sand. I didn’t have much time to compose due to the travel time, and there was a photographer already there and shooting and I didn’t want to get in the way. I hurriedly set up my tracker, and set about getting some images.
I was joined by another photographer who had also fallen foul of the traffic situation. She set up quickly and got what she could whilst we chatted. When the cloud came in and the core started to set, I set about taking some shots of the foreground. And I realised that there were some dark moving shapes in the foreground. The wild ponies! I had to stop shooting and herd them out of shot. Once that was done, we had some time to kill before we could get across back to the mainland. To my dismay I saw clouds lighting up in the distance, and quickly worked out it was lightening! Just what you want to see on a total island surrounded by water and cut off from the mainland…..luckily after checking some apps it was apparent it was in South Wales, so we were safe.
We moved around the island and got some different shots to pass the time, before safely crossing back to the beach and making our way towards the car. Sometimes venturing out at night can turn into quite the adventure!
This was a tracked image, with a four minute tracked sky shot blended with a four minute exposure of the foreground capturing Tŵr Mawr with the Milky Way, and I was lucky enough to capture a shooting star.