North Wales Landscape Photography guide to Anglesey – Aberffraw to Llanddwyn

North Wales Landscape Photography guide to Anglesey -- Aberffraw to Llanddwyn

Article by simonkit

The coastal path between Aberffraw and Llanddwyn is the most unspoilt and visually attractive area on the Isle of Anglesey, it’s also my own personal favourite landscape photography location on the island. After leaving the beach at Aberffraw behind the Anglesey Coastal Path passes through several with little to interest the landscape photographer. On reaching Maltreath however, the situation improves dramatically. From here to Llanddwyn the beaches are just stunning, miles of beautiful, unspoilt sand -- a landscape photographers paradise you might say. Photograph opportunities are numerous although the better ones are closest to Llanddwyn Island.

Although know as an island, Llanddwyn is actually only isolated during high tide for a short time. The island has much to interest the landscape photographer -- two excellent lighthouses, both having the stunning backdrop of the Snowdonia Mountains. Of the two lighthouses I personally prefer the newest one, it’s located on the very end of the island and the beach below provides an ideal position from which to get that perfect shot. Also in summer the sun sets directly behind the lighthouse enhancing the already impressive backdrop. Other features of Llanddwyn Island include the ancient ruined abbey and the more modern, but ancient looking crosses, one Celtic and the other Latin. Both of these stand in prominent positions and provide even more creative options for the landscape photographer. The all-round view from the island is simply stunning too, particularly when looking towards the mainland of Wales and the numerous mountains of the Snowdonia range. As an added bonus, the island (and Llanddwyn beach itself) is a perfect place to take both sunrise and sunset photographs and for those interested in wildlife photography, the island is inhabited by its very own wild horses which, if you are lucky, will pose nicely against the scenic backdrop.

Leaving Llanddwyn Island and following the Anglesey Coastal Path along Llanddwyn beach doesn’t mean the photographer needs to put their camera away. The beach is full of character, perhaps more so at low tide. Large sand dunes line the beach and the nearby forest continues alongside. When the tide recedes the beach is a mass of sand, much of it full of texture and detail, certain to capture the landscape photographers eye. Foreground interest for those wide-angle landscape shots is easily found as is the opportunity to indulge in a few macro shots. The already stunning beach is further enhanced by the ever-present mountain backdrop provided by the Snowdonia National Park. Towards the end of the vast beach, as it nears the Menai Straits, the mountains become much closer in perspective, a good wide angle lens capturing some great detail and contours. Across the Menai Straits Caernarfon and it’s imposing castle can also be seen, although at a distance requiring the use of a powerful telephoto lens to ensure the capture of an effective photograph.

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