Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey

Sunset watching at Newborough beach and Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey

When a beach is the number one Trip Advisor attraction on Anglesey you know it’s going to be special. You also expect it to be overrun with people. And perhaps, on a sunny summer day, Newborough beach and Llanddwyn Island are. But visit on a cool spring evening and you might well have the sweep of golden sand to yourself.

The car park at Newborough Forest is huge. Presumably testament to the number of day visitors who come to enjoy the beach, search for red squirrels and cycle the woodland tracks. There are toilets, marked trails and an ice-cream van in high season. But, aside from a couple of cars and campervans, it was almost empty at 8pm.

Watching the sunset from Llanddwyn island
Watching the sunset from Llanddwyn island

We parked and climbed the dunes to the beach. A perfect crescent of sand greeted us. Oystercatchers calling out. And a huge dead fish down on the shoreline that had both kids poking it in excitement.

Our target was Llanddwyn island, a mile or so along the sand from the car park. The island is cut off at high tide so check tide tables before you visit. Unless you fancy being marooned.

Beach walk out to Llanddwyn island
Beach walk out to Llanddwyn island

As we reached the island the clouds parted and a few rays of sun broke through. We were treated to the magical golden glow you get just before the sun sets.

Walk out to Llanddwyn island, Anglesey
Walk out to Llanddwyn island, Anglesey

Tŵr Mawr lighthouse, Llanddwyn island

For such a small finger of land Llanddwyn Island, named after St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, has more than its fair share of things to see. Away from the beaches there are historic lighthouses, the remains of a church, crosses and a terrace of houses once used by pilots guiding ships into the Menai Straits.

Tŵr Mawr lighthouse on Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey
Tŵr Mawr lighthouse on Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey

I thought we were the only ones on Llanddwyn. Until I realised I was about to walk into a photo shoot. Several professional looking photographers had set up their tripods and cameras to record the perfect sunset shot. Feeling guilty about spoiling their photos I decided not to visit Tŵr Mawr lighthouse. Instead I joined them on the rocks to bag a shot of my own.

After the sunset, Llanddwyn
After the sunset, Llanddwyn

Leaving the island we raced the darkening skies back to our car. As we drove home through the woods we scared the kids with tales of mutant giant squirrels attacking the car. They’re old enough for a few scary stories. But it was funny how they both locked their passenger doors!

Newborough beach

Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey
Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey

Our second sunset visit was unplanned. We’d set off on an after dinner walk to a different stretch of beach. All started well until I climbed a sand dune expecting to see the sea. The water was a good mile away, separated by rolling sand dunes. Realising we wouldn’t reach the beach for sunset we turned around and retreated to the car.

Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey
Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey

Undeterred we drove on to Newborough beach, arriving just as the sun dipped behind the trees. There was no time to walk far from the car park. Once again the tide was out. But this time so was the sun. It was stunning.

View over to the mainland from Newborough beach, Anglesey
View over to the mainland from Newborough beach, Anglesey

Over on the mainland the sky above the mountains of Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula turned pink. Inspired by this view we headed there later in the week to climb Yr Eifl, the hill on the right in the picture above.

Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey
Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey

Returning my gaze to Anglesey I watched the most incredible sunset. As the sun sank below the horizon the clouds turned from yellow to orange to red. The colours reflecting in the pools left by the retreating tide.

Brent geese flying from Newborough beach
Brent geese flying from Newborough beach

With impeccable timing a flock of Brent geese flew up from the shoreline, silhouetted against the orange sky. I couldn’t have  imagined a more perfect ending to the day.

Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey
Newborough beach sunset, Anglesey

Another five minutes and the colours were gone. It was time for us to leave.

We didn’t return to Newborough beach again; there was no need. I’ll remember this sunset for the rest of my life. And if you’re looking for the best sunset in Anglesey, perhaps even Wales, you should visit too!

30 thoughts on “Sunset watching at Newborough beach and Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey”

  1. I love the shot of the geese Christine! How beautiful. My happy place is a spot near Melbourne called Anglesea which I am sure is named after this town. I’m now inspired to visit myself. Thanks for sharing on #farawayfiles

    1. I’ve just looked up Anglesea, can understand why it’s a place you love. Intrigued that its original name was changed from Swampy Creek!

    1. Thank you, it’s my favourite too. Particularly as I’m not normally holding a camera ready to take such a shot.

    1. Thanks Erin. Definitely lucky with the sunset, it was cloudy (but fortunately dry) for the rest of the week.

    1. Thanks Clare. I usually prefer rock pool beaches myself rather than sandy beaches but I’ve made an exception for Newborough, it was incredible.

  2. Church in the sea is another great spot. Just follow the lane through Aberfraw. I live in Australia now, with fantastic surf beaches everywhere but I still miss the Anglesey shores. They are something quite special.

    1. We went nearby there too – but didn’t see the church! I only realised after we’d visited, should have read about it beforehand.

    1. Thanks Katherine. It would be interesting to see what their photos looked like, I heard one of them saying they sold photos to the Wales tourist board so I’m guessing they’re good.

  3. Argh! I’ve heard so much about this beach – it looks beautiful. I think the appeal for me is the fact it’s attached to woodlands. The little lighthouse looks so perfect, I can see why everyone wants a piece of it. I’d love to go there early hours of the morning in the summer, can you image the sunrise and you may be able to sneak up to the lighthouse without anyone disturbing any budding photographers…

    1. Thanks David. I had no idea the beaches were so amazing, we’d only ever driven through central Anglesey before on the way to Holyhead ferry.

  4. Oh, you’re making me so homesick. Hashtag hiraeth.
    I need to get back over there soon. The only drawback is it’s a long time in car seats for the little ones. Sigh.

  5. Beautiful photos Christine and proof that sunset (and sunrise) are the best times of the day to visit the beach!). Your photo of the Tŵr Mawr lighthouse is stunning makes me want to visit with camera in hand!

    I can imagine the sounds and smells as you took the photos of the sunset over Newborough beach. Simply beautiful.

    xx

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.