South Stack Lighthouse and North West Wales

Looked out the window this morning – wet and cold.  Didn’t think it would pay to even get out of bed today.  There has been lots of local flooding, people rescued in villages 15 miles away and roads closed in the area.  We put on a brave face and decided to drive away from where all the action was and go out along the north coast of Wales to Anglesey.

What a wonderful drive, the North Wales Expressway follows the coast, driving between the beach and huge rocky mountains, through a couple of short tunnels when we couldn’t go around the headland.  The sea was a bit rough although hardly a wave to be seen, just a swell pushing onto the walls and rocks.

We read there was a coffee shop at South Stack, there was a bit of lighthouse there too which got a small mention in the travel books.  We decided we’d head there, if it didn’t work out we’d go back a couple of kilometres to Holyhead for coffee.  By the time we got to the lighthouse it had stopped raining and was quite pleasant.  We were blown out of the water with the stunning position of the lighthouse, we walked down the 1126 steps to the bridge across the channel to the island then walked to the top of the lighthouse.  The cliffs are used for nesting of millions of birds, when walking to the lighthouse the seagull are nesting on the ground everywhere.  We also managed to see their local seal (Neil) in the water near the island.  Due to weather there was hardly anyone else in the area, we got a guided tour of the lighthouse with a history lesson thrown in.  Very jovial guide, had lots of trouble getting away, I think he was lonely today and wanted someone to talk to, great fun!  Back up those 1126 steps and started looking for lunch.

On local recommendations drove a few kilometres to Tearddur Bay and had a hearty meal at the Sea Shanty Inn.  Stroll along the beach front to walk off lunch.  Pretty village with some very large homes, the bay has a nice sheltered beach but I could imagine when the wind blows and the snow falls it could get very challenging to live there.  This part of the country is north of the USA/Canada border.

Drove across to Beaumaris for a little look around and walk along the promenade, there is a large castle in ruins here, didn’t feel like looking in at another ruin.

Pam said she wanted to go to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, so we drove the 9 minutes to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch and stopped at the shop for a coffee and a short walk.  Checked out the railway station.  Not much going on in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, I’ve been told the signwriters in town are the richest citizens!!

Drove home and got some blue sky and some nice warm sun, hoping that carries on for tomorrow.

South Stack Lighthouse

Some of the steps down

People up the top near where we parked the car

If you look hard you can still see them

This is the new bridge across the water to the island

Not allowed on this lookout

those 1126 steps

Seagull chicks

Lighthouse steps

Hard to see but there are birds in every crevice 

House on the beach front at Tearddur Bay

The beach at Tearddur Bay

Hotel at Beaumaris

Looking at Snowdonia from Beaumaris

You know where this is...I'm not going to repeat myself

The railway station

You can learn how to pronounce it if you wish

Must be top quality

The local pub, they love their dragon in Wales

Sun and blue sky on the way