Landscape Photography guide to Anglesey, North Wales - Holyhead to Trearddur

Holyhead itself is an interesting place, although certainly not the most photogenic location on the Isle of Anglesey. It does however have a hidden gem in the form of St Cybis church. Dating back several centuries this ancient church is worth a visit by the photographer, it is really the only interest in Holyhead though, unless shipping is one of your passions. As the Anglesey Coastal Path leaves Holyhead the first photography worthy location is Breakwater Country Park. It contains some interesting rocky coastline but perhaps more interesting for the photographer is the actual breakwater itself, a massive manmade wall designed to protect the main port from the ravages of the sea. For the imaginative landscape photographer the structure could well provide some interesting possibilities. Leaving the Breakwater Country Park the coastal path rises with the cliffs and the landscape begins to improve, a backward glance gives a good panorama of the main Holyhead port and surrounding coastline. Holyhead Mountain soon appears, it’s certainly worth a shot or two if you can find an interesting angle. From the top of the mountain the view looking back across Anglesey is substantial, although as the island is quite flat, the landscape photographer will probably find the scene too lacking in distinctive features to consider a photograph. A glance out to sea however is more impressive, with the radar station at North Stack drawing attention. It’s possible to reach the radar station via a rocky lane and it’s certainly worth a visit as with some imagination it has good photographic potential. Climbing back up the Anglesey Coastal Path from North Stack a distinct section of rocky scenery is encountered, the path is now quite high above the sea and has potential for another seascape or two. The main benefit of taking this route however, is that it soon reaches one of the most dramatically located lighthouses you’re likely to see, South Stack. The lighthouse is several hundred feet below the main cliffs on it’s own small island and can be approached via a set of steep steps and a robust metal bridge. Stood on the island near the lighthouse also provides the photographer with an excellent viewpoint from which to capture the dramatic cliffs and the abundant wildlife that inhabitants them. South Stack also provides the perfect location for sunset photographs, at least in summer, when the sun sets directly behind it. Climbing the steps up from the lighthouse the coastal path now heads downhill and passes the distinctive RSPB viewing tower situated on the cliff tops, definitely worth photographing. The Anglesey Coastal Path now continues along the high clifftops towards Trearddur, the view remains impressive. A frequent look backwards will provide numerous views of the lighthouse at South Stack and the opportunity to take numerous landscape shots with that wide-angle lens. Eventually South Stack lighthouse disappears from sight and as the rugged coastline continues a series of photogenic rock formations appear, each somewhat differing and offering the photographer some interesting possibilities. The photography options improve further on the approach to Trearddur as the coastal path passes a wonderful series of small rocky coves covered with golden sand, each of them with unique character. The best time for photography in these coves is probably when the tide is low as they all contain rich sand full of texture, providing intriguing foreground detail to that landscape photograph. The town of Trearddur itself is a modern, tourist-orientated place and doesn’t really provide much interest for the landscape photographer, although the nearby beach is situated in a wide sweeping bay that is quite photogenic.