Day 24: Cemaes to Porth Swtan (Church Bay)

This morning we returned to the Isle of Anglesey to complete those section of the path that we did not complete previously. Our journey today took us from Cemaes to Porth Swtan (Church Bay). 

The path out of Cemaes followed the cliff tops with views to Wylfa Head and the Wylfa Power Station, a gigantic nuclear power plant. Construction of Wylfa began in 1963 and at one time it’s twin reactors produced 8% of the UK’s electricity. The power station has now been decommissioned however there are plans afoot for a further nuclear power station at the site!

Views from the clifftop out of Cemaes

View from clifftops out of Cemaes

View of Wylfa Nuclear Power Station

 

Having detoured around the power station site, we followed a grassy path down to a clapper bridge alongside the Felin Cafnan corn mill before making our way around a headland to Cemlyn Bay which includes a nature reserve inland. 

Felin Cafnan corn mill and clapper bridge

Wide pebble beach at Cemlyn Bay

 

Nesting sandwich terns on an island within lagoon at Cemlyn Nature Reserve

We then traversed Carmel Head, one of the most wild and remote sections of the Anglesey Coast. This section of the path included copper mine ruins and large painted navigation beacons known as the White Ladies. These were used by ships to avoid an invisible reef known as Coral Rock out beyond the West Mouse lighthouse. 

Old farm buildings at Cemlyn Bay

Lone church in countryside near Hen Borth

'White ladies' at Carmel Head

We then continued walking around the headland until the dramatic cliffs of Ynys y Fydlyn came into view. The walk along this section included rocky knolls before descending abruptly above a natural arch and twin coves formed by an island.

Natural arch at Ynys y Fydlyn

Dramatic cliffs of Ynys y Fydlyn 

Cliffs and rocky shore on Ynys y Fydlyn

The settlement at Church Bay eventually came into view after our 18 km journey. It seemed like we had walked further than this, although that was probably due to the fact that we had gained elevation of 410 metres throughout the day.

Church Bay our destination for the day