Trwyn Du
Trwyn Du lighthouse at Penmon Point — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
At Anglesey’s eastern tip, the black-and-white banded Trwyn Du lighthouse has marked the north entrance of the Menai Strait since 1838 — one of only five working lighthouses on the island — standing in the tide race between the headland and Puffin Island. Its tolling fog bell across the sound is one of the great sounds of the Welsh coast, and the view — lighthouse, island, Great Orme and Snowdonia in one sweep — is the most photographed on Anglesey.
The Pilot House Café & the Priory
On the headland, the whitewashed Pilot House Café — home to three lighthouse pilots and their families in the 1800s — serves walkers and photographers with an unbeatable outlook. A short way back down the lane, Penmon Priory, its holy well and the great domed dovecote add a 13th-century chapter to the outing.
Getting There
Puffin Island off the Anglesey coast — Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
On foot: the coastal path from Beaumaris, about 4 miles each way past Lleiniog Beach. By car: 10–15 minutes via the B5109 and the Penmon toll road (a small vehicle toll applies on the private final stretch to the point). Combine with a Puffin Island cruise from Beaumaris pier to see the island from both shores in one day.
Photographer’s Notes
Trwyn Du is Anglesey’s most-shot subject for good reason, and repays planning: sunrise puts first light behind Puffin Island and the Great Orme; a rising mid-tide gives the foreground rocks and pools their best separation; and stormy days deliver the drama shots — from a respectful distance, as waves rake the point. The fog bell tolls its warning in poor visibility, an atmosphere all of its own. Winter afternoons offer the low golden side-light on the lighthouse’s bands with almost nobody about. Parking at the point is limited; early arrival solves everything, as usual.
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