Arriving at the barrier at the top of the lane leading down to Newborough beach I paid my £3 to gain access and drove down to the car park, finding a nice shady spot to leave the van. Although the day was sunny a very cool wind made sure that it wasn't too warm, so in the shade and with the windows open a snatch I knew the dogs would be okay while I went to explore. A brisk mile long walk through the forest and along the beach got me to the island; the view back across the beach towards Snowdonia looked good and I'd just got one shot when my camera batteries died - and realisation dawned. Not only had I forgotten to put my spares in my pocket, I'd also forgotten to put them in the van - they were still in the battery charger back at the tent!
With no means of taking any more photos there was no point in actually going onto the island so I had no choice but to walk the mile back to the van. My first thought was to drive back to the camp site and return to Llanddwyn the following day, however the current glorious weather was just too good to miss and there was no guarantee that the following day would be the same, so I drove up to the nearby village, bought a couple of packs of cheap batteries, then drove back down to the car park - it cost me another £3 to get access through the barrier but it would have cost far more in fuel to drive all the way back across the island then return to Llanddwyn another day.
And so for the second time in an hour I walked the mile from the car park to the island, and as I wandered round and explored I was glad I'd made the decision to return. On my previous visit I'd been distinctly underwhelmed and unimpressed, no doubt because of the grey cloudy weather, but now, with the clear blue sky and sunshine, the island looked completely different. I was glad I'd just got two packs of batteries for the camera, it looked like I was going to need them.
The first two photos I took were exact replicas of the ones in the book - I had to scramble half way up a steep rocky outcrop to get the second one but it was worth the climb when I was rewarded with a great view looking across to the Snowdonia mountains on the mainland. With no-one else around and nothing but the sound of the sea and the gulls as they wheeled and swooped overhead the peace and tranquility of this place was almost tangible, and with the many lovely photo opportunities the island offered I was glad I'd made the effort to return.
After well over an hour spent wandering round I snapped the last photo of the ruins of St. Dwynwen's Church then made my way back across the island, and for the fourth time that afternoon took the mile long walk between there and the car park. Back at the van I gave the dogs a drink then took them on the beach for a while before heading back across Anglesey to the camp site, and the rest of the late afternoon and evening were spent relaxing in the tent.
Looking through my photos later on I was glad I'd given Llanddwyn Island the benefit of the doubt and gone back in the good weather. I'd got some lovely shots even if I had walked a total of just over five miles in the process, so it had been well worth going back. And as there were some parts of the island I still hadn't fully explored a third visit would certainly be on the cards in the not too distant future.
