Llanddona: Beach, Nature and History

If you choose Llanddona as your destination, you can tailor your stay to different interests: Llanddona Beach lies at the eastern end of Red Wharf Bay, a circular walk near Llanddona offers views from the limestone hillfort of Bwrdd Arthur, and fish-weir remains and churches add historical interest. Llanddona Common Nature Reserve is another point of interest in its own right. The details below show how these highlights differ.

Beach and Tidal Landscape

The sandy beach of Llanddona Beach lies at the eastern end of Red Wharf Bay. At low tide, 10 km² of sand, mud, gravel and boulders are exposed in the bay. The beach and bay thus show different sides of the coast: the sandy beach on the one hand and the tidal flats exposed at low tide on the other. At low tide, Red Wharf Bay attracts grey plovers, oystercatchers, redshanks, lapwings, sandpipers and dunlins; in the winter months, brent geese join them. Two points are therefore important when choosing when to visit: low tide for the exposed areas and the winter months for brent geese. If birdwatching is one of your interests, this distinction can help you choose the right time for your trip.

Hill, Nature Reserve and Circular Walk

Bwrdd Arthur, also known as Din Sylwy, is a 164-metre-high limestone hill with a flat summit and steep sides. The circular walk near Llanddona offers views from the hillfort of Bwrdd Arthur, also known as Arthur's Table. Llanddona Common Nature Reserve, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), lies east of the village. Bwrdd Arthur and the nature reserve offer two different points of interest: the hill's elevation and landform, and the nature reserve's location and SSSI designation. If you plan to travel from Beaumaris by bus, check the timetable for route 58L: the bus stops one kilometre from the starting point of the circular walk.

Historical Traces in Llanddona

The Llanddona Fish Weir consists of well-preserved remains of a medieval or post-medieval fish weir. The crescent-shaped structure is formed by two gently curving arms made up of extensive stone banks. Its shape makes the fish weir a distinctive historical point of interest alongside the churches.

Nearby is the Church of St Iestyn, with a surviving 14th-century effigy stone depicting St Iestyn. St Michael's Church, first mentioned in written records in 1254, lies on the eastern slope of Bwrdd Arthur. A medieval parish church lies below the defensive ramparts of Din Sylwy. It is important to distinguish the dates: the 14th century dates the effigy stone, while 1254 refers to the first written mention of St Michael's Church.

Discover more destinations: Llandegfan, Llanerchymedd, Rhosneigr, Pentraeth, Newborough, Llanfaethlu, Gaerwen, Trearddur

For the main travel guide: Isle Of Anglesey.