25.10.18 Ynys Lawd (SH 202 822)
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| Ynys Lawd (SH 202 822) |
Ynys Lawd sits against
the western cliff edge of Ynys Gybi, nestled against sea and land. It has a foot bridge that connects to its
larger neighbouring island of Ynys Gybi, which in turn is also connected by
bridge to its neighbouring and larger island of Ynys Môn,
and this latter island is also connected by bridge to the mainland of Wales,
which itself is a part of an island. In
affect Ynys Lawd is an island connected to a larger island, which in turn is
connected to a larger island which again in turn is connected to another larger
island.
If wanting the English names
to these islands they are: Ynys Lawd (South Stack) connected by bridge to Ynys
Gybi (Holy Island) connected by bridge to Ynys Môn (Anglesey) connected
by bridge to the rest of Britain, which in turn is an island connected to
mainland Europe by tunnel.
I’d tried to visit Ynys
Lawd many years ago and found that the island had just closed for the winter
months, and therefore I’d looked forward to the opportunity of visiting ever
since.
I drove to the island
with my brother, who remained in the car with a good book convalescing from a
broken hip. The narrow road continues
from the main car park adjacent to the small visitor centre and it is from the
end of this tarmac that the first of 421 steps leads down the cliff toward the
connecting foot bridge.
On the way toward the
steps I’d visited Elen’s Tower and watched a herd of sheep scamper across the
cliff edge, a daunting prospect for me but one done with ease when hunting out
juicy morsels to eat.
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| Looking across to Ynys Lawd |
One step led to another and
as I continued downward Ynys Lawd became ever more dominant, with its lighthouse
lamp flickering as it rotated.
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| The last few steps leading to the foot bridge |
There is a £5.80 charge
per adult to visit the island and I paid this when I arrived at the main
building, one other person had arrived before me and he was already having a
conducted tour of the engine room and light room.
Although I wanted to
visit the island and hear about its history, I also wanted to at least visit
its remaining natural high point and if at all possible also survey it. Once pleasantries were over I diplomatically
asked permission to do so, as the remaining high point is positioned behind a
small locked wooden gate and is out of bounds for the paying public.
One of the two guides
who met me opened an access gate and we walked around the side of the main
building and there the rock stood, and unless a person wanted a quick
clandestine visit it was definitely out of bounds. Having explained what I wanted to do, we
decided that I could potter about at the side of the building taking photos for
ten minutes or so, and the guide then kindly left me to my own devises.
Within a minute or so I
was over the wall, around the small wooden gate, and back over the continuation
of the wall and standing on the remaining high point, and a few minutes later
the Trimble was set up gathering its allotted ten minutes of data.
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| Gathering data at the summit of Ynys Lawd |
During this time I
mainly sat and waited, but did on occasion wander around and take in the
view. But I did not want to linger, and
once data were gathered and stored I closed the equipment down, took a few photographs
and retraced my inward route back around the side of the main building to the
two guides. I was asked if I had enjoyed
taking my photos, I said yes and thanked them for letting me do so.
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| The arrow indicates the position of the summit rock and in the photographer's own words; this has good 'plummet potential'. Photo: Charlie Leventon |
For anyone visiting this
island a trip to the top of the lighthouse is recommended, and after visiting
the engine room and having its function and history explained I followed four
other people up the curved steps as they progressively got steeper and narrower
leading to the top.
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| The spiral staircase leading to the top of the lighthouse |
The view from the lighthouse
room is extensive with the outline of the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin being
picked out 60 miles away across the sea.
The history of the lighthouse was told us as the light rotated and the
sea and near cliffs gloomed across the void.
It proved a fascinating tour and one that I would highly recommend.
All that remained was to
negotiate the spiral staircase, this time downward, thank the guides and climb
those imposing 421 steps back to terra firma.
On my way back on the narrow road to re-join my patiently waiting
brother in the car park I peered out across the sea and looked at the outline
of the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland, I’d become accustomed to these hills many
years ago but had not visited their heathered domain for many years now.
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| The Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin |
All that remained was to
find a convenient lay-bi where I changed out of my walking gear and then to drive
south to Trearddur Bay for an excellent lunchtime meal in the Sea Shanty before
heading back to Nantlle.
Survey Result:
Ynys Lawd (significant name change)
Summit Height: 42.8m (converted to OSGM15)
Summit Grid Reference: SH 20224 82265
Bwlch Height: N/A (sea)
Bwlch Grid Reference: N/A (sea)
Drop: 42.8m (converted to OSGM15)
Dominance: 100.00%
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