A Metamorphic Mélange

Last day in Anglesey today for MrsB and I. But there was no rush to get home though as the sun was shining on us all day. As such, we headed to beautiful Newborough beach on the south side of the island with distant views to Snowdonia.

Visitors to this Newborough National Nature Reserve either tend to stick to the immediate beach nearest the car park or turn right towards nearby Llanddwyn Island. This tiny island has a wealth of unique attractions, including the geologically famous “mélange” of volcanic outcrops of Porth Twr Bach; a beautiful old lighthouse and terrace of pilot’s cottages; plus a 16th church dedicated to Dwynwen, patron saint of Welsh lovers, no less. Once a thriving pilgrimage destination, two visits to Llanddwyn were said to equal one more difficult one made to the offshore Bardsey Island nearby (in the news today as it became an International Dark Skies Sanctuary).

But odly the Newborough map-signs assume Llanddwyn island as the only destination. Yet if you turn left instead like myself and MrsB did today, a delightful hour-and-a-half beach and/or dunes walk leads you eventually to the delightful Abermenai. At this end point, a turbulent narrow channel leads into the Menai Straits and a fast tide with overfalls rips either in or out. The pebbled spit is usually empty of visitors - as was the case again today. It is full of all sorts of colours and hues of pebbles with evocative geological names like blood red chert or jasper, grey quartz, lime-green epidote and milky calcite. With its wealth of jetsam and flotsam as well, it makes it our kind of beachcomers paradise.