Snowdonia & Llyn Peninsula, Wales, Summer, 2016
Here’s another “Retro Reworking” of some older work of mine.
Here’s another “Retro Reworking” of some older work of mine.
Back in July 2016 we spent a nice week around Snowdonia as well as the Llyn Peninsula. We’ve been to Snowdonia quite a few times now, but this was the first time we explored the area in the summer, in addition to some of the Llyn Peninsula.
Snowdonia has some incredible mountain scenery, featuring as it does the highest peak in Wales, Snowdon or Yr Wyddfa (1,085 m/3,560 ft). It’s also home to my favourite mountain in all of Wales, Tryfan (917 m/3,010 ft). Every time we visit Snowdonia I try to get the best composition of Tryfan I can. I don’t think I’ve quite nailed it yet.
The Llyn Peninsula juts out into the Irish Sea, southwest of Snowdonia. It’s relative isolation, in part being “disconnected” from the rest of Wales by the mountains of Snowdonia, means the peninsula has high percentage of Welsh-language speakers. It features some incredible beaches and isolated bays and coves to explore.
It was fun to revisit these images with a fresh eye and better skills. I hope you enjoy them.
All photos taken on my camera at the time, which was a Nikon D7000 using both a Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 and a Nikkor 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. Developed using RNI’s Kodachrome film profiles.
This is Llyn Padarn, one of the largest natural lakes in Wales, measuring around 2-miles long. From its shore near the Padarn Country Park, one can get an excellent view down the lake towards the Yr Wyddfa and Glyder Fawr mountain ranges.
A slightly different angle of this lone tree, utilising a vertical composition to both the whole of the tree and its reflection in frame. The light was gorgeous on this day, and so calm that the lake was completely reflective.
Zooming in for a tighter composition of the Llanberis Pass, which bisects the Yr Wyddfa and Glyder Fawr mountain ranges.
My favourite Welsh mountain: Tryfan. Viewed from the north and northeast it presents itself with an almost shark fin-like profile. A beautiful mountain. A favourite activity of mine is to hike up alongside the Afon Lloer looking for compositions featuring the cascades of the river towards Tryfan.
Had a go at a vertical composition as well.
From near the Padarn Country Park zooming in at the start of the Yr Wyddfa mountain range.
One beautiful evening we drove towards Llyn Nantlle Uchaf, a small lake that my prior research informed me contained wonderful views towards Yr Wyddfa’s western face. As the sun set a temperature inversion blocked the view through the valley. Still a gorgeous scene, though.
Northwest of Snowdonia, across the Menai Strait, is the island of Anglesey, Ynys Môn in Welsh. If you follow along the northwestern coast of Anglesey you eventually cross the bridge onto yet another small island, Holy Island or Ynys Gybi. Right at the northwest tip of Holy Island is South Stack Cliffs Nature Reserve, complete with South Stacks Lighthouse. A haar had rolled in on our arrival, lending a wonderful atmosphere as we scaled down the cliff path.
As you can see, it’s quite the drop! Incredible scenes, though.
Being the geology nerd I am, I kept stopping at different parts of the winding cliff path to capture the wonderful cliffs and colours at South Stacks.
On this day we didn’t cross the bridge onto the tiny island and its lighthouse. Perhaps one day…
We skirted back around Anglesey’s norther coast to hike around any other bays and coves that looked interesting. This area is called Porth Wen, home to the Porth Wen Brick Works, which you can make out in the distant cliffs. Porth Wen translates as “White Bay”. The sea was an immaculate turquoise on this gorgeous day.
On another day we broke away from Snowdonia and Anglesey and ventured west down the Llyn Peninsula. I had spied a composition in my Pinterest research and thankfully found it near the small settlement of Trefor. I couple of gorgeous sea stacks with another sea haar obscuring the peak of Yr Eifl in the distance. Again, incredible water colours.
A slightly different composition, omitting the peak of Yr Eifl to help feature more of the local geology around Trwyn y Tâl.
Down on the shingle beach near Trwyn y Tâl I spy an interesting boulder that I use to build a composition towards Yr Eifl.
Further down the Llyn Peninsula we navigate the increasingly narrow and small country lanes to locate another bookmark location: Porth Iago. Lisabet enjoyed a swim at the bay with its beautiful white sands and clear water. I went up onto the cliffs above the bay scouting for compositions, and found this wild garden of flowers, sea stacks and cliffs. Bonus camper included.
I do enjoy a good craggy coast line.
Honestly I could’ve spent days around here, scouting for compositions and observing the changes of light.
The main reason people come to Porth Iago: a secluded bay with white sands, clear turquoise water, and handy little coves to get changed in.
Two more photos from within Snowdonia. This is the view down the Nant Gwynant valley towards Pen-y-Pass.
There’s a wonderful viewpoint you can stop the car at as you take the road north towards Pen-y-Pass. It gives you expansive views of the Nant Gwynant valley, Gallt y Wenallt (619 m/2,031 ft) and of course Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa itself.