Penmon Point

Stars, Sea, and the Lighthouse at Trwyn Du

It was one of those perfect Anglesey days—bright, clear, and full of light. From Bryn Teg, the last golden rays slipped behind the old chapels along Lon Capel, their warmth fading into shadow. In the nearby cemetery, the low sun cast long black-and-white silhouettes across the gravestones, a quiet reminder of the day’s passing.

As the horizon swallowed the light, a sudden chorus of high-pitched honks drifted overhead. Looking up, I saw a pointed V of geese—ten, perhaps fifteen—cutting through the evening sky. They moved in perfect formation, their wings catching the last threads of gold, heading inland from the shore to their night roosts. This sight and sound is one of the small gifts of living here, a scene repeated every evening from our garden.

Night came quickly. With the air now crisp and still, the dark skies revealed thousands of stars, each one shining clear and sharp. I decided to head out to Penmon Point, a 25-minute drive from Dwyran to the island’s most northeastern tip.

Penmon Point is reached by driving east from Beaumaris through Llangoed. A small toll allows you to park almost at the water’s edge, though there’s free parking about a mile away for those who prefer to walk. There’s a café, a shop, and public toilets—a convenient base for fishing, photography, or even overnight parking.

Here stands one of Anglesey’s most iconic sights: the black-and-white striped Trwyn Du Lighthouse, also known as Penmon Lighthouse. Perched on the rocks between Black Point and Puffin Island (Ynys Seiriol), it marks the narrow passage between the two.

Puffin Island, uninhabited and protected, is now a thriving bird sanctuary. As its name suggests, puffins once nest here in great numbers, and though their population has changed over time, the island still teems with seabirds. Shags, cormorants, and Atlantic grey seals are permanent residents.

Under the dark sky, Penmon transforms. I found a sheltered spot on the pebbled beach, the sea calm, the wind low. The sweeping beam of the lighthouse rotated steadily, its flash crossing the water like a heartbeat for passing ships.

I set my tripod, fitted the wide-angle lens, opened the aperture, and began a long exposure. In the camera’s frame, the lighthouse light traced its arc, the stars scattered like frost across the heavens. The night was still, the tide whispering against the shore—a perfect moment of peace, solitude, and starlight.

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