Posts Tagged ‘North Wales’

North Wales Landscape Photography guide to Anglesey – Amwlch to Cemaes

The Anglesey Coastal Path after Amwlch becomes very rugged and it rises and falls dramatically, passing through more highly photogenic industrial ruins. The landscape photographer walking this section of the Anglesey coastal path is spoilt for choice.

The first major opportunity for the photographer along this section of the coastal path is Bull Bay, a nice enough place and a popular tourist destination, but perhaps lacking any substantial opportunities for photography – it’s still worth a visit just to be sure. From Bull Bay the path starts to climb dramatically and it’s from here onwards that the landscape provides a great deal of inspiration for the photographer. Near the end of the long climb you arrive at the stunning Porth Wen, a large bay surrounded by rocky cliffs with, on one side, the remains of disused Victorian brickworks. Although abandoned the main structures remain, the kilns, chimneys and a small harbour wall, it is actually quite impressive, its location enhancing its appeal. Porth Wen is an excellent location for the landscape photographer, particularly anyone interested in industrial landscapes.

Leaving Porth Wen the Anglesey Coastal Path climbs further and the drama of the landscape increases, becoming even more rugged and visually stunning. The photographer really is spoilt for choice, the industrial ruins continue with a series of kilns and buildings located where the path falls suddenly back to sea level in a series of valleys. It really is difficult to overemphasis the photogenic nature of this section of the Anglesey Coastal Path. This continues as the path heads towards Cameas, passing along the way the Llandabrig Church. It is perched high on the clifftop overlooking the sea and has a unique character. The church is an excellent photography subject, a wide-angle lens is being essential to make the most of the opportunity.

A short distance down the cliffs from the church is another section of coastline not to be missed. A large, rock-strewn beach appears, the main appeal the landscape photographer being a large section of the mainland that has broken away. It now stands in the centre of the beach resembling a rugged monument. It makes an excellent subject for the landscape photographer, foreground interest is abundant too.
From here the Anglesey Coastal Path falls gradually on its approach to Cemaes. This quaint coastal village has lots of potential for photography, with the small harbour and the large sweeping bay provide the main subjects. Unfortunately though, just around the bay from Cameas things get distinctly less photogenic in the form of a monstrous nuclear power station. This is actually seen occasionally on the approach from Porth Wen but fortunately not too often to detract from the otherwise stunning coastline. I cannot recommend this section of the Anglesey Coastal Path highly enough, in its relatively short distance it provides the landscape photographer with a wealth of opportunities.



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North Wales landscape photographs – Anglesey, Snowdonia and other UK regions

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North Wales Landscape Photography guide to Anglesey – Beaumaris to Benllech

Beaumaris is one of the most attractive towns on Anglesey, its location and castle ensuring its appeal to the landscape photographer. It’s situated directly across the Menai straits from Snowdonia National Park, whose impressive mountains provide a stunning backdrop. It’s also an excellent location for sunrise photographs as the sun rises directly behind the Snowdonia Mountains and creates stunning reflections in the Menai Straits. Beaumaris pier itself provides a good vantage point from which to capture these stunning scenes. In the Menai Straits themselves yachts and boats are frequently moored and can provide a good subject or alternatively some added foreground interest. Alongside the pier is a natural harbour, the main area for the numerous yachts and boats that visit Beaumaris, it’s another interesting possibility for the landscape photographer. Within the town itself is an impressive and particularly photogenic 13th century castle. A visit inside the castle can provide good views across the Menai Straits and towards the Snowdonia mountains, also a short distance along the coastal path behind the town is a small hill which provides the ideal vantage point for a wide angle photograph of the town, the castle and the surrounding landscape.

From Beaumaris to Penmon point the coastal path is flat all the way, running directly alongside the Menai Straits – be aware that at high tide much of the path is actually underwater. This section of the path provides a constant view of the Menai Straits, the Snowdonia Mountains and at a distance, the imposing Great Orme. Here though the beaches are not particularly photogenic, being mainly flat and indistinct. Personally, if I was to choose one particular photography location along this section of the coastal path I would go directly to Penmon point, easily accessible by car from Beaumaris. Here options for the landscape photographer include Penmon priory, Penmon point lighthouse and excellent views towards Puffin Island, the distant Great Orme and the ever-present Snowdonia mountains. Interesting rock formations can also be found a short distance along the shoreline from the lighthouse, offering the possibility for some imaginative macro shots.

Heading from Penmon point towards Red Wharf Bay the coastal path starts to climb above the coastline, providing the photographer with a new viewpoint of the lighthouse, Puffin Island and the Great Orme. Along this section of the path though the best location for a good landscape photograph has to be Red Wharf Bay, again accessible by car. It is a large open bay, appearing much like an estuary, which during low tide is a mass of golden sand — the of which character changes dramatically with the incoming tide. Personally, I think the best time for photography here is at low tide. The small village itself is directly alongside the bay and has some character. In particular the small harbour, with its usual collection of yachts, provides the landscape photographer with excellent opportunities. Continuing along the coastal path towards Benllech now involves a walk along the beach, tide permitting. The beach between Red Wharf Bay and Benllech has golden sand and again provides opportunities, although it lacks any particularly strong features. Benllech itself is a large town, mainly located slightly away from the coastline, which although pleasant, doesn’t have any special interest for the photographer.

North Wales landscape photographs – Anglesey, Snowdonia and other UK regions

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North Wales Landscape Photography guide to Anglesey – Benllech to Amlwch

The section of coastline between Benllech and Amlwch is probably the most contrasting section of the Anglesey Coastal Path and provides numerous possibilities for the landscape photographer. The coastal path climbs dramatically as it leaves Benllech and the view becomes expansive, with lots of interest. Again the Great Orme is in view, although a powerful telephoto lens is essential to successfully capture a photograph. The first main focus for the photographer on leaving Benllech however, is on the approach to Moelfre. It is a quaint place, with the appearance of a small Cornish fishing village, although as a consequence it can get very busy, so early hours photography provides the most tranquil shot. The only problem with Moelfre however, is finding the best location from which to take the shot as it’s located in a small corner of the coastline and doesn’t have many natural vantage points for the landscape photographer. The best option is to walk past the village on the coastal path and take a photograph looking backwards into the small harbour.

The coastline onwards from Moelfre becomes flatter and features include nicely located sandy coves with interesting detail and texture. The most notable amongst these is the beach at Lligwy, it can be reached by car too. The landscape photographer also finds added interest here in the form of Ynys Dulas, a small, rocky island on which is built a distinctive and particularly photogenic structure. It’s situated some distance from the beach so a powerful telephoto lens would be a good idea. If the coastal path is followed further however, the island does becomes closer in perspective, and as an added bonus the photographer will find the landscape provides increasingly strong foreground features, enhancing composition further.

Another special photography location, Dulas, soon becomes evident as the path continues. It is similar in nature to Red Wharf Bay, resembling an estuary. If crossed at low tide (without socks & shoes) another photographic opportunity is found in the form of a large wooden boat, long since abandoned and decaying but nonetheless an excellent subject, interestingly located.

On leaving Dulas the Anglesey Coastal Path again climbs above the coastline, the view again becoming more substantial, with the small island of Ynys Dulas constantly in view. Further interest soon appears in the form of the lighthouse at Point Lynas, an imposing structure sat high on the cliff top, seen from a good distance away. It provides the landscape photography with a variety of options, whilst the surrounding bracken and heather form excellent foreground features. Immediately below the lighthouse is Porth Eillan, a small bay enclosed by high cliffs, it provides the landscape photographer with further excellent opportunities. The beach itself, although small, has interesting features and sand detail and its location in particular provides scope for a good wide-angle seascape.

Continuing along the Anglesey Coastal Path from Porth Eillan, the landscape becomes rugged as it climbs further above the coastline, fewer photography opportunities exist however. The path soon reaches Amwlch, unfortunately now in decline. The old port however is still an excellent place for photography, particularly for those interested in maritime history or industrial landscapes and architecture. The old port has a small, very atmospheric harbour and interesting structures from its ancient industrial past remain.

LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY UK .COM ARTICLE

North Wales landscape photographs – Anglesey, Snowdonia and other UK regions

<A href="http://www.landscapephotographyuk.com/"target="_blank">LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY UK .COM </A>

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