Llanddwyn Island Lighthouse - Explore stunning sunset views

From the A55 on Anglesey, cross the Britannia Bridge and follow signs for the A5 toward Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. Shortly after, turn onto the A4080 toward Newborough and continue for around 9 miles. In the village, follow the brown tourist signs for Newborough Forest and Llanddwyn Island, which lead to the main beach car park at Newborough Beach. To walk to the Island head right from the car park towards the forest and after 200 metres turn left along the walkway to reach the beach. It’s approx 30-40 minutes walk.

Unfortunately parking charges here do keep increasing so for my INSIDER TIP: Park at Llyn Rhos Ddu parking area (LL61 6RS) and enjoy the walk through the beautiful Newborough Dunes, it adds approx 1 mile on the route to Llanddwyn Island but it’s a beautiful walk with photo opprtunities along the way.

Directions to Llanddwyn Island Car Park

Best times to visit Llanddwyn

Llanddwyn is definitely one of the best photography spots on Anglesey but timing makes all the difference. If you’re interested in some Llanddwyn island sunset photography then winter is the best time, sunrises can be special then too. What can complicate things though is that the Island is cut-off during high tides, so it’s essential to check tide timetables before visiting. This is also a very popular location with visitors so personally speaking, I’d avoid the main holiday periods. My tip for capturing the Island in a more unique way is visit during stormy weather, not many people do but it’s a dramatic place to be!

Recommended Camera Settings

• Aperture (f/8 to f/16): For maximum depth of field from the foreground rocks to the lighthouse, use a narrow aperture. While f/11 is often the "sweet spot" for sharpness, you may need f/16 if you have interesting foreground elements very close to your lens.

• ISO (Low, 50–100): Keep your ISO as low as possible to maintain high image quality and minimize digital noise in the shadow areas of the rocks.

• Shutter Speed (Creative Choice):

  • 1/125s or faster: To freeze the action of crashing waves or marram grass.

  • 0.5s to 2s: To retain some texture in the water while showing "flow".

  • 30s+: For that "misty" water effect and streaking clouds, which requires a sturdy tripod and ND filters.

Filter Choice for photographing Llanddwyn Island

Using physical filters at the point of capture often produces a more natural result than post-processing, especially for managing high dynamic range.

• Circular Polariser (CPL): Invaluable for cutting through the glare on wet rocks and the sea. It also helps to "pop" the blue in the sky and the white of the lighthouse walls.

• Graduated Neutral Density (GND): Useful for sunrises and sunsets at Twr Mawr. A 3-stop soft grad helps darken the bright sky so you can expose correctly for the dark volcanic rocks in the foreground, it can also affect the lighthouse though so bracketing/editing may be a better option for the “Icon” shot.

• Neutral Density (ND) "Big Stopper": To achieve exposures over 30 seconds during the day, a 6-stop or 10-stop ND filter is required to smooth out the Atlantic swells.

Pro-Tip: Managing the Elements

The spray from the sea at Llanddwyn can quickly coat your filters in salt. Keep a clean microfibre cloth and a rocket blower handy, and check your front element between every few shots to ensure your images stay crisp.