YNYS LEURAD

Holy Island Walk

NO DEAD BODY DISCOVERED AT YNYS LEURAD

Between Valley and Trearddur Bay you’ll have to cross a stone bridge that separates the tidal flow between the North and the South of Holy Island.

This is FOURMILE BRIDGE, or PONT RHYDYBONT in Welsh.

If you have an hour or so to spare - and a good pair of waterproof boots - then I recommend this short walk to and around Ynys Leurad.

Anglesey Ynys
Leurad

On the indicated low offshore islet are located three prehistoric Irish Huts in a settlement.

To find the huts you’ll need to follow my instructions on how to get there.

You will also require a heavy petrol strimmer, axe and probably a scythe.

I’ve searched for the huts but the heavy gorse and grabbing bramble have overwhelmed most of this low lying island. The best you can manage is to engage your imagination as you walk around its tidal periphery.

I visited Ynys Leurad on a reasonable afternoon when the typical April weather presented astonishing clarity, silver light and heavily pregnant purple clouds.

I got away with it for twenty minutes later the rain was bouncing inches off my car bonnet.

CONDITIONS UNDERFOOT

Anglesey Ynys
Leurad This is a tidal area and the footpaths can get very muddy; however, you will find boardwalks along a couple of stretches.

Don’t depend on them though.

Make sure you’re wearing a pair of well-waterproofed boots.

The walk to Ynys Leurad really is a pleasant little walk, so don't be put off.

Take a prospective boyfriend or girlfriend with you.

Remember. Holding Hands Improves Balance.

Anglesey Ynys
Leurad

YNYS LEURAD - THE ROUTE

Find a decent place to park on the road side or in the village of Fourmile Bridge.

Make sure you park safely because we have a dedicated Traffic Warden Flying Squad on Anglesey. BLESS THEM...

Step down off the bridge on the Valley side and just follow the path(?) around to your right.

Keep on following the path, over rock, through gorse, bramble and mud.

It is a reasonable path and very obvious. Don’t be put off by me.

After about ten minutes you’ll see Ynys Leurad ahead, extending as a little peninsula into the tidal area.

Walk easily onto the inlet islet and spend a little of your time just enjoying the view and the ducks.

Return back to Fourmile Bridge along the same route.

OR, you could follow the ANGLESEY COASTAL PATH, that’ll bring you to the Holyhead end of Valley.

WATCH OUT FOR THE HOLYHEAD/LONDON RAILWAY LINE.

If you choose the latter path, then it’s about a 4 mile walk back to Fourmile Bridge.

Anglesey Ynys
Leurad

INTERESTING TIDAL FACT

Stand on the bridge at Fourmile Bridge when the tide is turning to rush out and you’ll notice a quite interesting human-created tidal feature.

With your back to Valley, you’ll see that the water to your left will recede quite quickly. On your right you’ll notice very little drop in the water level.

To your left, the water rushes out toward Cymyran Beach unimpeded by any form of human intervention. Go to my Cymyran page to learn more ...

To your right, the outward flow is constrained by the volume that can pass beneath the bridge at Fourmile Bridge. It is also constricted at the railway embankment you can see from Ynys Leurad.

There is a difference of about 20 minutes between Low Water on your right and on your left.

Anglesey Ynys
Leurad

NO DEAD BODY DISCOVERED

Though I searched hither and thither and have scratch marks to prove it, I could find no sign of the Irish huts.

But what I did find sent a shiver down my back. I found this collapsed tent. Nothing sinister about a collapsed tent, I hear you say. The question prominent in my mind was, What’s a tent doing here, abandoned?

My next thought was, What is that big lump beneath the said collapsed tent?

Edging forward I gave it a tentative kick. The lump was solid. DEAD BODY!

I created a scenario. Some poor unfortunate had come here to camp and had died unexpectedly. Or rather, had come here and put an end to it all. What to do?

“Oh Bugger!” I reached forward and pulled the tent to one side. There, before me, was no human form emaciated by time and Nature’s entropy. No rictal smile drawn across parchment tight skin and dark eye sockets gazing forever into the dark abyss of that perfect mystery.

It was a large tussock of rough weed that had grown beneath the abandoned or forgotten tent.

The grown up in me was relieved, though the child disappointed. Kids thrive on this kind of monstrous discovery.

So, if you’ve lost your tent, I’VE FOUND IT!

Anglesey Ynys Leurad

CANOEING AND WINDSURFING

The basin of this tidal strait between the mainland of Anglesey and Holy Island is flat, although there are outcrops of rocks to watch out for.

If you're a regular visitor to the Trearddur Bay area of Anglesey, then you'll already be aware of that this wide stretch of water is frequently used by windsurfers and canoeists when the tide's in.

Never been there and done it here; however, it's bleedin' obvious that many people do.

It also popular with canoeists like the two colleagues above. They found a safe place to park very near the bridge.

A BIT OF SHOPPING & GOOD RESTAURANTS

If you're planning to go to Ynys Leurad after a good lunch to aid digestion and to spare family members inappropriate bodily functions best left outside the car, then that's excellent. So long as you go.

However, if you're planning a pre-meal walk, then you've got some lovely eating choices close at hand.

I've attached a link below that covers the West of Anglesey, from Trearddur Bay all the way up past Church Bay to Cemaes Bay.

So ... Click Here for Good Eating.

Anglesey Ynys
Leurad