May 31, 2016.

From the mid-term/bank holiday craziness of Llandudno we headed straight to Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey. The fast road was not without its beauty – In my journal I mention Queen Anne’s Lace, buttercups, pink flowers and masses of purple Rhododendrons in spectacular bloom amidst the dark scrub.

Once in Beaumaris we booked a B&B for that evening and then checked out the local ‘Craft Fayre’.

This jeweller used only local stones for his jewelry.Red jasper, green chert (a type of flint) and slate being made ready for uniquely local pieces of jewelry. The friendly jeweller gave me a few hints about where to find these stones if I wanted to do a bit of rock collecting. I fell in love with the dark charcoal slate run through with green, and bought these earrings. I had wanted to go on a Puffin Island cruise but the water was too rough. However, we found out we could drive there along backroads. The road was quiet and beautiful, lined with wildflowers like Red Campion……and Queen Anne’s Lace.Of course there was a castle ruin we had to stop and see! The sign that led us astray.
Stairs up…A tiny ruin but in an area with blossoming trees.The sign describing Castle Aberlleiniog ruins. The road deteriorated but our GPS indicated we were getting close to Puffin Island. And there, where we least expected it, was a ‘toll’ road.Lonely Planet map for May 31st drive along a mass of tiny backroads leaving from the town of Beaumaris to Penmon and its medieval structures, and then on to Llanddona Beach and back to Beaumaris.

More about our 2016 trip to Wales.