Puffin in flight
Today we head a little way along the Menai Strait to Beaumaris where we are going to catch a boat courtesy of Seacoast Safaris for a trip up to Priestholm (Ynys Lannog/Glannog in Welsh) but which now seems to be known by just about everyone as Puffin island. The island is uninhabited by humans but the numbers of birds are enormous. Careful management has ensured that bird numbers have been steadily growing for many years. It is situated off the north east corner of Anglesey, just at the end of the Menai Straits and the journey there takes about 20 minutes with entire trip planned to take around 90 minutes.
Luckily it is extremely calm as we head along the Strait and a little further so that we can slowly circumnavigate Puffin Island. There are birds everywhere and some seals on the far side of the island although we are too late to see them basking, largely shapes moving under the surface. Although named Puffin Island and we see a few they are heavily outnumbered by all of the other species.
We have an extended session as they ensure we see everything we can so it is early afternoon and we head over the Britannia Bridge and then along the coast to Portmeirion where we are staying tonight, arriving at Castell Deudraeth in time for a late sandwich for lunch.
Portmeirion was built over a period of nearly 50 years to the design of Clough Williams-Ellis in an Italianate style. We are staying in the main hotel on one of the hottest days of the year. We wander around most of the village and I take a large number of photos. I then decide to go and walk around the wooded area to see a little more of the estate heading down to the lighthouse. It first came to my attention with “The Prisoner”.
An excellent dinner is taken later in the dining room and tomorrow we will enjoy an excellent breakfast. There are many villas around the estate which can also be rented – and certainly our night here was very nice.