Island in the West

I haven't written a blog for a few days because Tony and I escaped to North Wales for two days. Lovely Older Son and Lady Sunshine had told us about a particular beach that they like, so there we went.

As a Northumbrian - and Alnmouth beach is one of my favourite places in all the world - I set a high standard for beaches. This one was the most breathtaking, open place, a 'thin' place with very little between heaven and earth. The light over the grey-green water changed continually, and sparkled for the moments when the sun came out. Mist and cloud moved over the mountains, and the waves curled into foam. The tide was turning and left perfectly hinged mussel shells, cockles and layered oyster shells. The rocks were dark grey and green, shining, with veins of marble and red stone. There were mermaid's purses and pink feathery seaweeds, rock pools, and brave little ferns and alpines growing out of the rocks.

Anglesey is an extraordinary place. There are forests where red squirrels hide, and wild ponies on the hills. It's full of pre-Christian burial places and tiny churches and Christian sites from the days when it was an island of saints.

Fresh air, wind and long walks gazing across the seascape make you hungry. We stopped at the small town of Beaumaris and found the Red Boat Ice Cream Parlour, which also does sandwiches and such like. As this is half term week it was very busy, but there was still room for two hungry pilgrims in need of ciabatta and ice cream (not at the same time.)

We will be back. we haven't yet explored all the beaches, seen the squirrels and ponies, or sampled all the flavours at the ice cream parlour.