Dulas Bay
Encyclopedia
Dulas Bay is a small bay
on the north east coast of Anglesey
(Ynys Môn), north Wales
. The bay is bordered by three beaches.
running through Traeth Dulas is that of the Afon Goch (Red River). The Traeth Bach and Traeth Yr Ora at high tide are separated by a rock outcrop called Craig y Sais (The Saxon
Rock). At low tide, however, it is possible to walk on the sand between the three beaches and also onto th beaches of Lligwy Bay
to the south. Traeth Dulas is most affected by the tide, so much so that the most inland parts of the estuary are salt marsh
es. A walk is the circuit starting at Lligwy Bay
, taking in Traeth Ora, the Pilot boat Pub and an option to reach the top of nearby Mynydd Bodafon.
About a mile and a half off shore is a small island, Ynys Dulas
, which is roughly 620m long and has a maximum width of 205m. It is known for the seals
which live on the island (hence it is also known locally as Seal Island), but it is too small for human habitation. However, upon this island is a round structure with a cone-shaped top that was built in 1924 by Lady Dorina Neave to store food and provide shelter for shipwrecked seamen. Two significantly smaller islands, Garreg Allan (The Outer, Expelled or Furthest Stone, not visible by the naked eye from the shore, behind Ynys Dulas) and Ynys y Carcharorion (Prisoners' Island, nearer Traeth Dulas) are also present. Oil tankers can often be seen out some miles from shore in the Irish Sea
, as they wait for the tide to enter the River Mersey for discharge at Tranmere Oil Terminal.
of the bay is interesting. No water less than a mile out is over twenty metres deep. The most steep decline in the sea bed is found out from Traeth yr Ora. Conversely, a raised shelf of seabed about 1.5 km long reaches out just beyond Garreg Allen, none of which is over 5 metres deep. This is followed by a drop to much deeper water (over 20 metres deep), which indicates that Ynys Dulas may have been part of what is, geologically speaking, a recently submerged headland
or perhaps a tombolo
.
On the north side of Traeth Dulas stands Porto Bello, an interesting house built very much in the Mediterranean style. On top of the cliffs just south of Traeth yr Ora, overlooking the Irish Sea
, is a concrete observation post
left over from World War II
. Slightly north of the bay is the village of Llysdulas. It was here that the manor house
Llys Dulas (lit. Dulas Manor or Court) was located, and the families who owned the bay lived here. In ancient times this land belonged to the tribe of Llwyd, and passed through the Neave
and Hughes families. Under the ownership of Lord Boston, however, the mansion
fell into disuse and no longer exists. Some ruins
of the chapel
can still be found.
Traeth yr Ora and Porto Bello were, according to local history, apparently named after a group of men allegedly shipwrecked in the area around 1750. The men were said to be of Spanish
or Portuguese
origin, but the precise spelling of these names suggests that the men may actually have been Italian
. Some local families still claim descent from these men today.
Perhaps the oldest known tradition regarding the bay dates from 1134. It is said that Owain Gwynedd
, who became king of Gwynedd
in 1137, had defeated a combined force of the Erse
, Manx
, and Norsemen
near Llangwyllog
in the centre of the island. The Welsh fleet turned on their enemy's ships and are said to have captured every last one of them in and around Dulas Bay.
at and has, with most of the rest of the coast of Anglesey, been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
by the UK government. The geological makeup of the area is mostly Devonian Old Red Sandstone, although the north side of Traeth Dulas sees the limestone beds alternating with shale
and gritstone
. There are unusual levels of zinc
and copper
in the soil, and a water-table brought in by Afon Goch from the nearby Mynydd Parys (Parys Mountain
) mines. However, the level is nowhere near high enough to be of danger to humans or animals. Just two and a half miles from the bay is Mynydd Bodafon
, the highest point on the Anglesey mainland, reaching 178 metres above sea level.
The bay is reached by turning right off the A5025
at Brynrefail
and although the three beaches are in the parish
of Moelfre, Ynys Dulas is under the control of the Llaneilian parish council. Other nearby villages include Moelfre
, Benllech
and Dulas. There are several good quality camp sites within a few minutes walk of the beaches.
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
on the north east coast of Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
(Ynys Môn), north Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The bay is bordered by three beaches.
Overview
The north-western beach is the sand/shingle/mud estuary Traeth Dulas (Dulas Beach); southeast of this is the tiny Traeth Bach (Small Beach) and the sandy Traeth Yr Ora (Beach of The Fortified Landing Place). The estuaryEstuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
running through Traeth Dulas is that of the Afon Goch (Red River). The Traeth Bach and Traeth Yr Ora at high tide are separated by a rock outcrop called Craig y Sais (The Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
Rock). At low tide, however, it is possible to walk on the sand between the three beaches and also onto th beaches of Lligwy Bay
Lligwy Bay
Lligwy Bay is a bay of the Welsh island of Anglesey.It is on the eastward side of the island to the north of the village of Moelfre. It was the site, in October 1859, of the loss of the steam clipper Royal Charter with a loss of life in excess of 450....
to the south. Traeth Dulas is most affected by the tide, so much so that the most inland parts of the estuary are salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
es. A walk is the circuit starting at Lligwy Bay
Lligwy Bay
Lligwy Bay is a bay of the Welsh island of Anglesey.It is on the eastward side of the island to the north of the village of Moelfre. It was the site, in October 1859, of the loss of the steam clipper Royal Charter with a loss of life in excess of 450....
, taking in Traeth Ora, the Pilot boat Pub and an option to reach the top of nearby Mynydd Bodafon.
About a mile and a half off shore is a small island, Ynys Dulas
Ynys Dulas
Ynys Dulas is a small island located off the north-east coast of Anglesey , Wales. It is the most eastern part of the parish of Llaneilian.The island is situated about a mile and a half offshore, within Dulas Bay...
, which is roughly 620m long and has a maximum width of 205m. It is known for the seals
Pinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
which live on the island (hence it is also known locally as Seal Island), but it is too small for human habitation. However, upon this island is a round structure with a cone-shaped top that was built in 1924 by Lady Dorina Neave to store food and provide shelter for shipwrecked seamen. Two significantly smaller islands, Garreg Allan (The Outer, Expelled or Furthest Stone, not visible by the naked eye from the shore, behind Ynys Dulas) and Ynys y Carcharorion (Prisoners' Island, nearer Traeth Dulas) are also present. Oil tankers can often be seen out some miles from shore in the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, as they wait for the tide to enter the River Mersey for discharge at Tranmere Oil Terminal.
Bathymetry and History
The bathymetryBathymetry
Bathymetry is the study of underwater depth of lake or ocean floors. In other words, bathymetry is the underwater equivalent to hypsometry. The name comes from Greek βαθύς , "deep", and μέτρον , "measure"...
of the bay is interesting. No water less than a mile out is over twenty metres deep. The most steep decline in the sea bed is found out from Traeth yr Ora. Conversely, a raised shelf of seabed about 1.5 km long reaches out just beyond Garreg Allen, none of which is over 5 metres deep. This is followed by a drop to much deeper water (over 20 metres deep), which indicates that Ynys Dulas may have been part of what is, geologically speaking, a recently submerged headland
Headlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
or perhaps a tombolo
Tombolo
A tombolo, from the Italian tombolo, derived from the Latin tumulus, meaning 'mound,' and sometimes translated as ayre , is a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island...
.
On the north side of Traeth Dulas stands Porto Bello, an interesting house built very much in the Mediterranean style. On top of the cliffs just south of Traeth yr Ora, overlooking the Irish Sea
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, is a concrete observation post
Observation post
An observation post, temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers , or to direct artillery fire...
left over from World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Slightly north of the bay is the village of Llysdulas. It was here that the manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
Llys Dulas (lit. Dulas Manor or Court) was located, and the families who owned the bay lived here. In ancient times this land belonged to the tribe of Llwyd, and passed through the Neave
Neave Baronets
The Neave Baronetcy, of Dagnam Park in the County of Essex, is a title in the Baronetage of Great Britain. It was created on 13 May 1795 for Richard Neave, Governor of the Bank of England from 1783 to 1785. Lady Dorina Neave , wife of Sir Thomas , was the author of three books about Turkey...
and Hughes families. Under the ownership of Lord Boston, however, the mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
fell into disuse and no longer exists. Some ruins
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
of the chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
can still be found.
Traeth yr Ora and Porto Bello were, according to local history, apparently named after a group of men allegedly shipwrecked in the area around 1750. The men were said to be of Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
or Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
origin, but the precise spelling of these names suggests that the men may actually have been Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
. Some local families still claim descent from these men today.
Perhaps the oldest known tradition regarding the bay dates from 1134. It is said that Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
, who became king of Gwynedd
Kingdom of Gwynedd
Gwynedd was one petty kingdom of several Welsh successor states which emerged in 5th-century post-Roman Britain in the Early Middle Ages, and later evolved into a principality during the High Middle Ages. It was based on the former Brythonic tribal lands of the Ordovices, Gangani, and the...
in 1137, had defeated a combined force of the Erse
Erse
Erse can be:*an alternative name for any Goidelic language, especially Irish, from Erische.*a 16th-19th Century Scots name for Scottish Gaelic...
, Manx
Manx people
The Manx are an ethnic group coming from the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea in northern Europe. They are often described as a Celtic people, though they have had a mixed background including Norse and English influences....
, and Norsemen
Norsemen
Norsemen is used to refer to the group of people as a whole who spoke what is now called the Old Norse language belonging to the North Germanic branch of Indo-European languages, especially Norwegian, Icelandic, Faroese, Swedish and Danish in their earlier forms.The meaning of Norseman was "people...
near Llangwyllog
Llangwyllog
Llangwyllog is a small village and ancient parish in the centre of Anglesey, Wales.It is found three miles to the north of the island's capital, Llangefni, and two miles north of Llyn Cefni, the island's second largest body of water...
in the centre of the island. The Welsh fleet turned on their enemy's ships and are said to have captured every last one of them in and around Dulas Bay.
Location
The bay is on the Anglesey Coastal PathAnglesey Coastal Path
The Anglesey Coastal Path is a long-distance footpath around the island of Anglesey in North Wales....
at and has, with most of the rest of the coast of Anglesey, been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
by the UK government. The geological makeup of the area is mostly Devonian Old Red Sandstone, although the north side of Traeth Dulas sees the limestone beds alternating with shale
Shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals and tiny fragments of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. The ratio of clay to other minerals is variable. Shale is characterized by breaks along thin laminae or parallel layering...
and gritstone
Gritstone
Gritstone or Grit is a hard, coarse-grained, siliceous sandstone. This term is especially applied to such sandstones that are quarried for building material. British gritstone was used for millstones to mill flour, to grind wood into pulp for paper and for grindstones to sharpen blades. "Grit" is...
. There are unusual levels of zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
and copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
in the soil, and a water-table brought in by Afon Goch from the nearby Mynydd Parys (Parys Mountain
Parys Mountain
Parys Mountain – in the Welsh language Mynydd Parys – is located south of the town of Amlwch in north east Anglesey, Wales. It is the site of a large copper mine that was extensively exploited in the late 18th century.-History:...
) mines. However, the level is nowhere near high enough to be of danger to humans or animals. Just two and a half miles from the bay is Mynydd Bodafon
Mynydd Bodafon
Mynydd Bodafon is a mountain as the word "Mynydd" implies. However, it is actually only a hill in geographic terms, but is still the highest point on the island of Anglesey . Its summit is also known as Yr Arwydd...
, the highest point on the Anglesey mainland, reaching 178 metres above sea level.
The bay is reached by turning right off the A5025
A5025 road
The A5025 is a British 'A' road that runs from Llanfairpwllgwyngyll to Valley in Anglesey, Wales. It runs up the east, north and finally north-west side of the island via several places including Benllech and Amlwch. In all the road is around long...
at Brynrefail
Brynrefail
Brynrefail is a small village in north-east Anglesey, Wales.- Location :It is located in the civil parish of Moelfre on the A5025 between Amlwch and Benllech.- Amenities :...
and although the three beaches are in the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Moelfre, Ynys Dulas is under the control of the Llaneilian parish council. Other nearby villages include Moelfre
Moelfre
Moelfre is a village and community on the east coast of Isle of Anglesey in Wales, and on the Anglesey Coastal Path. It has a population of 1,129.The Royal Mail postcode begins LL72....
, Benllech
Benllech
__FORCETOC__Benllech is a small town on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales. It is in the community of Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf, which has a population of 3,408...
and Dulas. There are several good quality camp sites within a few minutes walk of the beaches.
