Traeth Lafan

A beautiful sunny morning is spent preparing lunch for friends who are calling on their way to Anglesey, but just as we’re about to eat outside, the heavens open. 

Lunch is still enjoyable, but by late afternoon the heavy downpours seem relentless. Torrential rain and thunder storms mean our usual Bodnant Wednesday walk is less than inviting. 

Instead we head towards the west where there seem to be hints of brightness, even slivers of blue sky, and by the time we reach Llanfairfechan the sun appears once more. 

The walk along this vast expanse of beach is glorious: blue-black storm clouds rising high into the eastern sky to form an inky backdrop to the village buildings; dramatic cloudscapes reflected perfectly in low tide pools; stubs of rotten wooden groynes standing against the sand like natural sculptures; and the hints of golden sunset starting over Anglesey in the west. 

It’s a beautiful and totally unexpected treat, and it’s hard to drag myself away. Inevitably, I take far too many shots, and then it’s nigh impossible to choose my favourites, let alone a main.  I know it’s self-indulgent, but extras are unavoidable - and although these scenes are definitely wide enough for Wednesday, they’re certainly not on theme!