Ynys Llanddwyn, Anglesey.

The name of this old lighthouse means “Great Tower” in Welsh. It was built in 1845 and stands as a guiding mark at the end of this tidal island, looking out across the Menai Strait and towards the mountains of Snowdonia.

The path to the lighthouse feels almost ceremonial — rising gently, curving up past the grass and rock. On this winter afternoon, the air was sharp, but the sky began to soften as the sun dropped toward the sea. For a few minutes, the light spread low and warm across the landscape, catching the curve of the steps and the white of the old tower.

I’ve walked here many times, but it never quite looks the same. Sometimes the wind presses in from the sea, and sometimes, like today, the island holds its breath.