Trwyn Du Lighthouse

Trwyn Du Lighthouse is a lighthouse between Dinmor Point near Penmon and Puffin Island south east Anglesey. There had been a call for a light at this location for some years by master shipmen in the nearby city of Liverpool especially after the steamer the "Rothsay Castle" ran aground and broke up nearby in 1831 with 130 people losing their lives [ [http://www.anglesey-today.com/trwyn-du-lighthouse.html An Anglesey Today article on the lighthouse] ] . the first lighthouse was only erected in 1838 at a price of £11,589. The 29 metre tall tower which stands at the entrance to the Menai Straits was distinguished by the three black bands painted onto the white tower which remain today. The lighthouse was manned until 1922 when it was automated. It was converted to solar power in 1996 and was modernised extensively. At present the house has a 15,000 candela light that can be 12 nautical miles away and a 178 kilogram fog bell that sounds once every thirty seconds [ [http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/trwyn_du.html Trwyn Du on the Trinity House website] ] . There was also a lifeboat station built a few year before in 1832 nearby but this closed in 1915.

Dinmor Point is accesible by heading east out of Beaumaris and through Llangoed. For a small fee you can go along a toll road and park very close to the lighthouse or park for free about a mile from the lighthouse. Although it is very close to land it is not quite possible to reach the lighthouse from land as is indicated by the large message on the tower itself "No passage landwards". The area around Dinmor contains a cafe, shop and toilets [ [http://www.anglesey.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=1074 Trwyn Du on the Anglesey Council website] ] and is good for fishing.

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