| Country: | Wales |
| Coordinates: | 53.1375°N -4.4125°W |
| Official Name: | Ynys Llanddwyn |
| Population: | 0 |
| Static Image Name: | Ynys Llanddwyn old light.pg.jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | Tŵr Bach lighthouse with Snowdonia in background |
| Area Total Km2: | 0.3 |
| Unitary Wales: | Isle of Anglesey |
| Community Wales: | Rhosyr |
| Lieutenancy Wales: | Gwynedd |
| Constituency Westminster: | Ynys Môn |
| Constituency Welsh Assembly: | Ynys Môn |
| Postcode District: | LL61 |
| Postcode Area: | LL |
| Post Town: | Llangefni |
| Dial Code: | 01248 |
| Os Grid Reference: | SH 3884 6288 |
Ynys Llanddwyn (also known as Llanddwyn Island) is a small tidal island off the west coast of Anglesey (Welsh: Ynys Môn), northwest Wales. The nearest settlement is the village of Newborough.
The island is of geological interest with pillow lava, jasper formations and aeolian sand deposits. The island forms part of the National Nature Reserve of Newborough Warren which includes the extensive and floristically rich sand dune system.
Ynys Llanddwyn is a tidal island; it remains attached to the mainland except at high tide. It provides views of Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula. Tŵr Mawr lighthouse marks the western entrance to the Menai Strait.
In respect of the site having 'spectacular, accessible and well-preserved exposures of late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian mélange with more than 200 years of study', the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) included the 'Ynys Llanddwyn late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian Mélange' in its assemblage of 100 'geological heritage sites' around the world in a listing published in October 2022. The organisation defines an IUGS Geological Heritage Site as 'a key place with geological elements and/or processes of international scientific relevance, used as a reference, and/or with a substantial contribution to the development of geological sciences through history.'[1]
The island is rich in legends, in particular in its association with Dwynwen. The name Llanddwyn means "The church of St. Dwynwen". Dwynwen is the Welsh patron saint of lovers, making her the Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine. Her Saint's day is 25 January and is often celebrated by the Welsh with cards and flowers. The island bears the ruined remains of St Dwynwen's Church (Welsh: Eglwys Santes Dwynwen). Unusually for churches in that region it has a cruciform floorplan.[2]
Archaeologists examined the ruins of St Dwynwen's in 2011 and again in 2021. The 2021 dig discovered traces of even older buildings below the ruins.[3]
Newborough National Nature Reserve & Forest, of which Ynys Llanddwyn is part, received 478,204 visitors in 2018.[4]
There are more than 10miles of footpaths crossing Ynys Llanddwyn and Newborough Warren, including the Anglesey Coastal Path, and it is a very popular place to visit. The island provides a worth-while goal after the mile-long walk along the beach from the nearest car park. Ynys Llanddwyn, with the neighbouring beach, has been awarded Blue Flag beach status in recognition of the cleanliness of the sea and the beaches.