A fantastical gate leading to a stunning Welsh beach has gone viral after people obsessed over the "gateway to Narnia". The picture of the gate was taken on Anglesey and shared to a Facebook group, Gate Appreciation Society.
There it amassed more than 42,000 likes from around the world, with fans promising to seek it out. Decorated with Celtic motifs and elegant lettering, the wooden gate is one of several guarding Ynys Llanddwyn, a small tidal island off the west coast of Anglesey.
Some gave it the imaginary title of “gate of the year”, most simply waxed lyrical about the “gateway to Narnia” and pledged to seek it out. Among those hankering after a visit was a resident of South Africa, NorthWalesLive reports.
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“Not so much a gate as a portal to a magical world,” sighed one woman. Another added: “That is one of the best gates I ever saw.” A man suggested it was “the kind of gate you would see in a Disney film”.
Ynys Llanddwyn is a place of remarkable beauty, romance and diversity: with pastel blue views across to the mountains of Eryri and the Llŷn Peninsula, it has two lighthouses, a ruined church, stone crosses and a row of old, white-washed pilots cottages.
Forever associated with the legend of Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers, Llanddwyn has numerous sandy coves and is also one of the world's top 100 geological heritage sites. Among its chaotic mix of brightly coloured rocks, there’s even a "sleeping red dragon" fashioned by the sea.
For visitors, one magical attraction is the wild Welsh ponies that venture onto the island's beaches. Introduced to help manage the island’s valuable habitats, fencing is needed to control their movements.
Hence the carved gates and rustic fences alongside Anglesey's coastal footpath, which only add to the island’s allure. Some gates lead straight onto the beaches, others have pretty pebbled paths with crushed seashells surrounded by colourful wildflowers.
Carving the “beautiful” gates, some years ago, was Dafydd Davies-Hughes, an accomplished woodworker, carpenter, poet and storyteller from the Llŷn Peninsula. Footpaths across North Wales are studded with examples of his incredible craftsmanship, all fashioned from Welsh oak and chestnut.
His company also constructs timber framed buildings, some quirky, all beautiful. Amongst his most famous was a stunning Hobbit-like hideaway built for a millionaire in Llanegryn, Gwynedd. At the time it was described by a leading authority on architecture as an Arts and Crafts marvel that recalled “the artistry of Antoni Gaudi”.
Dafydd’s gates are in demand by homeowners wanting bespoke and charming entrances to their properties. Many feature Celtic swirls reminiscent of Māori “Koro” designs.
Some are more ornate, such as the eagle and thrush motifs sourced from Mabinogi mythology that were carved into a double gate at Aberdaron (which was named the best stargazing spot in the UK), Pen Llŷn. Another was a grotesque but stunning “gargoyle” gate made for a theatre designer’s home.
But it is Llanddwyn’s carved oak gates that have captured the imagination of people dreaming of lazy summer days on the beach. “Takes me back to the excitement of a seaside holiday as a child,” said one woman. Another added: “It’s such a beautiful little gate, just wishing I was going through it.”
Ynys Llanddwyn forms part of the National Nature Reserve of Newborough Warren with its vast sandy beach. This is a place where you get the best of both beach and woodland, with coriscan pines backing onto flower-rich sand dunes.
Visitors wanting to check out the island and its Insta-friendly carved gates should consult tide times. They should also be aware that, amid its beauty, danger lurks too: Natural Resources Wales warns people “not to touch any military debris” washed up on beaches as it “may explode”.
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