Nothing says 'I love you' more than whisking a partner away on a
surprise break to a romantic North Wales' holiday cottage and
there's no better time to choose than St Dwynwen's Day.
Celebrated on January 25 each year, St Dwynwen's Day is one of the
best kept secrets of lovers in Wales, but you can share the romance
of this special day by staying at one of a great selection of
romantic holiday cottages on Anglesey with your partner.
Take a trip to the island of Llanddwyn, a spectacular rugged rock
lying off the miles of deserted sandy beaches, near Newborough,
Anglesey, where Dwynwen, the Welsh saint of love, was fated to live
a life of solitude. She had hoped to marry the man she loved,
Maelon Dafodrill, but was distraught when she found he was promised
to another. Dwynwen prayed for divine help to ease her pain.
A story of love, jealously
and revenge
In her sleep, she was visited by an angel who answered her prayers
with a potion that she gave Maelon to drink which turned him into a
block of ice.Horrified at what she had done, Dwynwen pleaded with
God for three wishes to put her spiteful act of jealous revenge to
right.
She called on God to release Maelon from his frozen imprisonment,
that God should work through her to protect all true lovers and
that she should remain unmarried. Her wishes were granted and she
withdrew from the world to devote the rest of her life to God from
her lonely chapel on Llanddwyn. Dwynwen is believed to have died in
the year 460.
Play your part in this legend of unresolved
love
The legend goes on to say that you can divine the faithfulness of
your lover by scattering breadcrumbs on the water in the chapel
well and laying a cloth over them. If the cloth is disturbed by a
fish rising to feed, then your lover is faithful to you.
Before leaving the chapel, the local custom is to leave a small
devotion at Dwynwen's shrine.
You could pick this moment to hand your partner a traditional card
wishing them a Happy St Dwynwen's Day - 'Dydd Santes Dwynwen Hapus'
in Welsh - or even magic up a bottle of Champagne to toast your
partner while passing a quiet moment in Dwynwen's memory.
Centuries later, her story lives on and Welsh couples choose this
special romantic day to make the short pilgrimage offshore to
pledge their everlasting love and even propose marriage at
Dwynwen's ruined historic chapel sitting atop a rocky outcrop.
Now, you and your partner can play a part in this sad tale of
unrequited love and regret and feel the protection St Dwynwen
affords to true lovers by spending some time at this special place
known only to a few.
Take your pick of North Wales holiday
cottages
After your visit to the beautiful and lonely Llanddwyn for that
perfect romantic moment that neither of you will ever forget, you
can return to your very own snug and warm holiday cottage on
Anglesey or nip across one of the Menai Strait bridges to one on
the mainland.
Llanddwyn is one of many special places to visit during your stay.
The majesty of the snow dusted peaks of Snowdonia, the sturdy
castles of Edward I at Beaumaris, Conwy and Caernarfon, the
historic port of Amlwch and the cliffs and lighthouse of South
Stack are all worth a visit during your romantic break.
In the evenings, you can dine out in style at one of many local
award-winning restaurants or have a pint or two in a
welcoming cosy pub.
Find a romantic holiday cottage in North
Wales