The most extreme tides of the year

Last week saw the partial eclipse and this meant that the Earth, Moon and Sun were all in alignment so the gravitational pull of the Sun combined with the Moon created the lowest and the highest tides of the year. Saturday saw the most extreme tides and by good fortune it was a beautiful sunny day. This was a changeover day for us but I managed to get out and take some photographs.

This was the precise moment of high tide but, with no wind behind it, there was still sand left on the beach. If there had been a heavy south westerly then flooding would have been a real possibility. 

This is a similar view of the low tide on Friday - the lowest it could ever be unless there was a North easterly wind blowing. There are lots of rock pools uncovered that I had never seen.

This is on Aberdaron beach looking east uncovering a series of unexpected rocks, but not low enough to reveal the wreck of the Glenocum which lies just at the right of this photograph.

As you near the eastern end of the beach the rocks disappear and there is more sand. Very soon the Wales Coast Path will be going all the way along these cliffs and around the headland.

At the very lowest tides a small beach is revealed at the eastern end of Aberdaron bay - a very tranquil place with beautiful views over Bardsey Island which I couldn't take because of the bright sunshine.

Also uncovered at low tide are the Dragon's Caves, legendary homes of the Lleyn dragons. At least for my kids when they were little. 

Looking west back towards Aberdaron and Anelog Mountain just as the tide turns. 

Low tide also exposes this crack in the rock, probably the beginnings of an arch. It is possible to climb through this gap and reach the other side.

On second thought I'd better lose some weight first.