Ynyslas Archives - A Simple Life of Luxury

Pre-Work Windsurf at Ynyslas

Alan Cole — Wed, 27 May 2026 07:11:09 +0000

You’ve got to love Ynyslas, and its pre-work windsurf opportunities, thanks to its crazy katabatic wind that we call Ivor! This time of year it can really do its thing, funnelling cold air from the mountains down through the valley and blasting the estuary with storm-force winds. This morning was a case in point. The...

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Fata Morgana in West Wales

Alan Cole — Mon, 25 May 2026 05:59:28 +0000

Yesterday afternoon’s stroll over to the beach here at Ynyslas brought an unexpected surprise. Out across the water, the distant outline of the Ll?n Peninsula appeared to be floating above the sea — stretched, distorted, and shimmering in the warm haze. It was a classic Fata Morgana mirage, caused by layers of warm and cool air bending the light...

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Windsurfing Revival

Alan Cole — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 08:14:42 +0000

Windsurf sessions have been few and far between lately, but with Alastair visiting on holiday with his family, a weekend sail had been on the cards for a while. Fortunately, the wind gods were on our side, delivering a solid north-westerly forecast for Saturday. I rallied the troops and we gathered on the beach —...

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Surf, Sun, Sand and Snow at Ynyslas

Alan Cole — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:13:50 +0000

Just a few photos from around Ynyslas over the past week or so. Snow in the hills, sun in the sky, sand on the beach and surf on the beach. The surf was good again on Saturday morning, and I managed to get out for a morning session without feeling too cold.

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Ynyslas Sunset and Snowy Sunrise

Alan Cole — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 09:32:19 +0000

I took these sunset and snowy sunrise photos just over twelve hours apart, on the same stretch of beach here at Ynsylas. Last night’s sunset was one of those understated ones. No big colours or drama, just a steady fading of light and a calm sea. The sort of evening where nothing much seems to...

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Slippery Swims and Dolphin Confusion

Alan Cole — Wed, 28 May 2025 07:54:45 +0000

I had a lovely swim in the silky smooth waters of Ynyslas the other day. However, as I was getting out, I slipped on the muddy submerged forest and lost my goggles in the process. Not the most exciting story, I know—but it does get better. There was someone taking photos from the beach who...

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Lines in the Estuary

Alan Cole — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:38:57 +0000

Anna keeps telling me that I need to just accept that I’m getting older and embrace it – but where’s the fun in that? It’s much more fun to don a rubber suit, strap myself to several thousand pounds’ worth of carbon fibre and monofilm, and draw some lines on the water!! It’s been blowing...

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Dunes and Waves: Finding Calm Between Storms

Alan Cole — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 07:27:29 +0000

Views from the Dunes It might not feel like it this year, but there have been some breaks in the weather here and there. Enough, at least, for me to sit on top of “the dune” opposite our house a few days ago and take in the views. It’s nice at this time of the...

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A Perfect Windsurfing Comeback

Alan Cole — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:58:14 +0000

I hadn’t been windsurfing for a while, and it wasn’t just because of unsuitable conditions. A mix of the occasional illness, a few injuries, and a desire to avoid further injuries kept me off the water. The main reason, though, was always having something else planned when the wind was perfect. Windsurfing is also the...

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Sun, Sea and Sand

Alan Cole — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 14:39:47 +0000

There’s nothing to see here, just a normal day at Ynyslas. Everything you’d expect from the beach really, sun, sea and sand. It was just turned up a notch thanks to the fact that I was sharing it with Ivor, our local Katabatic wind…. he’s a rascal!!!

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