Cemlyn, Cemaes Bay, Isle of Anglesey, LL67

Bryn Aber is an historic coastal estate commanding panoramic sea, and rural, views, set within private walled grounds and with significant development opportunities.

Occupying a protected position at the western edge of the spectacular Cemlyn Bay National Nature Reserve, Bryn Aber is a landmark coastal residence of immense character, historical significance, and unrivalled natural beauty.
Set discreetly behind its famous historic brick walls and surrounded by some of the most dramatic and legally protected landscape on the Isle of Anglesey, this exceptional home offers a rare opportunity to acquire a private coastal sanctuary within the Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Approached via a quiet coastal road, arrival is through impressive 12-foot-high steel gates set within the tall brick walls. A private driveway leads to the house, creating a sense of arrival and preserving the seclusion for which the estate is renowned.

The origins of Bryn Aber date back to the late nineteenth century, though its most notable chapter began in the 1930s when it became the home of the pioneering aviator, ornithologist, conservationist and ‘modest millionaire’ Captain Vivian Hewitt. Best known as one of the first people to fly across the Irish Sea and for his visionary conservation work at Cemlyn, Captain Hewitt helped shape the landscape visible today. His creation of the lagoon helped establish one of Britain's most important breeding sites for terns.

Recently sympathetically remodelled and upgraded, Bryn Aber offers a blend of heritage and contemporary design. The property combines energy-efficient modern living with its rich coastal history, benefitting from underfloor heating throughout, powered by ground source heat pumps. The principal living accommodation has been elevated to the first floor to take full advantage of the spectacular outlook, with expansive glazing and terraces creating a seamless connection between the home and its surroundings.

Accommodation

Extending to over 4,300 sq. ft., the accommodation has been thoughtfully arranged to maximise both comfort and flexibility. Whilst perfectly suited as an exceptional family residence, the property has also been carefully designed for luxury guest retreats or multi-generational living, allowing large groups to enjoy both privacy and shared living spaces.

The house may be entered either via the porched entrance on the ground floor or, for a greater sense of adventure, via the cantilevered staircase built into the brick walls, to arrive onto the first floor terrace.
On the ground floor are five bedrooms. They offer a calm and contemporary aesthetic, combining natural materials with minimalist styling to create restful and functional spaces. Each bedroom enjoys direct access to the inner walled garden through sliding patio doors. The versatile bunk room (configured on the layout plan as two connected rooms), has been thoughtfully designed to accommodate younger family members or visiting guests, making the property well suited to multi-generational occupation.
A long, curved hallway links the ground floor. Two bedrooms are en-suite, whilst the remaining bedrooms are served by a bathroom, a shower room and ground floor WC.
Practicality has been carefully considered throughout. A dedicated linen cupboard provides valuable storage for housekeeping supplies, whilst a generous utility room incorporates two washer-dryers and hanging drying space.

A staircase rises to the heart of the home on the first floor, where a stunning open-plan arrangement has been designed around the coastal panorama. Here, the kitchen, dining and living spaces combine to create an exceptional entertaining environment, opening directly onto an expansive terrace that wraps around the house and captures panoramic views across the lagoon, shingle ridge, and coastline. The elevated position allows spectacular 360-degree views, creating an ever-changing backdrop to daily life.

Kitchen / Dining Room
The kitchen has been designed with both entertaining and large-scale catering in mind. With an extensive range of bespoke brushed stainless-steel cabinetry and matching work surfaces, the space is both functional and contemporary.

The substantial central island provides generous preparation space, two sinks and two built-in dishwashers, and acts as a natural hub for informal entertaining. `

A west facing picture window fills the room with natural light and frames views across the fields to West Mouse and the Skerries, sunsets and the lighthouse.
Open-plan to the kitchen and living areas, the dining space offers a seamless flow that perfectly suits modern lifestyles and includes a Penrhyn slate breakfast bar.

Living space
A vaulted ceiling with exposed timber trusses, and lime-pointed stone walls, define this space. Flooded with natural light, the environment offers an open volume layout closely visually connected to the surrounding coastline. The ceiling incorporates integrated, flush speakers for seamless surround sound.

Full-height sliding doors open directly onto the first-floor terrace. Two window seats offer places to sit and read, look and think. The elevated position provides an ever-changing outlook of sea, sky and wildlife. A log stove offers extra cosy comfort for winter nights.
A further room with sliding doors and Juliet balcony offers an office, snug or additional sleeping space. Adjoining this is a WC.
The property benefits from underfloor heating through out. Sand-coloured Mandarin Stone floor tiles, the thick stone walls of the house and Reynaers aluminium sliding doors and windows all help to ensure that the home is warm in winter and cool in summer.
Both internally and externally, the lighting plan has been thoughtfully implemented. Internally, all rooms have dimmable, individually switched lighting, with uplighters and spotlights providing architectural and task lighting. Externally, low level lighting and downlighters surround the house, ensuring safe access without detracting from evening coastal views, amazing sunsets and starry dark night skies.
First Floor Terrace & Sea Views

Extending along the east and south elevations of the house, the terrace provides a partly-covered extension of the primary living space and a front-row view of the internationally renowned nature reserve.

Views extend directly across the walled grounds, Cemlyn lagoon, the sweeping shingle ridge of Esgair Gemlyn and out across the Irish Sea, offering a constantly changing landscape of light, tides, wildlife and grazed fields.
The lagoon islands host Wales’ only breeding colony of Sandwich terns, alongside common and Arctic terns. The reserve recently recorded Anglesey's first breeding pair of avocets, and the adjacent coastal habitat supports diverse species including little egrets and little owls.
The elevated position affords uninterrupted sightlines across the Bay, whilst the surrounding walls offer shelter from prevailing winds, allowing the space to be enjoyed throughout much of the year. In spring and summer, swallows swoop around the house and nesting terns fly close overhead to and from the islands; in autumn and winter there is a more serene backdrop of wintering wildfowl such as golden plover and lapwings.
An external cantilevered staircase provides direct access between the terrace and gardens and car parking below.
Gardens
The property’s remarkable walls surround Bryn Aber and create a unique coastal sanctuary. These imposing walls provide shelter, security and privacy, forming a central element of the property's provenance and character.

Extending to approximately 2.8 acres within the walls, together with a further 0.5 acres beyond, the grounds comprise a mix of formal lawns, sheltered gardens and wildlife-rich coastal heathland. There are several natural ponds surrounded by cover for snipe and other ground-nesting birds, forming a landscape that complements the property's coastal setting. There is a sense of wild space and wilderness in the outer garden.
Raised walkways incorporated into sections of the walls offer bird-watching vantage points.
Garage and workshop
The estate includes a substantial detached garage and workshop, extending to approximately 170 sq.m, with independent, secure access from the road, and private parking area and yard. These buildings benefit from connection to water and foul drainage and a separate 100A electricity supply. Planning permission has recently been granted for their demolition and replacement, offering potential to develop secondary accommodation, an independent annexe, studio or home office, subject to any necessary consents. The plot commands an exceptional coastal outlook to the north.
Separate land, buildings and foreshore
Beyond the principal grounds, the sale includes a separate ~1.1 acre parcel of land on the headland, including some shingle beach and rocky foreshore. This area, called Y Storws (the Stores), contains the remains of historic commercial buildings including warehouse, weigh house and coal yard structures, associated with Cemlyn's maritime and trading past. During the 1800s, Cemlyn Bay was a bustling natural harbour and coal, timber and salt were unloaded, and wheat, oats and other local produce were loaded here.
Location
Bryn Aber occupies a protected position at the western end of Cemlyn Bay between the headlands of Trwyn Cemlyn and Trwyn Pencarreg. The Anglesey Coastal Path passes nearby, whilst the renowned nature reserve, shingle ridge and sheltered brackish lagoon attract visitors from across the United Kingdom. Despite its rural coastal setting, the property is within easy reach of local amenities and the wider attractions of North Anglesey.

The property sits adjacent to the western National Trust owned car park and is surrounded by National Trust land, providing immediate access to some of Anglesey's finest coastal walks, wildlife habitats and unspoilt scenery. The internationally important tern colonies and lagoon created by Captain Vivian Hewitt remain one of the area's defining features.
The popular coastal village of Cemaes, with its shops, cafés, harbour and sandy beaches, lies approximately three miles away, and can be reached by a 20 minute bike ride on the National Cycle Network Route 566 (also known as the Copper Trail/Lôn Las Copr), which is a scenic 34 mile circular network of rural lanes and coastline.
Approx 6 miles away is Church Bay/Porth Swtan, famed for its dramatic coast, sandy beach and renowned seafood restaurant.
Despite its wild, coastal setting, the property remains well-connected, 11 miles from the main A55 North Wales Expressway, and 16 miles from Holyhead marina and train station (with direct services to London Euston).
Proposed development at Wylfa, by GB Nuclear partnered with Rolls Royce ( is of visually appealing small modular reactors, 90% fabricated off site. This will provide a major boost to the local economy.

A Rare Coastal Opportunity
Rarely does a property combine such historic provenance, design quality, ecological significance and surroundings. Extending to approximately 4.4 acres in total, with secured planning consent for the replacement of the detached outbuildings, Bryn Aber is a piece of Anglesey’s coastal history and, we believe, one of its most interesting residential opportunities.

Agent note:
Please note that an AML fee is chargeable once an offer is accepted to cover the cost of carrying out the required identity and anti-money laundering checks.