St Hywyn's Church sits at the very end of the Llŷn Peninsula in the fishing village of Aberdaron, a few hundred metres from the beach and the grey waters of Bardsey Sound. For medieval pilgrims making the journey to Bardsey Island, this church was the final stop — a place to pray, rest, and wait for a calm day to make the crossing. The building dates from the 12th century, though there has been a church on the site since at least the 5th century.
The interior is plain and whitewashed, with thick stone walls and a double nave that suggests two churches built side by side at different periods. The atmosphere is genuinely ancient and very quiet. The poet R.S. Thomas was vicar here from 1967 to 1978, and some of his most celebrated work was written in this parish — the churchyard and the view toward the island clearly fed his imagination.
Aberdaron itself is a small, handsome village with a café and a pub. The beach is good for swimming when the tide is right. The Wales Coast Path passes through here on its way to the headland at Braich y Pwll, the closest point to Bardsey.