Ynys – the Welsh word for island, lies 2 miles north of Harlech on the way to Talsarnau. Two centuries ago it would have been an island at high tide, and the work to reclaim the marshes started at the end of the 18th century with the sea wall being strengthened with the coming of the railway in 1867.

Ynys has a strong maritime history. Before Briwet bridge was built in 1865 travellers crossed from Caernarfonshire to the Harlech area by rowing boats via Ynys. It was an important trading point with supplies from the ferry being offloaded at Ty Gwyn, the large house on the embankment on the way down to the estuary. Turner on his travels through Wales painted a scene of Harlech Castle from Tygwyn ferry in 1798 showing ships offloading. It was also a ship building area long before the harbour at Porthmadog came into being following the building of the Cob; a skiff called The Gomer , sailed several times to the USA.

Nowadays, a very pleasant day can be spent down on the estuary. At low tide you can wander towards Borthygest or cross the sands to Giftan island,(Check tide times first!) or just picnic on a bench and take in the vista of Snowdon and the Moelwyns over the Italianate Village of Portmeirion. The church of Llanfihangel y Traethau, “St Michael's of the Beaches” built in the 12th century, surely the most beautiful and tranquil of setting for a church in the whole of Wales, is well worth a visit.