The Untouched Coastline
Anglesey was once known as the ‘Granary of Wales’ and had some 100 watermills and windmills.
With its coastline designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, historic Anglesey is a delight for walkers and nature lovers. The superb sign-posted Coastal Path is 220 km long (124 miles) and follows virtually the entire coastline, taking in or passing near many of Anglesey’s top sights; but there are many other attractions.
The island is located off the northwest coast of Wales and, at around 720 square kilometres (278 square miles), is one of Britain’s largest islands with a population of some 70,000. It is connected to Wales across the Menai Strait by the original Thomas Telford designed suspension bridge, which opened in 1826 and carries the A50. The later Britannia Bridge, which carries the railway line and the A55, was rebuilt after fire and reopened in 1972.
Holyhead, a busy ferry port situated on the west coast, is the largest town on the island. It has a wide range of shops, a maritime museum, the award winning Ucheldre Arts Centre and a country park. St Cybi’s Church, which overlooks the harbour, is noted for its stone carvings and stained glass windows; the chancel dates from the 13th century and the rest of the church from the 15th and 16th centuries.
The historic town of Beaumaris on the Menai Strait has two nearby golf courses and is a major yachting centre. It is best known for its 13th century castle which is now a World Heritage Site. The town also has a famous courthouse dating from 1614 and a once grim gaol dating from 1829 has been converted into a museum. Visitors can take a cruise to Puffin Island where there are many bird species; grey seals are often seen and there are occasional sightings of bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoises.
Located on the northeast corner of the island, Amlwych is the former exporting port for the open-cast copper mine at Parys Mountain. The mine, once the largest in the world, is free to enter.
A popular attraction, the small tidal Llanddwyn Island, lies off the west coast and is part of the National Nature Reserve of Newborough Warren. Except at the highest tides, it can be reached on foot and the neighbouring beach, one of the island’s finest, has blue flag status. Landdwyn, which provides exceptional views of Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula, also has an interesting lighthouse marking the western entrance to the Menai Strait.
In addition to that at Llanddwyn, Anglesey has numerous beaches and these include Rhosneigr which is great for water sports enthusiasts, Red Wharf Bay, Moelfre, Llandona, Penmon, Benllech, Traeth Lligwy, Borth Wen and Porth Trecastell/Cable Bay.
Situated on the bank of the Menai Strait at Brynsiencyn, the Anglesey Sea Zoo is the largest marine aquarium in Wales and has more than 150 different species. You can enter a shipwreck containing conger eels, walk the shark pool grids and visit the newly built No Bone Zone with octopuses. There are many other attractions including an adventure playground and you can even fish for your own Japanese pearl and have it set in a jewellery setting of your choice while you wait.
Close to the Menai bridge is the Butterfly Palace (Pili Palas), where hundreds of butterflies from all over the world can be seen in a tropical environment. There is also a reptile house, lizard land, the tropical home of tarantulas, scorpions, fire bellied toads and hissing cockroaches and a pets corner.
Among the more unusual attractions of Anglesey is the small tidal island of Cribinau, off the southwest coast, with its 13th century St Cwyfan’s church which is popular for weddings and christenings. It can be reached on foot at low tide. Also in the southwest of the island is the village of Malltreath, a centre for bird life and home of the wildlife artist Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-1979).
The island has a number of prehistoric sites, including the Din Ligwy hut circle and the Ligwy burial chamber; but perhaps the best known is Bryn Celli Ddu. This is close to Menai Bridge and the villages of Llanddaniel and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the village with the longest official place name in the United Kingdom. The site dates from around 3,000 BC; it was plundered in 1699, archaeologically excavated and restored in the period 1927-31 and has a burial chamber which can be entered.
Anglesey was once known as the ‘Granary of Wales’ and had some 100 watermills and windmills. Llynnon Mill at Llanddeusant is still working and worth a visit; it was renovated in 1986.
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