Anglesey

Anglesey, just off the coast of northwestern Wales, is the largest island off southern Great Britain at 276 sq mi (714 km²). Well worth a stop when travelling between the UK and Ireland, and in its own right, Ynys Môn has a dramatic coastline, historical sights, and is a stronghold for the Welsh language.

Towns and villages

53°17′46″N 4°21′51″W

Map of Anglesey

Towns

53.256-4.3141 Llangefni — county town
53.406-4.3412 Amlwch — the most northerly town in Wales
53.309-4.6333 Holyhead (Caergybi) — port town with frequent ferries to Dublin
53.23-4.164 Menai Bridge (Porthaethwy) — town near the suspension bridge connecting Anglesey to the mainland

Villages

53.188-4.4635 Aberffraw (Aberffro) — a village on the Anglesey Coastal Path that ha the beach and dunes at Aberffraw bay
53.3216-4.22576 Benllech — a popular seaside resort with sandy beach
53.179-4.2737 Brynsiencyn — home of the Anglesey Sea Zoo
53.293-4.1398 Llanddona — has a long sandy beach with lots of nearby camping and caravan sites
53.3534-4.5379 Llanfaethlu — home to the only surviving working windmill on the island
53.223-4.210 Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyllllantysiliogogogoch (Llanfairpwllgwyngyll for short) — village with the second-longest name in the world after a place in New Zealand
53.35351-4.235611 Moelfre — close to a collection of ancient sites, mostly Iron Age
53.16479-4.35912 Newborough (Niwbwrch) — town closest to Llanddwyn Island
53.25-4.613 Rhoscolyn — the most southerly settlement on the island
53.229154-4.52000614 Rhosneigr — popular with visitors for its sandy beaches on the Anglesey coast, local bird life and idyllic countryside views
53.28401-4.5620315 Valley (Y Dyffryn) —

Other destinations

53.373716-4.5564081 Church Bay (Porth Swtan)
53.142-4.4082 Llanddwyn Island (Ynys Llanddwyn)
53.305833-4.0566673 Penmon
53.2965-4.207114 Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Coch)
53.306806-4.698755 South Stack (Ynys Lawd)
53.283-4.6176 Trearddur Bay (Bae Trearddur)

Understand

The Anglesey Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has one of the most distinctive, attractive and varied landscapes in the British Isles. Anglesey was designated as an AONB in 1966 in order to protect the aesthetic appeal and variety of the island's coastal landscape and habitats from inappropriate development. The AONB is predominantly a coastal designation, covering most of the island's 125-mile coastline (including Llanddwyn), it contains rocky headlands, golden beaches, dunes, heaths and fine green countryside. Some of the beaches are recognised as being amongst the best in Great Britain and Europe. The AONB supports a wealth of wildlife such as choughs, grey seals, red squirrels, sea lavender and silver-studded blue butterflies. There are also many areas protected for their nature conservation value, such as Newborough Warren National Nature Reserve, and several Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Anglesey also hosts a large number of holiday homes, which is controversial with year-round residents.

Visitor information

Visit Anglesey website

Get in

By plane

There are no scheduled flights to Anglesey Airport (VLY^IATA). However, Manchester Airport (MAN^IATA) and Liverpool Airport (LPL^IATA) are less than two hours drive from Anglesey.

By train

Holyhead's status as an international ferry terminal means it is served by direct trains to Chester and London.

By car

The main bridge crossing from mainland Wales is via the A55 with a smaller road crossing on the old A5 at Menai Bridge.

By bus

National Express and Arriva from across the UK to Holyhead

By boat

Ferry port at Holyhead with a regular service from Dublin and Dun Laoghaire

Get around

By car

The easiest way to get around the island. The A55 cuts straight across the island parallel to the old A5 route, providing a quick route to Holyhead ferry port. To see the island though, the A5025 taking you north round the island and the A4080 taking you south round the island are a better options.

Hertz have car hire services in Hollyhead and Valley airport

By bus

There are numerous bus services between the towns and villages on the island, with timetables on the county council's web site

By foot

Anglesey Coastal Path. Fairly easy 130-mile (200-km) walking trail around this island off the northwest corner of Wales, with diverse coastal scenery which is 95% within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and 20 attractive villages en route.

See

Historical buildings

Beaumaris has a number of attractions, the most obvious one being the large ruins of Beaumaris Castle. Also open to the public is a 17th-century courthouse and well worth a visit the 19th-century gaol.
Porthwen Brickworks Built in the Victorian times, was a brick works on the beach Porth Wen located near Cemaes.
Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll
Lighthouses: Skerries Lighthouse, The Skerries (reached via Holyhead); South Stack; Trwyn Du Penmon; Point Lynas Amlwch, Llanddwyn Island Newborough
St Cwyfan, church in the sea near Aberffraw
Penmon Priory and dovecote, Penmon

Historical sites

Holyhead Mountain Hut Circles. Site of village dating back to Middle Stone Age, South Stack
Din Lligwy, Neolithic, Roman and Medieval, near Moelfre

Industrial heritage

Menai Suspension Bridge. Designed by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826, Menai Bridge
Llynon Windmill, Llanddeusant near Llanfaethlu
Copper Kingdom Centre Amlwch

Museums and galleries

Oriel Ynys Môn in Llangefni

Natural history

Anglesey Sea Zoo near Brynsiencyn
Pili Palas Butterfly Palace near Menai Bridge
South Stack RSPB reserve
Valley Wetlands RSPB reserve

Do

Beaches

Llanddona, Benllech, Church Bay, Porth Dafarch, Trearddur Bay and Llanddwyn (Newborough) are all designated Blue Flag^{[dead link]} beaches.

Beaches that have received Green coast and Seaside awards are: Aberffraw; Borth Wen, Silver Bay (Rhoscolyn); Porth Trwyn (Llanfaethlu); Porth Ty’n Tywyn, Cable Bay, Porth Nobla, Traeth Crigyll (Rhosneigr); Cemlyn Bay; St David's (Red Wharf Bay); Sandy Beach, Llanfwrog (near Llanfaethlu); Lligwy Beach, Dulas (near Moelfre).

Other top beaches: Cemaes (Amlwch); Traeth Bychan (Llangefni); Moelfre.

Hiking

The Anglesey section of the Wales Coast Path
Anglesey Walks, Valley LL65 3DN, info@angleseywildlifewalks.com. Discover the unique wonder of the Isle of Anglesey through beautiful guided walks.

Horse riding

There are a number of equestrian centres on the island offering riding lessons including the chance to ride along the beach. These include the Isle of Anglesey Riding Centre in Tal Y Foel near Brynsiencyn.

Photography

Cheryl Hamer Photography, Penmon, ☏ +44 7837 014534, hello@cherylhamer.com. M-Sa 9AM-8PM. Offers courses in (landscape) photography in the Anglesey and Snowdonia scenery. You can choose from small group courses or individual tuition. £99 for a full day.

Motor sport

Anglesey Circuit, west of Aberffraw hosts a number of car and bike racing events as well providing performance driving training courses.

Eat

Apart from the restaurants in the towns it is well worth hunting out the country pubs in the small villages.

Drink

Visit one of the pubs in the villages.

Sleep

As well as the hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation in the towns there is a good choice of self-catering cottages and caravans in the area. There are a number of specialist providers for Anglesey and the surrounding area, such as Menai Holiday Cottages and Wales Tourist online. Properties on Anglesey include those in the heart of the popular resorts of Trearddur Bay, Red Wharf Bay and Rhosneigr, as well as ones nestled in the countryside or located in picturesque fishing ports and historic towns.

Go next

Gwynedd in particular
- Caernarfon
- Snowdonia National Park

This region travel guide to Anglesey is a usable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.