Our Top Ten
South Stack Light House
Spectacular high cliffs and heath land seascapes. A RSPB Reserve and Lighthouse which we like to visit taking the 410 steps down and across a suspended footbridge to the island. Puffins, choughs, guillemots, razorbills can be seen on the cliffs either from the steps or from Elins Tower where there are binoculars and telescopes to use. Entrance/tour tickets from the cafe.
Nearby are the remains of an Iron Age settlement scattered along the hillside. From South Stack it is quite an easy walk (as opposed to the hike from the Breakwater Park) to the top of Holyhead Mountain. Great views from the summit across to Church Bay, the whole of Anglesey and Snowdonia beyond.
Dwyran Stepping Stones
We only discovered these huge limestone block stepping stones a few years ago. Heading from Newborough to Dwyran, a lane on the right takes you down to The Giant’s Stepping Stones; more properly known as the Rhuddgaer Stepping Stones. The stones span the tidal Afon Braint and are now part of the Anglesey Coastal Path.
The stones are quite big and some of them are a fair stride apart and sometimes quite slippery from being covered at high tide. If you are able to cross them, you can carry on along the path to Dwyran. We’ve been unable to discover much about them but well worth a look and a beautiful spot.
Mynydd y Garn
A pleasant 1 hours walk with spectacular views, from the 170m high summit, along the coast, the northwest of Anglesey, Isle of Man and on occasions Ireland. Walk from the house along the lanes or drive and park in a little passing place at the bottom of the mountain.
Directions.
Turn left from Pen y Graig, take the narrow lane straight uphill, with the church on your left. Bare left at 1st T-junction, bare right at 2nd T-junction, carry on until you pass the entrance to white cottage (Aelwyd Uchaf Mon) on right. Go through the kissing gate next to gate on right and up and across the field (baring left) to kissing gate. Take the path and steps on the right to the top of Mynydd y Garn. There is a bench half way up to rest and admire the view.
Swimming in Church Bay
A pleasure anyone hardy enough to dip their toe in the sea enjoys. Church Bay is a beautiful rural and unspoilt sand and pebble beach edged with rock pools. The beach is backed by cliffs and access is via a steep footpath.
Swimming, sailing, kayaking, body boarding, fishing and surfing are all popular activities here.
Afterwards you can warm up with a cup of tea and cream scone from the Wavecrest Cafe at the top of the slipway, treat yourself to a meal later at the Lobster Pot Restaurant or have a drink on the terrace enjoying the panoramic view at The Church Bay Inn.
Walks to Ynys y Fyddlyn
This is one of our favourite walks and as a bonus – no need for the car. Following the coastal path to the right of the slipway at the beach walking as far as the split island of Ynys y Fydlyn. You can walk onto the half nearest to the shore at low tide. Walk past the island and look back to see the natural sea arch. A classic cliff top walk through fine open scenery in exposed positions followed by quiet lanes and grassy farmland footpaths. Great views from Holyhead to the Skerries (Ynysoedd y Moelrhoniaid) with plenty of seagoing traffic and sea birds to watch. Some of the cliff edges are very exposed, care must be taken at times. Passing Carmel Head, aproximately 4 miles further along the coast is Cemlyn RSPB Reserve.
The Brickworks
Porth Wen is the site of an abandoned brickworks which was closed down at the beginning of the WWI. A short walk and scramble down a (sometimes overgrown) pathway reveals the remaining beehive brick kilns, chimneys and industrial buildings built for the production of silica bricks.
A wonderful spot to explore and worth taking a picnic to enjoy on the beach there. Look closely and you’ll find most of the pebbles are old worn bricks. See also the natural arch.
Care must be taken as the path and all the buildings are unstable. The site is situated on an abandoned dockside which is eroding into the sea.
You can extend your walk along the coastal path to Porth Llanlleiana and back along the lane to your car.
Beaumaris & Penmon
Beaumaris is an elegant town on the east coast of Anglesey, with (yes, some interesting independent shops!!) a castle built by Edward I, a pier – remember to take crabbing line, bait and bucket, Victorian Gaol – which is well worth a visit especially to see the prisoners treadmill, kayak hire, boat trips around Puffin Island, many good pubs, cafes and restaurants.
Four miles from the town is Penmon Priory dating from the C13th with Holy Well and dovecot. Origins of the site are traditionally associated with St Seiriol in the C6th who used to meet once a week with St Cybi from Holyhead in the centre of the island. This road (a toll is collected here) leads to Penmon Point, lighthouse, pebble beach and cafe.
Foraging
Foraging – whether for shells, fossils or something to eat is an interesting and varied pastime taking you outside and exploring in a responsible activity. Shells, sea glass and driftwood can be found on the beaches of Anglesey. Our favourite shell is the tiny and rare ‘cowrie’ shaped one known as trivia. We have a large bowl of them collected over the years and add the odd 10 or 20 when we’ve been hunting.
Fossils can be found, if you look carefully, on the north coast beaches of Traeth Bychan, Moelfre and Caim.
Autumn is the time for mushrooming and fruit picking. The country lanes and hedges are abundant with blackberries, damson (or bullace, a smaller damson) and sloes.
Geocaching
Geo-caching is an international sport based around the idea of a treasure hunt with high tech assistance. Participants use a Global Positioning Satellite receiver or other navigational techniques to find small interesting containers called “Geo-caches”, usually hidden in out-of-the-way places in scenic or interesting locations outdoors. These have been put in place by fellow enthusiasts, who then publish the details on the web so that other people can find them.
A geo-cache is usually a waterproof plastic box containing – at the very minimum – a log-book and pen for visitors to record their visit. Caches often also contain other small trinkets or gifts initially placed there by the creator of the cache.
Llanddwyn Island, Newborough Warren & Forest
Llanddwyn Island (Ynys Llanddwyn) is a magical place known for Saint Dwynwen, her feast day on 25th January, is the Welsh equivalent of Valentine’s Day.
Located at the far end of a pleasant beach near Newborough Warren. Its rolling dunes, large rock outcrops and mixture of historic buildings makes it an ideal place for an afternoon of exploration.
Llanddwyn is not quite an island. It remains attached to the mainland at all but the highest tides. There are excellent views of Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula. Look out for red squirrels as you drive through the forest to the car park, fascinating rock formations formed by pillow lava in the rocky outcrop at the entrance to the island, lighthouse (where ‘First Light’ with Demi Moore was filmed) cottage/museum and church remains.
