Anglesey
is known as the mother of Wales, and many aspects of the heritage
of Wales are present on the Island. There are prehistoric sites to be
found throughout the Island from Llandanielfab in the South to Holyhead in the north and Lligwy in the north east. Fantastic burial chambers and
standing 
stones
some being four thousand years old, well worth a visit. The christian
heritage is also widely found throughout the Island in the many ancient
churches and monuments. But the jewel in the crown of Anglesey must be
its beautiful coastline. Mile after mile of sandy beaches, rocky headlands
concealing small coves and sandy bays, and dramatic windswept cliffs.
The whole is designated an area of "outstanding natural beauty."
Click the map for holidays in Anglesey or read on for more information
about this beautiful Island. The "tour" starts on the Menai
Strait and continues in a clockwise direction.
The
south east coast of the Island abuts the Menai Strait, the narrow stretch
of shallow tidal water about 14 miles (23 km) long that separates the
Island from the mainland. The towns of Beaumaris
and Menai Bridge sit
comfortably on the Strait next to their "raisons
d'être", Beaumaris Castle and the Menai Bridge. The Strait
is a site to behold, but the swirling tidal waters prohibit the use
of these south eastern shores for safe swimming and even when the tide
recedes great care must be taken to escape entrapment by the fast incoming
tides. But with marinas either in situ or planned (Beaumaris) it is
obviously a favourite playground for the yachting fraternity.
On turning the corner at Abermenai Point, at the western tip of the Strait,
the landscape of the south west coast of Anglesey, near to Newborough,
opens out into a wide expanse of golden sands and views of Snowdonia
to die for. Heading north up the west
coast , and there is parking in the Forestry Car Parks close to
the beach at Newborough Sands and 
you
can make the perfect holiday with a beach barbecue and a stroll round
Llanddywn Island. Llanddwyn
Island is worth a visit in itself, having
several beautiful coves, pleasant shingle and sandy beaches and superb
views of Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula. (It is not actually an Island
except at the highest of tides).
After Llanddwyn Island we continue north past Malltraeth
Bay again with beautiful sand dunes and golden beaches. A few miles further
north and we arrive at Aberfraw with one of Anglesey's favourite beaches
and another beautiful estuary, this time of the Afon Ffraw, with an ancient
hump-backed bridge that leads to the village square. A short coastal
walk leads to Porth Cwyfan, a small bay renowned as the location of
St Cwyfans Church, the Church in the Sea. The beach is made up of sand
and rocks. Masses of sea weeds and rock pools form an ideal beach for
exploring, and rock pooling. Heading north again we come to Rhosneigr
a pleasant seaside resort. Further north again and we come to Holy Island
with Trearddur Bay a small seaside holiday resort and the port of Holyhead nearby.
Bird fanciers flock to this island to view the bird
sanctuaries on the dramatic cliffs at North and South Stack. More
than 4,000 seabirds breed on the cliffs at South Stack each year and
this attracts the twitchers for their holiday break. You can watch live
TV pictures of the breeding seabirds at the Ellins Tower and Lighthouse
visitor centres run by the RSPB. During the breeding season you are
likely to see: puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, ravens and
choughs. Nearby Caravan Park on Holyhead, Anglesey
Continue "round the corner" at the top of the Island, head
east and you arrive at Cemaes Bay.
Cemaes Bay is the most northerly
village in Wales and is an Area of Outstanding Beauty, some of which
is owned by the National Trust. The village includes a natural, sheltered
harbour and two sandy beaches. Popular for family holidays the main beach
is particularly safe - sheltered and gently sloping with sand and rock
pools.
Another five miles and we reach the end of the rugged north coast of
Anglesey and the small town of Amlwch.
Amlwch grew with the development of copper mining on nearby Parys Mountain,
and was once the world's most productive Copper Mine. It is supposed
that copper was mined here in Roman times. But it was the 
late
C18th that the mountain became the site of the greatest copper mines
in the world with Amlwch becoming the Port from where the copper was
exported. Visitors can explore the industrial workings of Parys Mountain,
visit the local railway museum. or try fishing from the rocks and the
breakwater, or from one of the many Charter boats sailing from Amlwch
Port.
We near completion of our circumference of Anglesey when we reach the east
coast.
Stretching from Amlwch in the north to Puffin Island in the south, the
east coast offers sandy beaches at Dulas Bay, Benllech, and Red Wharf
Bay. At Lligwy there are remains of of a neolithic burial chamber with
a massive capstone, and nearby in the woodlands are the remains of a
late roman settlement. At Moelfre, a
small harbour village, you can visit the Sea Watch Centre and Life Boat
House and learn all about the brave seafaring traditions of this small
community.
Benllech is probably most well known for its beach and it is popular
as a holiday destination on Anglesey, 
particularly
for families. The beach is a good size and has an abundance of clean
yellow sand. The town has several hotels, a caravan site, plenty of
bed and breakfasts, and the St David's Park camp site and camping
holiday park. Leaving Benllech we soon arrive at the beach
at Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Goch). It is a wide sandy bay and an area
of outstanding natural beauty.
Just a few miles to the south and we find the historic Penmon
Priory and the Holy Well of St Seiriol.
From here it is just a few miles to Beaumaris on
the Menai Strait and back to the starting point of our quick tour of
the coast of Anglesey.
