We've decided on NW Wales this year and some sites are on Anglesey, one in particular near Holyhead. I've not stayed there since I was a kid, not sure if it's going to be a pain in the bum. What's there to do nearby? Would we be forever driving to get to beaches or walks etc? It might be easier if you're near the A55 I suppose.
Anglesey Sea life centre is great. Beaumaris castle is a nice cycle destination (good ice cream shop in Beaumaris). The Anglesey Arms pub down by Caernarfon castle has some good food. There's also Portmerion which is a nice few hours wander. Also Centre for alternative technology at Machynlleth on your way home.
Anglesey isn't that big an island really either. You won't be driving for too long.
Went kayaking there earlier this year. Some quite nice beaches on the other side of Holy Island to launch from and spend a couple of hours on. Not sure they would be great for any length of time though and it is a long old drive across Anglesey to get anywhere else if there is any traffic.
Mm yeah it's the driving across the island that might be a ball-ache. My favoured option atm is somewhere on the northern coast of the Lleyn, so places on Anglesey are also accessible but so are other places.
Holyhead itself isn't great, it's a working port town with a lack of money, always appears run down. However, Treaddur Bay on the other side is a nice little village with beach. The South Stack RSPB / lighthouse is a nice site as long as you enjoy steps and sea views. The whole coastline is a waymarked National Trail now (Wales Coastal Path) with some very nice bits on Anglesey that rival Pemobrkeshire, Devon or Cornwall. The north coast (about 25-30 minute's drive) has industrial heritage and sandy beaches in sea coves surrounded by cliff walks, akin to the nice bits of Devon and Cornwall but not as big cliffs - google Porth Wen and Porth Llanlliana and the copper heritage. The north-west coast is very quiet and full of little coves, the west coast to the south of Holyhead peninsula is characterised by lovely beaches (Rhosneigr) and Valley RAF base and the Angelsey Valley race track! Llanddwyn Island and beach in the corner by Newborough/Newbirch forest is lovely, red squirrels in the woodland and tidal walk out to derelict religious and lifeboat stuff. The car park is about 40-45 minutes drive. It's a drive back down the A55 to the Menai Straits places of interest like Beaumaris (castle, nice small street of shops/ cafes) and Penmon point and boat trips (wildlife and the straits tide).
Personally I would avoid the A55 and Holyhead and find a site near a beach or harbour town, assuming you want to be able to walk to a pub on an evening? Any of Rhosneigr, Trearddur Bay, Cemaes Bay, Amlwch, Moelfre/Lligwy, Benllech, Beaumaris.
You won't be driving far TBH to find some nice beaches. Loads of nice restaurant's too, but be aware, Treaddur can be very busy, as Red Wharf Bay, so book if you plan on eating out.
assuming you want to be able to walk to a pub on an evening?
We don't really do that, we usually go out for the day.
Basically, what konagirl said.
Walks around the coastal path could easily fill a week, personal favourites are the stretch from Newborough to Rhosneigr and the west coast north from Moelfre, just magical.
Parys Mountain for the copper mines and lunch in the Quays Cafe at Amlwch.
Holyhead mountain is lovely for a stroll, drive over to Llanberis and walk through the slate mines, book the very entertaining zip wire at Bethesda etc.......
I've been visiting the area regularly for most of my life and I'm still finding new things to do.
Sooo many nice walks, cafes and places to visit depending on your specific interests, it would be impossible to list them all.
Drop me a line if you want details.
Cemaes Bay - build dams on the beach for the stream.
Church bay for surfing.
There is a bird nature reserve close by that's ace for shrimping.
Spent years going there as a kid, it's ace.
Not sure yet if it's worth taking a surfboard...
Train/car/bike to Blaenau Ffestiniog, do the slate mines, climb Stwlan Dam private road and behold the wonderful view at the top.
Hi Moly,
I lived on Anglesey for a few years until 2018. lots of great stuff to do.
Cemaes bay is a lovely beach and there are a few coastal walks around the area.
Holyhead Mountain and Lighthouse is worth a look. Avoid Holyhead itself as its a poo hole. So is Llangefni.
Beaumaris is worth a look around, the castle is lovely.
lots of activities to do. Coasteering is brilliant https://www.angleseyoutdoors.com/
Newborough beach is a nice visit.
Treardur Bay is great for SUP'ing and and ice cream.
I was stationed at RAF valley for a few years, (when Ty Croes was running). Kids love to watch the aircraft, the RAF fly most good days. Ty Croes is now the home of the Anglesey Motor circuit, Top gear and 5th gear both film there.
Just remember it takes about 45 minutes to get from the mainland (Bangor) to Holyhead on the dual Carriageway.
Diolch.
I grew up there, you won't be driving much, it's only 25minutes end to end on the main road! Having said that I remember it being a big deal going to the north of the island on a school trip 🤣.
There's some surfing, but I wouldn't have guessed it was very consistent because the nice beaches face either the mainland or the Llyn Peninsula.
Anglesey Sea life centre is great. Beaumaris castle is a nice cycle destination (good ice cream shop in Beaumaris). The Anglesey Arms pub down by Caernarfon castle has some good food. There’s also Portmerion which is a nice few hours wander. Also Centre for alternative technology at Machynlleth on your way home.
All good enough suggestions but all sum up the problems with north Wales - they are all small, over subscribed destinations. The Sea Life Centre gets absolutely rammed when it rains - queues of people 100s of metres across the car park and lines of cars trying to negotiate the narrow lanes to get there. Beaumaris Castle is nice - as are Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, etc, but as much as I like a castle, they get a little samey after the third or fourth. But Beaumaris is a nice enough town.
I’m amazed that anyone can spend hours in Portmeirion. We were there for a couple of hours, including a (disappointing) coffee, a walk around the headland, and a bit of mooching around taking photos to justify the expense. It’s absolutely a pretty facade with nothing to do other than point and say ‘it’s pretty’ and is only about 200m long. In fact, the car park is bigger than the place itself. Thinking about it though, it’s perfect for anyone who lives on social media.
Bear in mind that one of the most famous tourist attractions is Beddgelert. A tiny village with inadequate parking for the visitor numbers, where people walk across some fields to look at the grave of an imaginary dog. This sums up how much there is to do in North Wales. 😂
(To be positive for a sec - we enjoyed a day out with a picnic and watching the red squirrels at Plas Newydd; the walk out to Porth Dinllaen; visiting some of the burial chambers on Anglesey; the trampolines at Zipworld; and the barn owl which hunted around our cottage every night.)
Anybody mentioned Stone Science yet? A fossil and geology museum of the very old school, proper throwback, basically a collector showing his stuff in the barns next to his house.
Rhosneigr seems to be trying to position itself as Abersoch 2.0 with a move to the white Range Rover set, but it hasn't got there yet, and with beaches facing three directions and RAF jets to look at too, why not. At least it means a range of places to eat and drink and a bit more shopping than your average Welsh coast place. If you're fairly close to the A55 you've got the main sites Conwy to Caernarfon within a quick drive for off island stuff.
All good enough suggestions but all sum up the problems with north Wales – they are all small, over subscribed destinations.
We go for beaches, mountains and ice cream. If it rains we chill out in our caravan looking at the view we hope to have...
We go for beaches, mountains and ice cream. If it rains we chill out in our caravan looking at the view we hope to have…
You asked for suggestions for things to do in Anglesey….
I’ve sent you a direct message!
The Rivals/Yr Eifl are a good day out (just S of Trefor on the mainland).
They look like a fork form the N hence the name in Welsh. There's a huge Iron Age hill fort on Tre'r Ceiri
Thanks wheelsonfire1 and everyone. I think at this stage where we end up will depend on availability!
Also, the Wavecrest cafe in Church Bay does amazing scones.
The NW of the Anglesey is great for walking and cycling. Proper grass up the middle of the road stuff on many lanes.
The walk from Cemlyn Bay to Carmel Head to Church Bay and back across the fields is great.
Lots of neolithic sites locally.
Porth Wen brickworks is weirdly nice, like Porthgain in Pembrokeshire but even quieter. Coastal walking is generally fab.
The working windmill at Melin Llynon has a nice cafe and sells lovely local ice cream. If you're there mid August you can do the Môn sportive.
Only ever really been to Holy Island as it has a reputation for being dry while the rest of Snowdonia is soaking.
You'll never be bored on South Stack if you climb HVS and Rhoscolyn is quiet and wild with an unexpected and fabulous diff climb that would be an amazing adventure with kids. There used to be a really basic campsite there (1 toilet and 1 tap) and a good pub.
Beyond that no idea but have booked a campsite on the East of the Island for a week so thanks for the ask OP and all the replies.
NB when we get there we're not really planning to leave the island as there is a lifetime of holidays in N. Wales but never yet been to Anglesey save to climb.
Puffins.
If going to South Stack, be aware that there are some road closures due to cable laying for the tidal power scheme:
https://www.morlaisenergy.com/projectupdates/road-closure-map-july-2022/
