About Anglesey
Beaches | Countryside & Towns | Heritage & Culture
Activities & Family Fun | Pubs & Restaurants

A warm welcome awaits those who have chosen to holiday in Anglesey and North Wales. The people of Wales are renowned for their friendliness, vitality, generosity of spirit and forward looking nature, expressed in the traditional greeting of ‘Croeso’ meaning Welcome.

The pride of the Welsh is legendary, but a country that is rich in heritage, tradition, and abounded with beautiful landscapes, places to visit and possessing one of the worlds oldest languages illustrates just why the Welsh people have much to be proud about. It has been said that Anglesey is an Island sanctuary of tranquility where one can escape the trappings of modern life to re discover the joys of solitude and contemplation, yet be within easy reach of civilization, allowing The Isle of Anglesey to show you truly the best of both worlds.

‘Mom Mam Cymru’ Welsh for ‘Anglesey Mother of Wales’ is an Island lying just off the north coast of mainland Wales separated by the Menai Straits, a long arm of sea only 300 yards wide, geologically Anglesey is part of the coastal plain that stretches north and west from the impressively mountainous backdrop of Snowdonia.

The access on to Anglesey is a splendid bridge adventure in its self, where the choice of two monumental bridges awaits. Displaying a majestic presence the Menai suspension Bridge built by Thomas Telford in 1826 is one of the first major bridges of its kind to be built in the world, the Britannia Bridge built by Robert Stephenson in 1850 is of cantilever design and is the most used of the two. Climatically, Anglesey has much to be envious of because it is one of the driest and mildest parts of North Wales, frequently enjoying many hours of sunshine whilst neighboring areas on mainland Wales are shrouded in mist and rain.

Beaches:
Anglesey offers over 125 miles of spectacular, wild and un-spoilt coastline much of which is classified as Heritage coastline and is the largest and one of the most important Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Great Britain. The beaches on Anglesey are well managed and have excellent standards of cleanliness, safety and water quality, which is why Anglesey holds seaside awards for 26 beaches, including prestigious European Blue Flag Awards for 5 beaches. Whether you are seeking sun drenched sand for a refreshing swim or a picnic, a bracing cliff top walk on Anglesey’s coastal path, leisurely bird watching or exhilarating water sports action, such as surfing, Anglesey has the beach for you. Llanddwyn and Red Wharf Bay offer the beach lover vast sweeping sandy beaches, Porth Swtan or Moelfre exude intimate rocky coves and rock pools waiting to be explored whilst nearby Rhosneigr can offer the water sport enthusiast all the action.

Shops and cafes are well placed at coastal villages such as Benllech and Camaes. If a quiet drive is sort then Anglesey’s coast reveals all sorts of treasures like Cable Bay with its impressive Stone Age burial chamber, Barclodial y Gawres, perched on the rocks above the tiny inlet. You could even discover a church in the sea at Porth Cwyfan!

Countryside and Towns:
Anglesey can offer an impressive variety of countryside landscapes notable for its blend of geology, culture, flora and fauna which can all be easily accessed year round by an extensive network of paths, cycle ways and tracks. One will soon realise that a visit to Anglesey’s countryside is like stepping back in time, with quiet roads linking quaint villages, hamlets and picture post-card coastal villages, many of which have been untouched by time. Menai Bridge, or Porthaethwy (in welsh), is the traditional gateway to the Island and lies in the shadow of Thomas Telford’s world famous suspension bridge. Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch with one of the longest names for a town in the world is a very popular visitor destination as is Holyhead, gateway to another country, Ireland.

Heritage and Culture:
The Isle of Anglesey has played a major role in Welsh history, an Island of Druids, Vikings, Celts and Romans rich in heritage and cultural influence that should not be passed by. The Island has constantly attracted invaders intent on settling in this fertile outpost of Wales. Even the name Anglesey has been derived from the Norse language, a legacy of Viking influence. Anglesey has a vast plethora of archaeological relics of the prehistoric period such as the ‘Neolithic’ burial chambers sited at Bryn Celli Ddu and Barclodiad y Gawres with their impressive decorated stones. One can also see magnificent remains of ‘Celtic villages’ located at Din Lligwy near Moelfre and Ty Mawr at South Stack. In the Dark Ages, Anglesey was the home to the leaders of the kingdom of Gwynedd, proved by a recently discovered royal court at Llys Rhosyr near Newborough. A beautiful Romanesque medieval monastry, the Islands most complete, can be seen at Penmon. As the age of the princes drew to an end King Edward 1st commissioned the building of one of the most splendid 13th century
Castles to be seen in Britain, at Beaumaris, a world heritage site and town that can also boast a Victorian Gaol and Courthouse.

For a great educational day out one can visit the Maritime Museum in Holyhead or the Sea watch Center at Moelfre, which both recall the close connection of the Island of Anglesey with the sea and give account to the many ship wrecks located around the coastline. Once the greatest copper mine in the world, Parys Mountain with its lunar landscapes, Llanlleiana and Porth Wen once thriving china clay and brick works are unforgettable and should all be given a visit.

The Isle of Anglesey has a strong musical influence personified by the many choirs on the Island. One of the best known is called Cor y Treath that welcomes visitors to listen in on rehearsals. Regular music and drama performances also take place at Oriel Ynys Mon, Llangefni, Canolfan Ucheldre, Holyhead, Theatr Fach, and Beaumaris Leisure Center. Events such as the Eisteddfodau, Nosweithiau Llawen, carnivals, agricultural shows and sheepdog trials are well worth watching out for, as well as performances by both local and national bands making appearances in local pubs and inns. A number of activity sessions and exhibitions such as story hours, face painting, art exhibitions and drama workshops also take place throughout the year.

There are to many sites of great interest and events happening on Anglesey to list here so please ask us for further details or see our links to other websites for up to date information on performance and event times in order to make your stay as fulfilling as possible.

Activities and Family Fun:
One has seen that Anglesey has many varied terrains making it an ideal location for many differing activities such as surfing, kite surfing, scuba diving, canoeing, wind surfing, walking, rock climbing, mountaineering, horse riding and inland or sea fishing to name but a few. One can also find a skateboarding park, car racing track, eight golf courses to choose from, the Island even boasts four leisure centers for an opportunity to plan a varied activity programme of your choice come rain or shine.

Anglesey has been a family favourite for many years. Children always love the freedom of a beach but beyond the sand castles and rock pools the Island has plenty more to offer. Whatever your age, whatever the weather, there is always plenty to enjoy together; from a castle to a sea zoo; from the quiet world of butterflies to a thrilling boat trip out to sea – visit a working windmill at Llynnon or watermill at Melin Howell, a dark Victorian prison, a lighthouse, museum of childhood memory, furry and feathered animals at Foel Farm Park, or model village, the choice is yours, the choice is endless and all waiting to be discovered on the Isle of Anglesey.

Pubs, Restaurants and Inns:
It is said that one of the greatest pleasures of any holiday is eating out, whether it be while watching a sunset on a summers evening or sat around a cosy roaring fire on a winters day. The Island is blessed with many excellent restaurants, pubs and inns where you can indulge your taste buds savoring quality local produce incorporated into both new and old recipes, such as Welsh lamb, pedigree Welsh black beef or Lob scows a stew where vegetables and beef are slow cooked, a favourite with the Island’s local people. Since you are never far from the sea on Anglesey you will always find fresh seafood of the highest quality on the menu.

Don’t miss the Island’s Oyster Festival if you happen to be on the Island in October, this well established festival mixes seafood with an eclectic mix of entertainment at a number of venues. Freshwater fish such as rainbow and brown trout are also caught on the Island and prepared and served in mouthwatering fashion. Pubs and Inns will serve a variety of ales and fine wines to suit the pallet, where one may even be able to sample a local wine produced by the only vineyard on Anglesey. Those of you with a sweeter tooth could plan a visit to one of many tea shops and sample Local ‘Bara Brith’ a tea bread filled with fruits or ‘Welshcakes’, a delcious sweet, small round cake ideal with a pot of tea to help to give a welcome break and well earned rest from activities endured!