Anglesey Coastal Path
The First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan, has officially opened the 125-mile Anglesey Coastal Path. This will be great news for all nature lovers and those who love coastal path walks. What's great about the path is that it runs along the whole coastline and includes Holy Island in the west. While some may try to do the whole coast in one season, others may take a little longer. You choose what suits you best.
Click here to tell us your own storyI am looking forward to trying out a few of the coastal stretches which I still have not yet visited myself. So, for example, you could start on the Menai Straits close to Telford's Suspension Bridge and make your way south along the shoreline. To get here you'll need to walk down Cambria Road, past the Bridge Inn until you reach a small road running parallel to the Menai Straits. Along the shore are some intersting sites including Ynys Tyslio ("Ynys" means island), The Swellies and The Platters. Further along is St Mary's Church and Nelson's Statue. I have sailed in these waters and know how strong the tidal currents can be, especially if you're going in the wrong direction. So perhaps it's as well we are looking at coastal walking and not navigating these frothy, turbulent waters. Further along you can see the other main transport link onto the island, that is the Britannia Bridge. You may even have arrived on Anglesey over this bridge, which combines a road (A55 trunk) above the Holyhead to London Euston railway crossing on the lower level. See some of our videos here.
The north coast is very different to the Menai Straits in the East. Between Cemaes and Amlwch there is, for example, a very secluded cove called Porth Wen which still houses the remains of old brick kilns and chimneys. This small natural harbour was a hive of activity when silica bricks, produced from the quartzite in the nearby quarry, were exported by small coasters. Further along the coastline you would come to the old port of Amlwch. This is well worth a visit. Once regarded as one of the most important ports in Wales, the present harbour is a shadow of its past. Why was Amlwch port so important at one time? Well, in a word, "copper"! During the Industrial Revolution, Amlwch exported tonnes of copper and the harbour would have been packed with sail ships carrying the copper to other parts of the UK and overseas. The ore which was smelted on the quayside was mined at nearby Parys Mountain, a site originally found by the Romans.
See the Map of Anglesey
On the western side of Anglesey there are some great walks and spectacular sea views. While Holyhead is built on the historic port and harbour, there are nearby cliff and coastal sites of outstanding natural beauty. Take a look at some of our videos here.
South Stack Lighthouse is well worth a visit as is the nearby RSPB Observatory at Elin's Tower. The coastal path takes you across from Port Dafarch beach, past the old firing range and on to South Stack.Once at the top of the hill overlooking the lighthouse, you've got a choice. Either take the 400 or so steps down to the light (remember, you have to climb back too!) or climb up the path that takes you towards Holyhead Mountain and North Stack. On a clear day you can see the Isle of Man to the North and the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland to the West. Beautiful sea pinks, lavender, and bright yellow gorse add to the deep turquoise sea canvas to make it an unforgettable experience. The above are just three examples of points where you can join the 125-mile long Anglesey Coastal Path. It's a big stretch of coastline and you may not do it all in one visit. But I hope this gives you a taste of what you can expect.
Have A Great Story About Anglesey Coastal Path?
Do you have a great story about this? Share it with the world here!
What Other Visitors Have Said about the Coastal Path
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Dolphins In Holyhead Bay
Actually we were not on the Anglesey Coastal Path but out at sea.
We spend most weekends out off Holyhead weather permitting, in our boat around the ...
Ship to Shore near Church Bay
Not a story but a query ?
Whilst recently on the first leg of my walk around Anglesey, Holyhead - Church Bay, I passed a large ship lying on a low ...
Wildflower Walk Anglesey Coastal Path
Anglesey AONB Wildflower walk
Wednesday May 14th, 6pm
Join the Countryside and AONB sevice along with Nigel Brown for an evening stroll looking at ...
Minister Opens Anglesey Coastal Protection Scheme
Welsh Assembly Governemnt Environment Minister Jane Davidson AM has opened the coastal defence scheme at Trearddur Bay, a top seaside village on the west ...
Mourne Mountains View From South Stack
Above South Stack we saw the Mourne Mountains popping up above the horizon, silhouetted against a tangerine sky with tufts of grey cloud.
It ...
Cemaes Bay Lifeboat
The recently restored Cemaes Bay Lifeboat was officially dedicated at a well attended ceremony in Cemaes Harbour on Sunday.
Large crowds from ...
Mussel Men Win Appeal Court Battle
Mussel and Oyster Fishermen on the Menai Straits off Anglesey, North Wales have won their fight at the Appeal Court in London over a controversial proposal ...
Book Review Of Magic Little Island off Anglesey
You will see the magical little island of Ynys Gorad Goch when crossing the Menai Straits, the tidal waters between Anglesey and the North Wales mainland....
Friends of the Anglesey Coastal Path forthcoming walks
Saturday, January 10th 2009. Rhosneigr circular. 4 miles. A walk round Llyn Maelog to join the coastal path to Porth Trecastell.
Meet at 10.30 am ...
Bull Bay Memorial Plaque Mystery
We have had a caravan on Anglesey for thirty years, we come back nearly every weekend in the Summer.
I do get homesick for the place in the months when ...
Four Days to complete Island Coastal Path
Me and Steve are planning an expedition to a remote village in Nepal in March. We will be following up an earlier expedition where I established a first ...
Friends of the Anglesey Coastal Path Autumn Walks
Here are the Autumn 2008 events for Friends of the Anglesey Coastal Path. All are welcome.
Saturday October 11th 2008
Newborough Forest . 7-8 ...
Mighty Max Two Breaks Island Record
The fifteen year old record for sailing around Anglesey has been broken by Neil Thomas from Liverpool Yacht Club and an experienced crew aboard his 38 ...
Ramble Around Aberlleiniog Castle
If you wander off the Anglesey Coastal Path near Llangoed, on the beautiful eastern side of the island, you can pay a visit to Aberlleiniog Castle.
This ...
Island Dunes Lakes and Golf Links
On a cold, bright morning sixteen Friends of the Anglesey Coastal Path set off from near RAF Valley airfield and followed an inland route past Llyn Dinam ...
Friends of the Anglesey Coastal Path Summer Walks
Join us on the following days to explore the Anglesey coastline:
Saturday June 21st 2008. Church Bay to Carmel Head Circular. 8 miles.
A moderate/...
Friends of the Anglesey Coastal Path Spring /Summer Walks
Saturday April 19th 2008. Cymyran-Rhosneigr Circular. 8 miles. Meet at the end of the road between Llanfair-yn-Neubwll and Cymyran beach at 10.00 am. Grid ...
Arthur and the Witches
On Saturday 22nd March 2008, seventeen intrepid Friends of the Anglesey Coastal Path plus two small dogs set out from Llanddona beach carpark on a very ...
Walking Festival on Anglesey Coastal Path
Details of the Anglesey Walking Festival have just been announced, and there are plans to get up to 3,000 people to walk the coastal path for charity.
The ...
THE WITCHES OF LLANDDONA
People believed in the malevolent powers of witches right up to the 18th century and, probably beyond that as well.
Witches were so feared and hated ...
Return to Historic Coast from Coastal Path
Home

|