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 dramatic sand dunes
abound in nearby Malltraeth Bay, and the beach is one of the best, if
not the best
in north Wales. There is parking in the Forestry Car Parks close to the
beaches 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).
Head north from Malltraeth Bay past Aberfraw and 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.
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.
