With over 120 miles of coastline, the island of Anglesey is a popular destination for people heading to North Wales. Beautiful sandy beaches and coves line the east and west coast of the island, with rugged cliffs to the north and the Menai Strait to the south. Impressive lighthouses, medieval castles and other-worldly copper mines are just some of the best places to visit in Anglesey.
Anglesey, known in Welsh as Ynys Môn, is a fabulous place to visit. With easy access from North West England along the A55 expressway, it’s a popular holiday destination and can get busy during the holiday season. With a laid back vibe, it’s easy to explore the island at a leisurely pace, with a myriad of things to do. There are two road crossings onto the island – the historic Menai Bridge and the newer Britannia Bridge – the A55 crossing providing a direct link with the port of Holyhead.
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THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN ANGLESEY
WANDER AROUND THE TOWN OF BEAUMARIS
First on the list of places to visit in Anglesey is the attractive town of Beaumaris – a picturesque destination with views across the Menai Strait to the Carneddau mountains and beyond to Eryri (Snowdonia). The historic seaside town is charming and a great base to explore Anglesey. The coastal setting offers the chance for beautiful walks along the seafront and pier, where boat trips can be taken to explore the surrounding coastline and nearby Puffin Island.
Beaumaris’ stand out feature is its dominating caste, standing proudly on the edge of town. Built in the 13th century by Edward I as part of his plan for an iron ring of castles in North Wales (alongside Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech), Beaumaris Castle was never actually completed. The castle is open to visitors, operated by CADW, and it’s well worth taking a self guided tour of the grounds and corridors. The high level walkways around the castle provide fantastic views across to the mainland.
Beaumaris has a number of hotels, and the town is packed full of great restaurants, bars and cafes. The historic streets are also full of independent shops and boutiques, with some charming products available, many of them locally produced.
TOP TIP | Feeling peckish? Grab a delicious lunch at MIDLAND TAPAS on Castle Street.
VISIT PENMON POINT FOR LIGHTHOUSE VIEWS
Situated at the south eastern end of Anglesey, Penmon Point is a fabulous ‘must-see’ spot on the island and can be accessed via a toll road, the price currently being £3.50 for cars (cash only). A wild pebble beach with views across to Puffin Island and the North Wales coast, the main feature of Penmon Point is the striking Trwyn Du Lighthouse which sits on an outcrop just off the beach. Completed in 1838, the current lighthouse is 29 metres high with a black and white striped design. For visitors to Penmon Point, the Pilot House Cafe offers a great selection of hot and cold food, drinks and cakes and a very friendly welcome.
TOP TIP | At low tide, you can walk along a rocky footpath to the base of the lighthouse
EXPLORE THE BEACHES OF THE EAST COAST
A small village and large bay on the east coast of Anglesey, Red Wharf Bay is a great destination as a lunch stop on your tour of Anglesey. It’s also a fantastic spot for nature lovers with an abundance of wildlife. Choose The Boat House, a cosy bar and bistro which overlooks the bay or The Ship Inn a short walk away.
Further north from Red Wharf Bay, a number of beaches are worthwhile stopping points along the east coast. From the golden sands of the beach resort of Benllech, to the wilder Traeth Lligwy further north, there’s something to suit everyone. The coastal village of Moelfre, whilst only having a small pebbled cove, is a pretty village with a wonderful cafe called ANN’S PANTRY. A popular cafe with a great menu and cute interior, it’s another great contender for lunch places to visit in Anglesey.
TAKE A WALK AROUND THE OTHER-WORLDLY PARYS MOUNTAIN
Heading inland, one of the biggest surprises while exploring Anglesey was to enter the other-worldly landscape of Parys Mountain. An ancient copper mine dating back to the Bronze Age, with large-scale mining taking place from the 18th century.
The days of mining are long gone, but there are now a network of walking trails that meander around the site, and circling the massive Great Opencast, a deep excavation in the quarry created by the miners using only picks, shovels and gunpowder. There are a number of viewpoints looking across the Opencast. The impressive site is ablaze with colours – browns, reds, pinks and oranges create a spectacular palette that looks like another planet.
There are sections of the walking trails around Parys Mountain where there are no views outside of the quarry, making it an even more immersive experience. The higher points of the quarry include the ruins of an old windmill which can still be accessed, providing some historical information and maps showing the mine tunnels deep below.
TOP TIP | Head into nearby Amlwch to visit COPPER KINGDOM, an attraction reliving the history of the copper mining heritage of the area.
EAT MONUTS NEXT TO A WINDMILL AT MELIN LLYNON
MELIN LLYNON is a fantastic tourist attraction, located inland to the north west of Anglesey. Featuring a historically reconstructed windmill dating back to the 1770’s, a project is currently underway to repair the sails. The goal is to bring the windmill back to life, and be in a position to mill flour on site by current owner Richard Holt, a local man and renowned patisserie chef who moved back to Anglesey to take on the project.
The site has evolved over the past few years. Having housed a cafe featuring stunning patisserie pre-pandemic, the business adapted to create Melin Llynon Gin, and the popular Siocled (welsh for Chocolate). Richard Holt is something of a Welsh language TV celebrity, and his quirky Willy Wonka style branding for the chocolate business saw a further evolution in 2021 with the release of Melin Llynon’s staggeringly popular and delicious Mônuts.
Mônuts are donuts, lovingly made right here on Ynys Môn. And boy have they been popular. With daily queues and sell outs throughout the 2021 season, whilst things are not so crazy anymore, they still sell out regularly with people travelling far and wide to get hold of these sweet treats. There are seasonal specials for Easter, Halloween and Christmas so there’s always a good reason to go back.
TOP TIP | Check out for updates on Melin Llynon’s socials, as the popular patisserie events have made a return in 2023, outside of the main busy season. There’s a waiting list, but there are some last minute cancellations to look out for.
WALK DOWN 400 STEPS TO SOUTH STACK LIGHTHOUSE
Hopping across onto Holy Island and through Holyhead, we headed to the next of our top places to visit in Anglesey – South Stack Lighthouse. Built in 1809, the South Stack Lighthouse sits on a rocky outcrop on the north west tip of Anglesey. Located within the South Stack Cliffs Nature Reserve looked after by the RSPB, the area is teeming with coastal wildlife, and many species of sea bird can be seen on the cliffs around the area.
South Stack Lighthouse is normally open to visitors and access is via 400 steps down the cliffside, which offer fantastic views of the cliff faces and the waves crashing below. Keep an eye out for guillemots, razorbills and even puffins which nest in the area. Visitors can tour the engine room before having the opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse. It’s a truly stunning spot.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | Take a walk from South Stack to Holyhead Mountain for some great views across the island.
GET YOUR FEET IN THE SAND AT TREADDUR BAY AND RHOSCOLYN BEACH
Heading south from South Stack on Holy Island, there are a number of stunning beaches along the west coast of Anglesey. Treaddur Bay is a quaint seaside resort set within a gorgeous sheltered cove. We took an afternoon autumn stroll along the beach and walked to the water’s edge, imagining how beautiful it would be during the warmer summer months. Treaddur Bay has a number of cafes, bars and restaurants near the beach and ample parking facilities.
To the southern end of Holy Island, we took a detour down many narrow winding roads to reach the spectacular cove of Rhoscolyn Beach. Heading to the beach from the car park via a short path, the view of the cove opened up before us. And what a view. The curved cove with clear water and gently lapping waves looked idyllic, even on a late winter afternoon. The dramatic rocky coastline protecting the bay, along with the old lifeboat station reflecting in the waters created a perfect coastal scene. A definite return visit is on the cards for the summer months.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | Stop by the popular WHITE EAGLE pub in Rhoscolyn for a drink or some food.
SPEND TIME IN RHOSNEIGR AND EAT AT THE OYSTERCATHER
The west coast of Anglesey provides some of the best dining opportunities on the island. Whether you are looking for a quick bite to eat, or a fine dining experience, there is something to suit all tastes on the island. We stopped at The Oyster Catcher in Rhosneigr for a late lunch, and have since returned for dinner.
A modern two storey glazed building with the backdrop of the coastal sand dunes, THE OYSTER CATCHER offers a fantastic dining experience. There’s Will’s Bar downstairs, where you can grab a beer, cocktail or wine and dine from the bar menu, or you can choose to eat in the main restaurant upstairs. Their main menu has a range of dishes, with a heavy emphasis on seafood as you would expect. There’s also a daily specials menu of small plates – ideal for a quick and tasty lunch. Unsurprisingly I opted for fish and chips which were delicious.
Living on the coast, I was surprised to have never seen the restaurant’s namesake – the Oystercatcher bird. A common sight (and sound) on the island, the Oystercatcher is a black and white wading bird with a long orange bill and a distinct loud shrill call. With a diet of cockles and mussels, they can be seen on many of the beaches in Anglesey. I’ve seen them closer to home since too!
Having finished lunch, the mid afternoon winter sun was starting to hang low in the air, so we decided to burn off the calories with a stroll across the expanse of sand dunes to see the beach. Rhosneigr has two award winning beaches with long expanses of sand, backed by tall sand dunes. Perfect for winter walks.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | Spend some time in Rhosneigr, a small seaside village with some great drink spots including CAFE NOTOS for awesome coffee and lunches, or the STARVATION BAR, a great spot for drinks.
WATCH THE SUNSET AT PORTH TYN TYWYN BEACH
I’d been carefully watching the weather forecast during our visit, hoping for one of those dramatic winter sunsets. My plan was to head to Llanddwyn Island, but the sunset had other ideas. Racing from Rhosneigr beach, we headed south watching the orange glow getting brighter in the sky. We stumbled across a car park a couple of miles south of Rhosneigr and took our chances. What seemed like mountainous sand dunes obstructed our views from Broad Beach (Porth Tyn Tywyn), but reaching the top, we were presented with another spectacular expanse of golden sand, with the sun hanging just above the horizon. It was perfect.
We strolled along the beach and settled at a rocky outcrop, where we watched the sun sinking slowly behind the horizon. The waves gently crashed against the rocks, throwing sea spray into the fresh winter air. The sky was on fire – bright shades of orange, red and pink reflecting in the waves of the Irish Sea. Aside from a couple of dog walkers, it felt like we had this huge expanse of beautiful Anglesey to ourselves, and it was wonderful.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | Visit SAWNA BACH (Small Sauna) – a bespoke wood fired sauna located in the beach car park, for a unique sauna experience before taking a dip in the sea located across the dunes.
VISIT LLANDDWYN ISLAND FOR THE BEST SCENERY ON ANGLESEY
Arguably the most scenic spot, and one of the most popular places to visit in Anglesey is Llanddwyn Island. Located to the south west of Anglesey, Llanddwyn Island can be accessed by walking from Llanddwyn Beach. It’s an idyllic spot full of history, with gorgeous walking trails and two lighthouses situated at the far end of the island.
TAKE A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT LLANDDWYN ISLAND AND THE WALK FROM LLANDDWYN BEACH.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | After leaving Newborough Forest, take a ten minute drive to the ANGLESEY TRANSPORT MUSEUM that has a great little cafe for lunch.
TAKE THE KIDS TO ANGLESEY SEA ZOO
Back to the Menai Strait and the south of the island, one of the popular places to visit in Anglesey for families is ANGLESEY SEA ZOO. The sea zoo is a great day out and both enjoyable and educational, with more than 40 tanks displaying British marine wildlife. With a heavy focus on conservation (something I always look into prior to visiting animal attractions), Anglesey Sea Zoo runs captive breeding, release, conservation and education programmes. On top this, they also organise regular beach cleans and carry out litter surveys for the Marine Conservation Society.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | Visit HALEN MON next door, home of the fantastic Anglesey salt. They have a beautiful gift shop and offer tours of the facility with tastings. New for 2023 are seaweed baths in recycled barrels, which sounds like an interesting concept.
SEE THE FAMOUS SIGN AT LLANFAIRPWLL RAILWAY STATION
I have a confession to make. I’m a born and bred North Wales lad in my mid forties, and 2020 was the first time I have visited the railway station at Llanfairpwllgwyngychgogerychchwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. Unsurprisingly, the longest name place in Europe, the railway station attracts a lot of visitors to have their photos taken with the nameplate.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | Visit the nearby PLAS NEWYDD HOUSE AND GARDENS, a National Trust property on the banks of the Menai Strait.
VISIT THE PERFECT VIEWPOINT OF MENAI BRIDGE (AND VISIT THE TOWN)
With a full loop of the island done, the last of our places to visit in Anglesey is the town of Menai Bridge. On the shores of the Menai Strait, the vibrant town has a great collection of unique independent shops and a popular food scene with a great range of cafes and restaurants. The main focal point of the town though, is the dominating Menai Suspension Bridge which crosses the Strait. The bridge, built by Thomas Telford (who also created the Conwy Suspension Bridge), is the worlds first iron suspension bridge. Opened in 1826, the bridge has a span of almost 600 feet and stands almost 100 feet above the water.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CONWY AND THE CONWY SUSPENSION BRIDGE
The A5 road between Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge provides a fantastic viewpoint of the bridge with the backdrop of the Carneddau mountain range. For a closer view of the iconic structure, the Belgian Promenade in Menai Bridge offers a great vantage point, including a picturesque boat house on the shore. There’s also a pathway that runs directly under the bridge.
WHILE YOU’RE THERE | Visit the town of Menai Bridge, with its collection of boutique shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs. Take a RIBRIDE from the pier for a high speed thrill ride along the Menai Strait.
RELATED CONTENT
If spending more time on Anglesey take a look at some content below that may be of interest.
Take A BOAT TRIP TO PUFFIN ISLAND from Beaumaris to see the fabulous sea bird colonies.
Embark on some fantastic ADRENALINE ATTRACTIONS IN NORTH WALES including RibRide from Menai Bridge.
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It was good to read this as I’ve been camping on Anglesey at least once a year, sometimes seven or eight times in a season, for the last 25 years and look on it as my ‘second home’ . There are so many lovely places on the island it would be hard for me personally to choose any particular ‘best’ ones to visit so it’s nice to read someone else’s choices. One place I would say is definitely worth a visit is Parys Mountain on a sunny day – several walking trails around the mountain with a derelict (but partially refurbished to provide info about the mountain) windmill at the top, extensive views over much of the island and the different colours of the land are stunning. Also in late August the heather is in full bloom and covers much of the mountain in even more stunning colour. With a couple of lakes and several ponds it’s a photographer’s paradise – I’ve had lots of good shots from up there. If you’ve already been then maybe you could include it in a future post? – if not then I recommend a visit sometime 🙂
I haven’t been to Parys Mountain but it looks fascinating! I’ll add it to the list. Will likely be visiting again this year. Thanks Eunice.
I spent 3 wonderful yrs on Angelsea at a place called Ty-Croes. I really wished I could have there for the rest of my life. This was 66,67 and 1968. I had the enviable job as radio op. on the rocket tange safety launches out of Holyhead, bobbing around in that Irish sea for 6-8 hrs wasn’t for the faint hearted.
Thoroughly enjoyed your tour of Anglesey.
Thank you for taking time to share your experience.
Many thanks,
Julie
Thanks for the comment Julie, I’m glad you enjoyed reading it.
Sadly, our first ever visit to Anglesey turned into a ‘seen it, done it, won’t bother again’ experience. We were particularly disappointed in the Oyster Catcher restaurant,. Upon ordering the fish and chips and the fettucine from the main menu, I honestly thought they had made a mistake and given us children’s portions. I got one small fish, a few chips, a very small dish of mushy peas and some tartar sauce – at the huge price of £19! (I’ve never paid more than £13.95 for fish and chips in any restaurant before then!) The fish I got in Wales was twice the size at half the cost! Similarly, my wife’s fettuccine contained 3 shrimps and some fettucine in a sauce on a fairly small plate – ridiculously priced at £26! Had I had more nerve, I would have refused the meals and left. Total bill for the above plus an alcohol free bottle of lager with a dash of lemonade, a lemon and lime soft drink and one coffee was over £60! As for the rest of the island, I would suggest visiting Anglesey BEFORE the Isle of Wight, otherwise you will be disappointed!