Our Pick Of Things To Do On Anglesey

 

There’s no need to jump aboard a boat to reach Anglesey’s best attractions. Ynys Môn, as the island is known in Welsh, has been easily accessible by suspension bridge ever since engineer Thomas Telford built one over the Menai Strait in 1826. 

That’s not to say you won’t want to take to the water during your trip, though. There's everything from swimming on Blue Flag beaches to whizzing across waves on seal-spotting rib rides to keep you busy while camping in Anglesey. And you could always extend your holiday by taking a ferry over to Ireland from Holyhead. 

But before you do any of that, check out our pick of the things to do on Anglesey – whether it’s spotting puffins, touring abandoned copper mines or lounging on hidden coves that takes your fancy.

Walk the Anglesey Coast Path

Got a couple of weeks spare? Tackle the 125-mile Anglesey coastal path, which circles the whole of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and passes by Roman remains, cliffside hills and sandy beaches. But if you only have a day, choose one of 10 circular strolls. You’ll also find a handful of sea-skimming options in these top Anglesey walks to try.

Wander around Parys Mountain 

When you gaze out at this otherworldly landscape – a mix of vibrant orange and yellow tones – you’d be forgiven for thinking you were on Mars rather than in Wales. But unlike the Red Planet, Parys Mountain in Amlwch is completely man-made. The part-excavated copper mine, first dug up around 4,000 years ago during the Bronze Age, used to be one of the biggest in the world.

Step back in time at all the castles and stately homes

If you’re wondering what there is to do in Anglesey on a wet day, Beaumaris has the answer. This tiny town is home to the last castle built under Edward I in the 13th century. It also houses a creepy gaol with Victorian punishment cells and an authentic tread wheel used to discipline the prisoners.

Other things to do in Anglesey when it’s raining include popping to Plas Newydd House & Gardens, the 18th-century home of the island’s marquess. You’ll spy distinctive furniture and a massive mural painted by the artist Rex Whistler in its neoclassical rooms. 

 

Go wildlife spotting via boat or on foot

To amble with the animals, set off towards South Stack lighthouse via 400 steps carved out of a cliffside near Holyhead. Visitors can tour the engine room and take in the sea views from inside, but most come for birdwatching. Puffins have been spotted here in April to June, along with choughs, guillemots and razorbills all year round. 

On the east coast, sail over to Puffin Island via boat in the hopes of seeing grey seals in their natural habitat. Or ogle oceanic creatures at Anglesey Sea Zoo, an aquarium with a marine education visitor centre. Said to be the biggest aquarium in Wales, it has more than 150 native species within its walls.

Taste the local produce

Known as Môn Mam Cymru – Mother of Wales – in the Middle Ages because it grew so much of North Wales’ food, Anglesey is still known for its produce. A farmers’ market, where you can stock up on line-caught crab, free-range guinea fowl and locally brewed beers, is held at Prince's Pier in Menai Bridge on the third Saturday of the month. Sample Halen Môn’s artisanal sea salt here – it’s highly rated by both chefs and visitors (including famed guests like Barack Obama).

Tick off all the best Anglesey beaches 

This island may be compact, but it’s got plenty of bays and coves to discover, including the options in this selection. If wide and long stretches of sand are your bag, bound off to beaches like Benllech, Lligwy and Aberffraw. And if picture-perfect coves are your preference? Lay your towel down on Porth Wen in the north, which is overlooked by the crumbling ruins of an old brickworks. Or grab a SUP and paddleboard over to Sixpenny Beach, a spot only accessible via sea from Malltraeth village.

Explore an island on an island 

When the tide’s out, the ruined church on Llanddwyn Island is a romantic place to roam around. It was built as a memorial to Santes Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers and the reason Wales has its own version of Valentine’s Day. The island and its nearby beach have views out over Snowdonia’s peaks, the Llŷn Peninsula and, on a clear day, Ireland’s Wicklow hills. Keep an eye out for wild horses on land and dolphins out to sea as you wander. 

Snap the world’s longest train station sign 

When the locals decided to combine the names of three settlements in one to gain publicity, it worked: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch has been well known since the 1860s for having one of the world’s longest place names. Drop by to take a picture of the 58-character train station sign – although you might struggle to fit it all in the shot.

 

There are about 120 ancient monuments, including Neolithic or Bronze Age burial chambers and standing stones on this island. See the best by visiting these Anglesey historic sites.