Coastlines and lighthouses – Anglesey is totally worth visiting for a weekend!
Are you looking at trips to take in the UK this year? If so Anglesey should definitely be on your list! For a small island, Anglesey packs in a lot, from dramatic coastlines, to Instagram worthy Anglesey lighthouses, forest walks and delicious seafood, making it the perfect place to spend a weekend, or even longer.
I’d written a post previously about visiting North Wales for a day trip, focusing on a road trip along the North Wales Expressway. However after spending a weekend last summer getting even more familiar with the area, it became clear that Anglesey deserved a post of its own too!
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Where is Anglesey?
You can find the island of Anglesey right on the most North Western point of Wales. Anglesey is comprised of the main Isle of Anglesey as well as the smaller island of Holyhead which is connected to the northern tip of Anglesey. The Irish sea surrounds the coast, making for some very dramatic waves on windy days.
Although it’s by no means a huge island, you almost certainly need a car to get around everything there is to see there. In terms of reaching the island, it’s a very simple crossing with the island being connected to the mainland via the Menai straight, which is passable by the Menai Bridge.
Things to do in Anglesey
I know I’ve already mentioned that there are plenty of things to do in a weekend in Anglesey, but there really is something to do all year around, especially if you enjoy nature and the great outdoors!
The best lighthouses to see in Anglesey
One of my favourite things to do in Anglesey is visiting the beautiful lighthouses. As you might know, if there’s one thing I love as much as travelling, it’s capturing beautiful places with my camera!
Anglesey has some truly stunning coastlines, making it a playground for photographers both professional and hobbyist alike. The lighthouses on the island really are the jewels in its crown.
Twr Mawr Lighthouse – Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey
The Tŵr Mawr Lighthouse, found in Ynys Llandwynn on Anglesey, may be small in stature, but it’s still absolutely worth going out of your way to visit.
The Tŵr Mawr Lighthouse can be found by following a picturesque coastal path that runs from the forest in the Newborough National Nature Reserve & Forest, through to the tidal island of Ynys Llandwynn. Along the walk you’ll be able to spot some really beautiful birds, flora and fauna too, which thrives on the rich sand dunes and unique coastal conditions.
The Tŵr Mawr Lighthouse itself is actually though to have been originally used as a windmill, which isn’t surprising when you take its shape and stature into account. The lighthouse is no longer functioning, having been deactivated in 1975, but it’s still a stunning end to a fabulous walk and somewhere you can see inspiring many novels about life at sea!
Ynys Llanddwyn – more than just a pretty lighthouse!
Aside from being a great excuse to visit a cute lighthouse, Ynys Llandwynn is absolutely worth taking a trip to in its own right.
Part of the Newborough National Nature Reserve & Forest, Ynys Llandwynn has hours of coastal walking paths to explore. Not only that, but the adjacent forest and beach make it the perfect place for dog walking, picnics and more.
If you’re looking for a relaxing escape in Anglesey, the beach is sandy and big enough to be enjoyed uninterrupted, even in the sunnier months, whilst the forest provides shaded areas to keep cool and enjoy the sound of the birds. You can even avoid the slightly busier car park at the beach by stopping at one of the quieter spots located within the forest a little further away. This is what we did when we visited and the walk down to the coast was perfectly manageable and got a few extra steps in!
South Stack Lighthouse – Holy Island, Anglesey
If you’re looking for crashing waves, cliffside views and the chance to spot some rare sea birds, look no further than South Stack Lighthouse in Anglesey.
Set on the rugged coastline of the smaller island of Holyhead at the North-Western tip of Anglesey, South Stack Lighthouse is a popular attraction for visitors of the island.
The lighthouse itself is situated on a smaller island of its own, which can be accessed by walking down the stunning coastal path of no less than 400 steps!. Now, fair warning, with its exposed location, the walk can get really, REALLY windy, so be sure to pack a windbreaker and tie back any long hair! It’s totally worth it to see the lighthouse up close though and to see the sea birds diving from the surrounding cliffs into the unforgiving sea below.
South Stack Lighthouse is still operational too, and if you time it right (like I did in this photo, not to brag or anything), then you can get a shot of the light shining out from the top.
Puffins and Guillimots galore – seabird spotting at South Stack
Aside from the lure of some epic views, there’s another great reason to pay South Stack Lighthouse a visit – puffins!
The South Stack Cliffs are actually a protected wildlife area, looked after by the RSPB. The cliffside is home to a variety of fascinating bird species including the incredibly cute puffins, as well as guillemots and razorbills.
Spotting puffins in the wild is a pretty rare occurrence, so having access to this breeding ground is a real treat. It’s well worth making the trip to South Stack to see them swooping along the cliffside, and you can help the conservation efforts by popping into the cafe and shop at the top of the steps down to South Stack (the soup is really good!).
The best time of year to visit South Stack Lighthouse to see puffins is during the spring as this is their breeding time, but there are plenty of seabirds nearby all year round.
Getting around Anglesey
If you’re hoping to get around Anglesey and do a tour of the lighthouses on public transport, I have some bad news for you! Anglesey is definitely somewhere that most easily reached and travelled around by car.
The generally remote nature of most towns, villages and things to see and do on Anglesey means that reaching any of them by bus is going to be difficult, and in some cases, not possible. If you enjoy cycling though, there are plenty of routes around the island that you can enjoy as part of a day trip around Anglesey.
It is possible to reach Anglesey by train however, with the nearest station to South Stack being Holyhead train station. The station has rail links to popular places such as Chester, Crewe, Liverpool, Bangor and a number of stations throughout North Wales.
Why not make the trip extra special and hire a car for the weekend? A classic car or an open top during the summer would be fabulous!
Where to stay in Anglesey
There are plenty of places to stay in Anglesey all over the main and connecting islands. Many of the options available are cosy B&B accommodations or Inns. There are plenty of campsites to choose from too if you are sticking to a budget (or if you just really enjoy camping!). Another option would be to book a self-catering static caravan or cottage. It’s not a huge island, so if you’re driving from place to place anywhere will make a good base, as the different lighthouses and attractions are dotted all around the island anyway.
Additionally you do what we did and stay just outside of Anglesey in a slightly busier hub such as Bangor, or where I stayed in Caernarfon. We stayed in the Celtic Royal Hotel in Caernarfon, which made for a nice comfortable base with plenty of nearby amenities such as supermarkets, bars and restaurants. Most notably, there’s also a very striking medieval castle to visit.
Here’s a little photo I got of the marina first thing in the morning.
Find a place to stay in Anglesey on Booking.com
Anglesey restaurant recommendations
If there’s one recommendation for somewhere to eat in Anglesey that I NEED to drop here, it’s the Gaerwen Arms.
From the outside the Gaerwen Arms looks like any unassuming gastropub, but there’s something really special here when it comes to the menu and service. I’d describe the food as gastro-pub meets fine dining. The menu is refined, but not fussy, and includes things like fish and chips and a very delicious burger that are prepared and presented wonderfully.
I’ve been here twice already, and although I very rarely rave about a dessert from a restaurant, you cannot visit the Gaerwen Arms without sampling their Anglesey Chocolate Pebble – I promise you it is to die for!
Things to do near Anglesey in North Wales
If driving around the Anglesey lighthouses isn’t your thing, there are plenty of things to do near Anglesey in North Wales if you’re planning a longer visit! Whether you’re a beach bum or a mountaineer, you’ll find some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK not too far from Anglesey. Here’s a couple of my favourites.
Snowdonia National Park
No blog post mentioning North Wales would be complete without a nod to Snowdonia National Park.
Snowdonia National Park is huge, covering no less than 823 square miles of stunning and diverse landscapes waiting to be explored. There’s miles of walking and cycling routes in Snowdonia, as well as a lovely mountain railway if you’d rather enjoy the views at a more relaxed pace.
The main event if you’re up for it though, is to climb Mount Snowdon! Be warned, this is a fairly strenuous hike, so proper walking shoes/boots and climbing clothes are a must. There are a few different routes you can take up Snowdon, all varying in difficulty. Whichever one you take will leave you feeling very accomplished at the top, and the view (weather permitting) is worth the climb.
Conwy
Conwy is one of my all time favourite seaside towns – anywhere in the world! Situated just off the North Wales Expressway along the way to Anglesey, Conwy is a perfect place to stop on a long drive and rest.
Not only does Conwy boast a castle, beautiful marina, and some of the best cream cakes going, it’s also home to the smallest house in Great Britain.
Fish and chips along the seafront followed by a walk along the castle walls in Conwy makes for a perfect spring or summer afternoon!
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