In 1826, the opening of Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge linked mainland Wales to the island of Ynys Môn (Anglesey) for the very first time. The bridge was important to creating a quick street hyperlink to the port of Holyhead and so enhancing communication hyperlinks between London and Dublin.
In the present day, motoring vacationers benefit from Telford’s imaginative and prescient daily (albeit linking up with the A55 North Wales Expressway) as they head to Holyhead to board ferries to Eire. However in doing so, they bypass the numerous meandering, sluggish lane charms that dot the shoreline of Ynys Môn.
Plas Newydd Home and Backyard (exit 8a)
This National Trust waterfront mansion dates again to the sixteenth century and sits amid 68 hectares (169 acres) of ornate gardens, woodland and parkland. It’s maybe most well-known for considered one of its later house owners, Henry Cyril Paget, fifth Marquess of Anglesey, whose flamboyant lifestyle – together with changing the household chapel into what he referred to as the Gaiety theatre – was the stuff of scandal in stuffy Victorian Wales. His life will quickly be delivered to the large display in a new film, Madfabulous.
Simply south of Plas Newydd is Tide cafe, situated at Halen Môn – Anglesey Sea Salt. It’s open for drinks and snacks year-round (10.30am-2.30pm). Whereas there, you possibly can choose up a few of Halen Môn’s a lot lauded sea salt.
Purple Wharf Bay (exit 8)
About 12 miles south of Amlwch lies Purple Wharf Bay, a big sandy inlet that, at low tide, extends for 10 sq. miles. The Wales Coast Path hugs the bay, offering a panoramic view of the coast; it additionally presents the possibility to discover Llanddona seashore, which, within the 18th century was mentioned to be managed by a gaggle of vicious outlaws often known as the witches of Llanddona, who terrorised the area people. Returning to the highest of the bay, the Ship Inn, The Old Boathouse or The Tavern on the Bay are good pit stops for a drink and meals overlooking the ocean.
Penmon Level (exit 8)
Penmon Level is the jap tip of Ynys Môn, and considered one of its oldest and most holy websites. It’s a wild headland providing views of Trwyn Du lighthouse and Ynys Seiriol, an island that, within the fifth century, supplied solitude and sanctuary for its namesake saint. In the present day it’s higher often known as Puffin Island as a result of, up till the late nineteenth century, it was a breeding haven for the birds.
Penmon Level is a favorite vacation spot for walkers, birdwatchers and nature lovers, and presents views (on clear days) of Y Gogarth (the Nice Orme headland). Two formidable white stone cottages face the ocean on the tip of the purpose, whereas behind them sits the Pilot House cafe, serving meals, drinks and cocktails indoors and in a vibrant backyard. For a extra formal eating expertise, head to Beaumaris and eat at Harry’s Bistro, situated in Henllys Corridor golf membership, or proceed to Menai Bridge to discover the worldwide delicacies of Freckled Angel or the tasting menu at Sosban & the Old Butchers – each situated only a brief distance from Telford’s well-known suspension bridge.
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Seashores match for princes and pirates (exit 6)
Llanddwyn (also referred to as Newborough), close to the island’s southern tip, is probably Ynys Môn’s best-known seashore due to its views of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Llŷn peninsula. Nevertheless, I’d advocate heading north just a few miles, over the Malltraeth cob (a causeway constructed by Telford), and on to the village of Aberffraw. Right here you stroll down the banks of the Ffraw to Traeth Mawr, a surprising vast sandy seashore match for a king. Rightly so. Within the late thirteenth century, Aberffraw was a very powerful place in all of Wales – the seat of energy for the princes of Gwynedd, Wales’s dominant royal household.
Enterprise a little bit farther north to Rhosneigr, an equally enticing stretch of coast as soon as famed for each piracy and wreckers, who lured ships on to the jagged rocks close to the Crigyll river. In the present day, Rhosneigr is healthier recognized for its culinary scene than its smuggling. The Oystercatcher is a restaurant and bar situated within the dunes not removed from the 2 predominant seashores. Within the hotter months, the Zapatismo meals truck serves Mexican fare.
Copper Mountain (exit 5)
On the north coast of Anglesey lies a spot that appears otherworldly. That is Mynydd Parys, however its nickname is Copper Mountain as a result of, for about 4,000 years, it was mined for invaluable copper ore.
Within the 18th century, Mynydd Parys turned the most important copper ore exporter on the planet – a lot of it being despatched by ship from the close by port of Amlwch to copperworks within the Swansea valley. In the present day, the mines are closed and the scorched purple, gold and brown alien panorama has been remodeled right into a collection of dramatic and (dare I say) awe-inspiring strolling trails.
After a hike at Mynydd Parys, I like to move to Skye’s creperie in Amlwch Harbour for excellent pancakes, brunch and even sushi.
Matthew Yeomans explored the coastal fringes of Ynys Môn for his new e-book, Seascape: Notes from a Altering Shoreline (College of Wales Press, £18.99). To assist the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Supply prices could apply.
