Anglesey Coastal Path

The coastal path signpost

The Anglesey Coastal Path (formally the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path) is a 125-mile long-distance footpath around the island of Anglesey. The route is part of the Wales Coast Path.

Description

The 125-mile path mainly follows the coast. Exceptions are where the path comes inland from Moel y Don by Plas Newydd estate, and the Bodorgan Estate on the west of the island between Aberffraw and Malltraeth, where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge used to live. The loop officially begins and ends at Holyhead, and is described in the official guidebook in an anti-clockwise direction. It cost £1.4 million and runs virtually within the length of the entire Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, using the existing network of public rights of way and some designated permissive paths. For example, the coastal path at Mynachdy is closed between mid-September and mid-February. There are alternatives to these permissive paths. The path is well signposted throughout. It has been walked in as little as four days, but around 7–10 days is a guideline for most walkers aiming to complete the whole path.

European[Objective 1 funds have contributed to this project, which aims to meet the perceived growing demand for coastal walking. The path has been created by a partnership led by community agency Menter Môn and the Isle of Anglesey Council. It was formally opened by Rhodri Morgan AM, the former First Minister of Wales, on 9 June 2006.

The Anglesey Coastal Path forms part of the Wales Coast Path, an 870-mile long-distance walking route around the whole coast of Wales from Chepstow to Queensferry, officially opened in May 2012.

Offshoot trails

There are a number of smaller trails very near the Coast Path, which often take users inland on shorter routes: these include:

1. Mynydd Mechell circular walk – an easy three-mile walk that should take around two hours to complete. The starting point is at Jerusalem Chapel at Mynydd Mechell (SH360899).
2. Copper Coast Circular Walk – starts and finishes at Amlwch Port (SH452936) and passes Point Lynas headland and Parys Mountain. It is a lengthy 14-mile walk and should take some six hours to complete.
3. Ynys Llanddwyn – over some of the best sands in Ynys Môn, starting from the car park at SH415649, and is around a mile and a half long. The island forms part of the national nature reserve of Newborough Warren which includes the extensive and floristically rich sand dune system. Llanddwyn Island is a tidal island and walkers should beware the incoming tide.

Other places on the path

Starting at Holyhead and walking anti-clockwise, the path passes through or near:

The port of Holyhead, Anglesey's largest town South Stack lighthouse and bird observatory Porth Dafarch Trearddur Rhoscolyn Rhosneigr Barclodiad y Gawres Neolithic burial chamber The island church at Llangwyfan Aberffraw Llangadwaladr church, burial place of Cadfan ap Iago Ynys Llanddwyn Llanidan, birthplace of Thomas Williams Britannia Bridge Swellies Church Island Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge Menai Bridge Llandegfan Beaumaris

Penmon and Puffin Island Red Wharf Bay Benllech Moelfre The memorial to the wreck of the Royal Charter Dulas Bay Amlwch Bull Bay Llanbadrig church Cemaes Wylfa Nuclear Power Station Cemlyn Bay and lagoon Carmel Head Church Bay Llanfachraeth Llanynghenedl Stanley Embankment (like the Menai Suspension Bridge, built by Thomas Telford) Penrhos Country Park Holyhead

Outside links

• Location map: 53°8’5"N, 4°24’53"W
• Official Website, including maps
• Anglesey Walking Festival
• Long Distance Walkers Association