The magical Isle of Anglesey

Anglesey is located off the North West coast of Wales, a land of unequalled beauty with untouched forests, idyllic beaches, castles and over 120 historical monuments – all accessed by the 19th Century Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge, rebuilt in the 20th Century.

There is so much to do on the island without hardly spending a penny. A path goes right around Anglesey, spanning 140 miles/225km, with 12 sections along the way to join. Take a couple of hours or even a couple of days. Not only does it take in the spectacular coastlines, but the path also passes through farmland, coastal heath, dunes and small pockets of woodlands.

There are too many beaches to choose from Benllech, Lligwy, Trearddur and Red Wharf Bay, to name a few. I parked at Pen

Cob Park on the edge of the Newborough National Nature Reserve and Forest, set off with my picnic on my back, camera around my neck, and headed for Newborough Beach, also known as Llanddwyn Beach. Other car parks are dotted along the way, and the central car park is accessed via a toll road (£5), which lets you park as close to the beach as possible. I fancied a good walk which took around an hour and was graded ‘easy’.

Newborough Forest (Welsh: Coed Niwbwrch) is spectacular. It was a warm day, and the sky above me was blue but hard to see at times, owing to the towering trees. A labyrinth of trunks and vines around me and rustling leaves underfoot. The smell of Corsican pine and sweet rotting wood engulfed the air, plus the gentle winds sent scents from the sea. It was April when

I was there, but I’m told the forest is filled with the charming song of skylarks in summer. I kept my eye open for the red squirrels now inhabiting the forest. I also looked out for red damselflies and the hairy dragonfly, but I was glad I didn’t see the latter; they sound like something out of a horror film. As I left the forest canopy and walked along the path through the dunes towards the beach, I was in awe of the sight in front of me. The forest meets the sea with a spectacular view of Snowdonia and the Llyn peninsula to the left and Llanddwyn Island and the lighthouse to the right. I sat down, laid out my picnic, poured myself a cup of tea and gazed at the view for eternity until my alarm went off, reminding me it would take an hour to walk back.

If you drive directly to the beach with the kids, pick up a family activities pack from the dispenser in the car park, then follow the way markers and search for the information panels to answer the nature questions.

Later the same day, I found myself traipsing through three fields close to the cemetery in Amlwch, passing stomping, bleating

Anglesey Facts

J Anglesey is the largest Welsh Island at 276 square miles and the fifth largest in Britain.

J Anglesey was called Mona by the Romans – and it keeps that name today in Welsh as “Ynys Mon” or “Mona Island.” sheep protecting their young in search of a house abandoned just before WWII. Locally it’s known as the blue house because most of the internal walls are, you guessed it, blue. Rumour has it that it was owned by three brothers who were all conscientious objectors, and one day they just upped and left the house in all its glory, a pot of tea on the stove, boots by the fire and false teeth on the side. It was an eerie experience but a photographer’s dream and a great place to explore if you love abandoned buildings. The village of Amlwch is worth a visit too.

J Prince George spent his first months at his parent’s cottage on the grounds of Bodorgan Hall in Anglesey, before they relocated to Kensington Palace in 2014.

J Well-known landscape painter Sir Kyffin Williams, and Dawn French were both born on Anglesey.

J And did you know Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead once lived on Anglesey? And Aled Jones – talk about opposites attract.

So, if you fancy leaving your busy life at home for a day or two, venture to this enchanting isle and immerse yourself in nature. Walk in a healing forest or sit and relax on one of the many beaches. If that’s different from your thing, drive to one of the copious villages with their brightly painted houses, independent cafés and shops selling local wares. Visit a castle or even the prison at Beaumaris. Plus, a farmer’s market is held every third Saturday of each month at Prince’s Pier, Menai Bridge but check local listings for details. You will find a vast range of mouth-watering produce on sale, including cheeses, homemade chutneys and delicious cakes… n

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