South Stack Lighthouse on its rock stack at the foot of the cliffs of Holy Island, Anglesey, with the Irish Sea stretching beyond.

Anglesey Atlas

Ynys Môn — an island you can cross in an hour and spend a lifetime reading.

Island county Coast & old stone

See every place

Anglesey is small enough to cross in a morning, but it rewards anyone who gives it more than a pass-through glance: sea light, old roads, ruined stone and long horizons.

Field notes

How to use this atlas.

Choose a coast, compare the thirty-one places, then open the full guide for parking, tides, route detail and timing.

Best for: Coast roads, lighthouses, castles, quiet sand
Best pace: Two or three places in a day
Best light: Late afternoon, especially the west coast
Start with: Llanddwyn, South Stack or Beaumaris
Watch for: Tides, full car parks, exposed weather

Pick the day, not the postcode.

Four kinds of day, sorted by mood and weather rather than by map. A starting shape, not a schedule — let one stop lead to the next.

Find your side of the island.

Anglesey makes more sense when you stop treating it as one place. It has four sides, each with its own weather and reasons to go. Pick a side, and you've picked your day.

Pick a coast. Plan a loop. The rest follows.

The full atlas

The Anglesey record, charted so far.

Every place we've stood in and written up, in one index. Start with the one below, or search the full list by name or the kind of day you want.

Start here Llanddwyn Island at sunset — a low tidal headland of rock and chapel ruins reaching into the sea off Newborough, Anglesey, with the mountains of Eryri on the horizon.

Llanddwyn Island at sunset — a low tidal headland of rock and chapel ruins reaching into the sea off Newborough, Anglesey, with the mountains of Eryri on the horizon.

Signature · the place to begin

Llanddwyn Island

A tidal island of old pilots' cottages, a ruined chapel and twin lighthouses at the edge of Newborough — the place most people picture when they picture Anglesey. Walk out at low tide; check the tide first.

Half a day · tidal — check before you walk out Read the guide

Not sure where to start? For drama, start with South Stack. For history, Beaumaris. For something stranger, Parys Mountain. For slow coast, Llanddwyn or Newborough.

Signature

The illuminated lantern room at the top of South Stack Lighthouse, Holy Island, Anglesey, against a cloudy sky.

South Stack Lighthouse

A sea-cliff lighthouse where Anglesey meets the wild edge of the Irish Sea: seabird cliffs and a long descent to the light.

Signature

The stone cross and white lighthouse on Llanddwyn Island, Anglesey, above a rocky tidal shore.

Llanddwyn Island

A tidal island of old pilots' cottages, a ruined chapel, twin lighthouses and wide skies at the edge of Newborough.

Signature

The water-filled moat and concentric curtain walls of Beaumaris Castle on the Menai Strait, Anglesey.

Beaumaris Castle

A 13th-century concentric fortress on the Menai Strait: never finished, still the most technically perfect castle in Wales.

Worth the drive The rust and ochre walls of the great opencast pit at Parys Mountain, Anglesey.

The rust and ochre walls of the great opencast pit at Parys Mountain, Anglesey.

Parys Mountain

A strange copper-mined landscape of rust, ochre and violet earth above Amlwch, ground that doesn't look like Wales at all.

Signature

The Menai Suspension Bridge at dusk with the mountains of Eryri behind, Anglesey.

Menai Suspension Bridge

Telford's graceful bridge carrying the drama of the Menai Strait between island and mainland.

Hidden gem The sandy, cliff-backed beach at Church Bay on the north-west coast of Anglesey.

The sandy, cliff-backed beach at Church Bay on the north-west coast of Anglesey.

Church Bay

A tucked-away bay of pebbles, rock pools and cliff-backed water on Anglesey's quieter north-west coast.

Worth the drive The heather-covered southern slopes of Holyhead Mountain above the sea, Holy Island, Anglesey.

The heather-covered southern slopes of Holyhead Mountain above the sea, Holy Island, Anglesey.

Holyhead Mountain

A heathered summit above Holy Island with cliff paths, ancient hut circles, and open sea on both sides.

Worth the drive Llanddwyn Island seen from Newborough Beach at low tide, wide sands stretching into the distance, Anglesey.

Llanddwyn Island seen from Newborough Beach at low tide, wide sands stretching into the distance, Anglesey.

Newborough Beach

A long sweep of sand and pine forest opening toward Llanddwyn and the mountains beyond the strait.

Worth the drive The front facade of Plas Newydd house above its garden, looking across the Menai Strait, Anglesey.

The front facade of Plas Newydd house above its garden, looking across the Menai Strait, Anglesey.

Plas Newydd

A stately house and garden looking straight across the Menai Strait toward the mountains of Eryri.

Hidden gem Low limestone cliffs above the pale sands near Traeth Lligwy on the east coast of Anglesey.

Low limestone cliffs above the pale sands near Traeth Lligwy on the east coast of Anglesey.

Traeth Lligwy

A broad east-coast beach of pale sand and low dunes, with a calmer, slower Anglesey horizon.

Worth the drive The grass-covered mound of Bryn Celli Ddu with its stone passage entrance on the east side, ringed by kerb stones in open farmland near Llanddaniel Fab, Anglesey.

The grass-covered mound of Bryn Celli Ddu with its stone passage entrance on the east side, ringed by kerb stones in open farmland near Llanddaniel Fab, Anglesey.

Bryn Celli Ddu

A Neolithic passage tomb near Llanddaniel Fab, built over an older henge and aligned so midsummer dawn light reaches the inner chamber.

Worth the drive The black-and-white Trwyn Du Lighthouse standing on its rock off Penmon Point, the low headland and its white pilot houses behind, at the eastern tip of Anglesey.

The black-and-white Trwyn Du Lighthouse standing on its rock off Penmon Point, the low headland and its white pilot houses behind, at the eastern tip of Anglesey.

Penmon Point

The rocky eastern tip of Anglesey, looking out to the black-and-white Trwyn Du Lighthouse offshore and Puffin Island across the sound.

Worth the drive The shingle ridge of Esgair Cemlyn curving round Cemlyn Bay under a clear sky, turquoise water on the seaward side.

The shingle ridge of Esgair Cemlyn curving round Cemlyn Bay under a clear sky, turquoise water on the seaward side.

Cemlyn Bay

A shingle-ridge lagoon on Anglesey's north coast, and Wales's only breeding colony of Sandwich terns, loud and close for a few summer months.

Worth the drive The circular stone walls of the Din Lligwy Romano-British hut group standing in a woodland clearing near Moelfre, Anglesey.

The circular stone walls of the Din Lligwy Romano-British hut group standing in a woodland clearing near Moelfre, Anglesey.

Din Lligwy Ancient Sites

Three free Cadw monuments above Traeth Lligwy: a Roman-era walled village, a Neolithic burial chamber and a medieval chapel, in one short walk.

Hidden gem The formal walled garden at Plas Cadnant, a long lily pool between clipped yews with a stone seat at its head.

The formal walled garden at Plas Cadnant, a long lily pool between clipped yews with a stone seat at its head.

Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens

A restored garden hidden in a wooded valley near Menai Bridge: a curving walled garden, a river and three waterfalls, and woodland with a ruined folly.

Worth the drive The Victorian stone frontage of Neuadd y Dref, the town hall in Llangefni, Anglesey's county town.

The Victorian stone frontage of Neuadd y Dref, the town hall in Llangefni, Anglesey's county town.

Llangefni

An inland market and administrative town built around a civic square, a free Kyffin Williams museum, and a wooded river valley at the edge of the streets.

Hidden gem Fishing boats moored along the inlet at Porth Amlwch, the working harbour below Amlwch, Anglesey.

Fishing boats moored along the inlet at Porth Amlwch, the working harbour below Amlwch, Anglesey.

Amlwch

A working harbour town that once shipped the world's copper from nearby Parys Mountain, with its best-known museum currently closed and its coast path still open.

Worth the drive Trearddur Bay's sandy main beach on Holy Island, with the village and hills visible across the water.

Trearddur Bay's sandy main beach on Holy Island, with the village and hills visible across the water.

Trearddur Bay

A sandy village beach on Holy Island's west coast, with a working lifeboat station, a sailing club racing since 1919, and two quieter coves around the headland.

Worth the drive A rocky foreshore giving way to wide sand and sea at Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, with a headland in the distance.

A rocky foreshore giving way to wide sand and sea at Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey, with a headland in the distance.

Red Wharf Bay

A wide tidal bay on Anglesey's east coast between Pentraeth and Benllech, its miles of sand only there to walk on part of the time: a landmark rock, a hillfort, and a Viking-age site a mile inland.

Worth the drive Borth Wen at Rhoscolyn: a wide sweep of sand above a sheltered blue bay, with a rocky islet and the old lifeboat house beyond.

Borth Wen at Rhoscolyn: a wide sweep of sand above a sheltered blue bay, with a rocky islet and the old lifeboat house beyond.

Rhoscolyn & Borth Wen

A sheltered, south-facing sandy bay at the southern tip of Holy Island, with a navigation beacon standing offshore, and a headland walk above it past two sea arches, a scheduled-monument holy well, and some of the most studied folded rock in Britain.

Hidden gem Porth Dafarch beach on Holy Island's west coast, framed by low rock headlands.

Porth Dafarch beach on Holy Island's west coast, framed by low rock headlands.

Porth Dafarch

A quiet National Trust beach on Holy Island's west coast, between South Stack and Trearddur Bay: rock pools, a coast-path stretch, and a line of volcanic rock crossing the sand.

Worth the drive A Stena Line ferry leaving Holyhead harbour, Holy Island, Anglesey.

A Stena Line ferry leaving Holyhead harbour, Holy Island, Anglesey.

Holyhead

The largest town on Anglesey and the ferry gateway to Ireland: a Roman fort around a medieval church, Britain's longest breakwater, and a working harbour on Holy Island.

Worth the drive Rhosneigr beach at low water, wet sand and dark rock under a wide cloudscape, the village low on the skyline.

Rhosneigr beach at low water, wet sand and dark rock under a wide cloudscape, the village low on the skyline.

Rhosneigr

A walkable village between two beaches on Anglesey's south-west coast, with a request-stop station, an SSSI lake behind the dunes, and a coastal path south to a Neolithic tomb.

Worth the drive An elevated view of Benllech beach, promenade and the beachside car park, Anglesey.

An elevated view of Benllech beach, promenade and the beachside car park, Anglesey.

Benllech

A beach village on Anglesey's east coast, between Red Wharf Bay and Moelfre: a sandy beach, a working promenade and three car parks, with an ancient hut group and a vanished Edwardian railway close by.

Worth the drive Moelfre harbour, Anglesey, a working harbour with small boats moored below the village.

Moelfre harbour, Anglesey, a working harbour with small boats moored below the village.

Moelfre

A working harbour village on Anglesey's north-east coast: a free RNLI museum, the 1859 Royal Charter story, and a headland view across to the tidal island of Ynys Moelfre.

Worth the drive The full 58-letter station sign at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll railway station, Anglesey.

The full 58-letter station sign at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll railway station, Anglesey.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyll

The first village on Anglesey after the Britannia Bridge, world-famous for its 58-letter station sign, and for a reopened 1817 column and the site of Britain's first Women's Institute meeting.

Worth the drive Cemaes Bay, Anglesey: the beach and harbour breakwater with the village behind.

Cemaes Bay, Anglesey: the beach and harbour breakwater with the village behind.

Cemaes Bay

The most northerly village in Wales: a sheltered working harbour with a sandy beach on one side and a rocky one on the other, and the cliff-top church of Llanbadrig a mile north-east.

Worth the drive Menai Bridge from above: the town's houses stepping down to the turquoise water of the Menai Strait.

Menai Bridge from above: the town's houses stepping down to the turquoise water of the Menai Strait.

Menai Bridge

The town Telford's bridge created: a two-kilometre shoreline loop past a promenade built by First World War refugees, a tidal causeway to a medieval island church, and a pine-wood nature reserve.

Worth the drive The turf-covered mound of Barclodiad y Gawres on its headland above Porth Trecastell, a worn path running over it and open sea on both sides.

The turf-covered mound of Barclodiad y Gawres on its headland above Porth Trecastell, a worn path running over it and open sea on both sides.

Barclodiad y Gawres

A decorated Neolithic passage tomb on the headland above Porth Trecastell, and one of only two in Wales. Free and open in daylight hours, but the chamber holding the carved stones is not generally open.

Worth the drive Traeth Mawr at Aberffraw: the wide sand of Aberffraw Sands with the sea and the far headland.

Traeth Mawr at Aberffraw: the wide sand of Aberffraw Sands with the sea and the far headland.

Aberffraw

The seat of the Kingdom of Gwynedd for three centuries: now a quiet village above a tidal river, with a scheduled 1731 footbridge, a wide beach and one of Britain's largest dune systems behind it.

Worth the drive Castle Street, Beaumaris: painted Georgian shopfronts and the timber-framed Tudor Rose beneath hanging flower baskets.

Castle Street, Beaumaris: painted Georgian shopfronts and the timber-framed Tudor Rose beneath hanging flower baskets.

Beaumaris

A walkable Georgian waterfront town on the Menai Strait: castle, Victorian pier, gaol and courthouse, and boat trips to Puffin Island.

Before you go.

A short field note. Nothing here is a substitute for checking on the day — it's just what tends to matter on Anglesey.

Tides

Check the tide before Llanddwyn and any tidal beach walk — the crossing closes on a rising sea.

Parking

Popular coast car parks fill early on clear days. Arrive in the morning, or come for the late light.

Weather

The west coast is exposed. Visibility changes everything on the cliffs — a clear hour is worth waiting for.

Pace

Two or three places is plenty for a good day. The island is better savoured than collected.

Start with one place.

Start with one place, check the tide, and make the drive. The island is small enough to learn and large enough to keep surprising you.

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