Things to do in Anglesey

There's normally a packed calendar of events taking place on Anglesey. There are food festivals, agricultural shows, children's events, music performances and fairs - particularly in spring and summer months. To keep up to date with the latest developments for what's on in Anglesey check the Visit Anglesey Facebook page.

According to Celtic folklore, the Roman invaders of 60 AD were scared witless by Anglesey’s fearless Celtic druids. We’re glad to report that visitors are welcomed more warmly these days!

It’s unlikely you'll miss this Anglesey highlight, the Menai Suspension Bridge. You're highly likely to drive across it.

Built by Thomas Telford and opened in 1826, it’s the first modern suspension bridge in the world and it connects the mainland to Menai Bridge - one of the five towns in Anglesey. Prior to its construction, cattle farmers would somehow have to persuade their herd to swim across the Menai Strait to market. Discover more about the bridge's history at the Menai Bridge Community Heritage Trust's museum.

There are countless places worth visiting along the 140 mile/225km Anglesey Coast Path. It goes right round the island. The Friends of the Isle of Anglesey Coast Path website has handy maps and detailed descriptions of the path's 12 sections.

As well as skirting the spectacular coastline, the path passes through farmland, coastal heath, dunes and small pockets of woodland. Highlights include South Stack lighthouse, the sea arches at Bwa Gwyn and the wild flowers and birdlife at Aberffraw dunes.

This romantic outcrop extending from the mainland is one of the most picturesque locations in Wales.

The ruined church was once home to Saint Dwynwen - the Welsh patron saint of lovers from the 5th century A.D. When her true love Maelon was turned to ice, Dwynwen had the good sense to move to Llanddwyn Island - and probably didn’t regret it for a minute. Llanddwyn beach is a cosy cove of pristine sand and it's backed by a forest that's home to rare red squirrels. So, forget St Valentine! Here in Wales we celebrate all things to do with love on St Dwynwen's Day on 25 January.

There are surprises around every corner in Anglesey, with one being The Copper Kingdom in Amlwch. It was once the largest copper mine in the world.

The unique landscape of Parys Mountain has to be seen to be believed - a swathe of peaks and troughs in every shade of yellow, brown and orange imaginable. In the 18th century, people came from all over the UK to dig for copper, prompting what came to be know as the Welsh Copper Rush. The visitor centre tells the stories of those that worked here in often dangerous conditions.

South Stack, the Anglesey lighthouse, perches on its own tiny island off the far west coast of the island.

Just getting there is a real adventure (and probably not a good idea if you suffer from vertigo). It's reached via 400 steps in the cliffside and a bridge high above the roaring waves. Visitors can tour the engine room and then climb the narrow stairs right to the top for epic views out to sea.

The birdwatching all around here is spectacular; you’ll soon be playing the time-honoured game of spot-the-puffin. If you're really lucky, you might even see one of the rare breeding pairs of choughs among the colonies of guillemots and razorbills clinging to the cliffs.

Read more about visiting lighthouses in Wales.

Situated on the shore of the Menai Strait, Plas Newydd House and Gardens was once the home of the Marquess of Anglesey and dates back to the 18th century.

Now managed by the National Trust, it's a feast of ornate Neo-classical rooms, many with intricate wallpaper and fabrics. And it's packed with unusual furnishings. Perhaps the most remarkable exhibit is a vast mural painted by artist Rex Whistler who was a regular visitor to the house in the early 20th century. Outside there are gardens with panoramic views across the Menai Strait towards the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) - and also an Australian arboretum.

If you’re looking for kingfishers, woodpeckers and moorhens, this is the place.

The Dingle Nature Reserve is an ancient 25-acre wooded valley. It's a tranquil hideaway carpeted with bluebells in spring and home to all manner of wildlife. Footbridges, walkways and benches have been installed to make it easier to enjoy the Cefni river as it chortles its way through the trees. Keep an eye out for the sculptures by local artists including a dragonfly and giant seed pods.

Anglesey is also the home to the innovative food production business of the Welsh pure Halen Môn sea salt,  which is enjoyed around the world by chefs and food lovers. Their sea salt can be found in many delicatessens nationwide, and you can purchase some of the unique sea salt flavours at the on-site shop, including some local produce and artisan gifts.

All visitors can also take a behind the scenes tour of the Salt Cote or embrace the outdoor wild seaweed bath experience.

It's hard to choose a favourite, but Lligwy Beach is one of the nicest - a wide sheltered bay on the North East coast. The shore here shelves really gently and the water is shallow. There's plenty of golden sand too, so it's ideal for families with kids. Off-shore you might spot seals and dolphins and the consistent breezes mean it's also popular with wind and kite-surfers.

Llanddwyn beach, with its impressive sand dunes and beautiful coves, offers stunning views of Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Llyn Peninsula. The Tŵr Mawr lighthouse provides a prime spot for wildlife watching, including seals, dolphins, and occasionally minke whales. It’s an ideal picnic location in good weather and a place of natural beauty that is especially striking during the winter months.

Benllech is one of the most popular beaches on Anglesey. It has miles of golden sand and clear blue waters. People love sun bathing on the flat beach before having a paddle or trying SUP in the waters. It is accessible to those with wheelchairs or pushchairs and is very family friendly.

Beaumaris Beach straddles Beaumaris Pier and is known as a hotspot for yachting and the boarding point for boat trips to Puffin Island. It is part of the Anglesey Coastal Path (which is well worth exploring) and has panoramic views across the Menai Straits to Bangor, Snowdonia and Llandudno’s Great Orme. 

For a more rural hideaway, visit Porth Swtan (Church Bay), an unspoilt sand and pebble beach. Accessed via a steep footpath from Porth Swtan / Church Bay village, it feels hidden away from the crowds. Clamber along the rock pools, go swimming, fish or surf to make the most of the natural beauty.

If you’re after a wide beach with plenty of opportunities for activity, try Porth Dafarch, a sandy cove between Trearddur Bay and Holyhead. It’s a cycle-friendly beach with a slipway ramp and is popular with canoeists, SUPers and divers as well as families. 

You can hire stand up paddleboards (SUP), canoes and other watersports equipment from B-Active in Rhoscolyn, and FunSport or Gecko in Rhosneigr.

Find out more about the lovely beaches in North Wales.

Wales is home to literally hundreds of castles, but this is without question one of the best - a massive fortress of almost perfect symmetry.

Beaumaris Castle is the last great castle built, but never completed, under Edward I in the 13th century. At the time it was at the cutting edge of castle design. Lack of money and trouble keeping the quarrelsome Scots under control meant the south gatehouse and six great towers never reached their intended heights. Don’t for a moment let that put you off visiting though - there are plenty of spooky corridors and narrow spiral staircases just waiting to be explored.

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