Anglesey

An island in northwest Wales with the village that has the world's longest place name, the seabird cliffs at South Stack Lighthouse and the dunes of Llanddwyn Island, all with views across to Snowdonia's mountains.

Anglesey (Welsh: Ynys Môn) is the largest island in Wales, off its northwest corner, separated from the mainland by the narrow Menai Strait and linked to it by the Menai Suspension Bridge and the Britannia Bridge. To its west lies Holy Island, where the port town of Holyhead has ferries to Dublin, Ireland. The island has about 200 km (125 miles) of coastline, most of it designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and the round-island Anglesey Coastal Path, about 210 km (130 miles) long, is a classic hiking route. The island can be explored in four parts: the southeast shore of the Menai Strait, with its two historic bridges, Plas Newydd, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll — the village with the world's longest place name — and the Neolithic tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu; the eastern tip, with the small town of Beaumaris, Penmon Priory and Puffin Island; the southwest, with Newborough Forest's dunes and Llanddwyn Island, the island's most beautiful beach; and Holy Island in the west, with South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead Mountain and Breakwater Country Park, whose sea cliffs teem with seabirds in spring and summer. The north and northeast coasts are dotted with the fishing village of Moelfre, Red Wharf Bay, Benllech beach and the old copper mine at Parys Mountain. The best time to visit is May–Sep, and Apr–Jul is breeding season for puffins, guillemots and other seabirds; summer days are long but windy, so bring a windproof jacket. Winter is wet and windy, and many attractions have shorter hours or close. Getting there: trains from London Euston take about 3.5–4 hours to Holyhead, passing the station with the longest name along the way. Buses on the island are limited, so driving is most convenient, and most major sights are within 30 minutes of each other. Plan on 2–3 days, staying in Menai Bridge, Beaumaris or Holyhead, and combine your trip with Caernarfon Castle across the strait in Snowdonia. Note: the route to Llanddwyn Island is cut off at high tide, so check tide tables; the clifftop paths are windy, so keep well back from the edge.

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