Isle Of Anglesey

Anglesey's towns and villages range from busy harbours to quiet inland settlements. Beaumaris draws visitors with its castle and seafront promenade, while Holyhead remains the island's main port, bustling with ferry traffic to Ireland. Amlwch and Cemaes sit along the rugged north coast, both with a strong maritime past and beaches nearby, whereas Benllech and Rhosneigr are firmly geared towards coastal holidays, the former known for its sands, the latter popular with watersports enthusiasts.

Inland, Pentraeth, Llandegfan, Llanerchymedd and Llanfachraeth offer a slower pace, with farmland and narrow lanes rather than crowds. Llanallgo is a small coastal community near Moelfre, ideal for those seeking peace close to the sea, while Valley serves as a useful stop near the airfield and beaches of the west coast. Together these places suit anyone wanting either lively coastal days out or calmer rural stays.

Anglesey's hotels and B&Bs spread across a mix of coastal towns and quiet farmland, giving visitors plenty of choice depending on what they want from a base. Beaumaris offers the grandest setting, with its castle and Menai Strait views drawing those after a traditional seaside town stay, while Menai Bridge suits travellers wanting easy access to both the island and the mainland via the two famous bridges.

Holyhead works well for ferry travellers or walkers tackling the Coastal Path, with guest houses such as Orient BandB and Applebys Guest House offering convenient stopovers. Elsewhere on the island, smaller farm-based options like Blackthorn Farm and Craig Eithin B&B put you closer to the beaches and hills, and places such as Eildon, Pandy Cymunod and Craig Avad give a flavour of the quieter, rural side of Anglesey away from the main towns.

Anglesey's attractions lean heavily on the coast, and the choice of days out reflects that. Beaumaris makes an obvious base, with its castle looking out over the Menai Strait and a beach that suits a slower afternoon. Further round the coast, Benllech Beach, Moelfre Beach and Red Wharf Bay offer sand and rockpools rather than visitor centres, while Breakwater Country Park at Holyhead gives walkers cliff paths and views out to sea.

For something more active, operators such as Ribride Adventure Boat Tours and Anglesey Adventures run trips out onto the water, a good way to see the island's cliffs and wildlife from a different angle. Elsewhere, small curiosities like LlanfairPG Station reward a quick stop, particularly if travelling with children keen to see the famously long place name. Menai Bridge and Pentraeth sit conveniently between the beaches and the bigger sights, making them sensible stopping points when planning a route around the island.

Anglesey's dining scene runs from harbourside seafood to no-frills cafes serving something warm after a walk on the beach. Beaumaris is the obvious place to start, with a cluster of restaurants and pubs making the most of its castle and seafront setting, including well-regarded spots like Sosban The Old Butchers Restaurant. Llanfairpwllgwyngyll and Llangefni offer a more everyday mix, useful for stopping between the bridges and the north coast.

Elsewhere on the island, places such as Ty Crempog and the Pilot House Cafe reflect the appeal of eating near the water, while Pili Palas and the Heritage Cafe suit a break from sightseeing rather than a big night out. With 128 places listed across the county, choice tends to depend on whether you want a proper sit-down meal or just a quick, honest plate of food.

Anglesey's coastline and quiet inland lanes make it well suited to camping, and the island's 53 sites reflect that variety, from simple touring pitches to glamping set-ups aimed at couples wanting a bit more comfort. Sites near Beaumaris tend to suit those wanting easy access to the Menai Strait and its castle town, while those around Holyhead put you closer to South Stack and the ferry routes for onward travel to Ireland.

Choice ranges from straightforward caravan sites such as Bryn Ednyfed Caravan Site and Ty Cochyn Caravan and Campsite to smaller, more rural spots like Pengraig Campsite and Llain Ffynnon Camping. For something less conventional, Tweety Pine Glamping and Wonderfully Wild offer a step up from canvas, while places like Plas yn Llangoed and Cymunod suit those looking for a quieter, more settled base to explore the island's beaches and coastal paths.

Anglesey's self-catering cottages range from converted farm buildings to coastal holiday pods, with 224 properties spread across the island. Barn conversions feature strongly, and groups such as Bronallt Barns and House In The Yard offer several separate units on one site, useful if you're travelling with other families but want your own front door.

Where you base yourself shapes the holiday. Properties near the coast put you within easy reach of beaches and the Anglesey Coastal Path, while those set inland, like Ty Copr's converted outbuildings, suit visitors happier with a short drive to the sea. Pods and smaller conversions, such as Anglesey Holiday Pods' Awel Deg and Bryn Hafod, tend to work well for couples, whereas farmhouses and stables convert readily for larger family groups.