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 Town - 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.

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 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 & 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 Snowdonia - and also an Australian arboretum. The house is undergoing extensive renovation so check the National Trust website for details.

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.

Normally the Anglesey Farmers' Market is held every third Saturday of each month, but check local listings for details. There's usually a huge range of mouthwatering local produce on sale including delicious Welsh Black beef and fresh crab caught along the Anglesey coastline, as well handmade cheeses, homemade chutneys and all sorts of tasty cakes.

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.

Look at a map of Anglesey beaches and you'll see there are six Blue Flag beaches, including Benllech, Porth Dafarch and Llanddwyn, plus a beach with a Seaside Award.

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.