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Holyhead

Holyhead Mountain (Mynydd Twr) rises to 720 feet behind this town, which is usually called the largest on Anglesey though it actually sits on another island off Anglesey’s coast, Holy Island. A busy rail and ferry terminal, especiall for travellers to and from Ireland, Holyhead has all the facilities needed to cater for visitors passing through. It is also, despite being something of an industrial and commercial centre, a seaside resort. Its origins lie back in the times of the Romans and the early Celtic Christians. Parts of the Parish Church St Cybi date from the 14th to the 17th century and it is situated within the partially surviving walls of the small Roman fort, Caer Gybi (the source of Holyhead’s Welsh name), and on the site of a 6th-century chapel. St Cybi, who died in AD554, was the brother of St David, patron saint of Wales, and he came here at the end of his life. His friend was St Seiriol of Penmon (see also Penmon). The shrine and relics of St Cybi were removed to Dublin by Henry IV’s army when it invaded Anglesey, but were lost at the Reformation. Close to thechurch is a smaller church, Eglwys Bedd (Church of the Grave), which reputedly contains the tomb of Seregri, an Irish warrior who was repelled by the Welsh chief, Caswallon Lawhir, in AD550. The town’s triumphal arches, built in 1821, commemorate George IV’s visit here as well as the end of the A5, the major road from London.

The interesting Canolfan Ucheldre Centre is housed in an old convent chapel. It is an arts centre for northwest Wales opened in 1991, and presents both film, music and drama events as well as holding all manner of art and craft exhibitions and workshops Salt Island (Ynys Halen), close to the town centre, is self-explanatory: a factory was built here to extract salt from the seawater. Rock salt was added to improve the sea salt’s quality, and when an excise duty was charged, smuggling flourished, particularly between Four Mile Bridge and the Isle of Man, where sal was duty free.

While the town itself is not without interest, it is the immediate surrounding area that draws most visitors to Holyhead. Four Mile Bridge connects Holy Island to Anglesey, and was so called, not because it is four miles ong, but because it is four miles from the ferry terminal in Holyhead. Its old name was Pont Rhyd Bont. Breakwater Quarry Country Park, just northwest of the town, incorporates Britain’s largest breakwater. Designed by James Meadow and started in 1845, the structure, which shields an area of 667 acres, took 28 years to construct. From the country park there are many walks along the coast, including a route to South Stack. This is a reserve of cliffsand heath teeming with birdlife, including puffins, guillemots and razorbills. The RSPB visitor centre is open daily, the café daily in summer, and the lighthouse is open daily in summer for guided tours.The lighthouse, one of the most impressive in Wales, was built in 1809 and stands on a beautiful but dangerous site reached by a steep stone stairway of over 400 steps. Above the harbour and breakwater, is a memorial to Captain Skinner, who drowned when his packet boat, Escape, was lost in 1832.

At the summt of Holyhead Mountain, from where, on a clear day, Snowdonia, the Isle of Man and the Mourne Mountains in Ireland can be seen, there is evidence of an ancient settlement. The remains of Caer y Twr, a hill fort, are visible and, close by, is Cytiau’r Gwyddelod, a hut settlement from the 2nd century.

Between South Stack and North Stack lies Gogarth Bay, where the RSPB sea bird centre includes a cavern, known as Parliament House Cave, which is used by a profusion of sea birds such as puffins, guillemots and even falcons. Visitors here can also watch the thousands of cliff-nesting birds via live television pictures, and enjoy the beautiful cliff top walks. Ellin’s Tower, in the centre, is another spot favoured by ornithologists.

Aua diving, windsurfing, water skiing and fishing are soe of the many attractions of Trearddur Bay, a popular part of Anglesey’s extensive coastline that lis just to the southwest of Holyhead. With large sandy beaches, clear water and safe bathing, it is obviously popular. The Georgian house, Towyn Lodge, on the south side of the bay, played host to Thomas Telford while he was working on what is now the A5 road in the 19th century. A portion of the bay, Porth Dafarch, isowned by the National Trust. Trefignath is a chambered cairn with two tall pillars at each side of the entrance.

Down the years, the crew of Holyhead’s lifeboat have won an amazing 70 awards. The Lifeboat Station can be visited on Sunday mornings, when crew training takes place at 10am.