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Holyhead

Holyhead Mountain (Mynydd Twr) rises to 720 feet behind this town, which is the largest on Anglesey and is itself on an island - Holy Island. A busy rail and ferry terminal, especially for travellers to and from Ireland, Holyhead has all the facilities needed to cater for visitors passing through, although it is also, despite being something of an industrial and commercial centre, a seaside resort. Parts of St Cybi's Parish Church 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 name in Welsh) and on the site of a 6th century chapel. Close to the church is a smaller church, Egylwys Bedd, which reputedly contains the tomb of Seregri, an Irish warrior who was repelled by the Welsh chief, Caswallon Lawhir. 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.

At the summit of Holyhead Mountain, from where, on a clear day, Snowdonia, the Isle of Man and the Mourne Mountains in Ireland can be seen, the remains of Caer y Twr, a hill fort, are visible. Close by is Cytiau'r Gwyddelod, a hut settlement from the 2nd century.

The interesting Canolfan Ucheldre Centre, housed in a former convent chapel, is a complete arts centre for northwest Wales. Opened in 1991, it presents film, music and drama events as well as holding all manner of art and craft exhibitions and workshops.

A popular amenity just northwest of the town is Breakwater Quarry Country Park which incorporates Britain's largest breakwater. Designed by James Meadow and started in 1845, the structure took 28 years to build and shields an area of 667 acres. From the country park there are many walks along the coast, including a route to South Stack. This is a reserve of cliffs and heath teeming with birdlife such as 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 more than 400 steps. Above the harbour and breakwater is a memorial in tribute to Captain Skinner who drowned when his packet boat, Escape, was lost in 1832. Holyhead's Lifeboat Station, winner of 70 awards down the years, can be visited on Sunday mornings, with crew training at 10am.

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 bracing cliff top walks. Ellin's Tower Seabird Centre is another spot favoured by ornithologists with anything up to 3000 birds nesting in the cliffs. The tower was erected by William Stanley in memory of his wife. It was Stanley who did most of the excavation on the Neolithic hut circles, Cytiau'r Gwyddelod, just across the road from the Seabird Centre car park.

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