Overview
Môn Mam Cymru, the Welsh call it, the mother of Wales, because for centuries its fields fed the mainland. It also holds more of the country's past than anywhere its size.
In one loop you walk the stone walls of a Romano-British village at Din Lligwy, see Beaumaris in its moat, and stand on a hillside that copper mining turned red, orange and purple. At South Stack the seabirds roll in the wind below you. At Newborough you cross the sands, tide allowing, to Llanddwyn, the island of St Dwynwen, patron saint of Welsh lovers.
It ends at the station sign everyone photographs, with the longest place name in Europe.
- Duration
- 1 day
- Group size
- Up to 7 guests
- Vehicle
- Mercedes V-Class
Includes
- Expert bilingual local guide
- Travel in a Mercedes V-Class
- Daily pick-ups & drop offs
- Fully customisable
Excludes
- Flights, transfers and accommodation
- Food and drink
- Entry fees to attractions
- Castles
- Heritage & culture
- Coast & beaches
Itinerary
Ynys Môn, end to end
Over Telford's bridge and up the east coast to Beaumaris and Moelfre, the lifeboat village off whose rocks the Royal Charter went down in 1859. Round the north to a church St Patrick is said to have founded, out west to the lighthouse and seabird cliffs of South Stack, and back by way of a 5,000-year-old burial chamber.
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Telford's 1826 span, the world's first major suspension bridge
Thomas Telford's suspension bridge of 1826, the first major one in the world, crossing the Menai Strait where the ferries used to run. The small town on the Anglesey bank takes its name from it, with a waterfront walk to Church Island, and shops and restaurants near the bridge. -
Elegant Georgian seaside town with its World Heritage castle and cafes
A small Georgian town on the Menai Strait, laid out beside the last of Edward I's castles, which sits in its moat at the top of the main street. The Victorian pier looks across the water to Snowdonia and up the strait to Puffin Island. Independent cafes, restaurants, gift shops and galleries, and the old courthouse and gaol to visit. -
An ancient settlement on Anglesey dating back to the Roman period (late 1st c...
A Romano-British settlement hidden in trees above Lligwy Bay, occupied into the fourth century: two round houses and several rectangular buildings inside a stone enclosure wall, the masonry still standing to a good height. Nearby are the Lligwy burial chamber, a Neolithic tomb under a huge capstone, and the ruined 12th-century chapel of Hen Capel Lligwy. -
Whitewashed coastal village with a small harbour and sea views
A picturesque coastal village on the Anglesey Coastal Path, offering stunning views of the Irish Sea and the surrounding countryside. The village retains its traditional charm with whitewashed cottages, a small harbour, and a lovely beach. -
A vivid copper-mined landscape of red, orange and purple rock
Copper was dug here in the Bronze Age and by the Romans, but Parys Mountain's great age was the late 18th century, when it was the largest copper mine in the world and its ore sheathed the hulls of the Royal Navy. Women, the copar ledis, broke the ore with hammers on twelve-hour shifts, and children carried it to them. What is left is a hillside stained red, orange, purple and green, with a marked trail around the open pit. -
One of the oldest churches in Wales, on the north Anglesey coast
Is located in the town of Llanbadrig on the northern coast of Anglesey. It is one of the oldest churches in Wales, with origins dating back to the 5th century AD. According to tradition, the church was founded by St Patrick himself during his missionary work in Wales and Ireland. The current building dates primarily from the 13th century, though it has undergone various renovations and restorations over the centuries. -
Clifftop seabird colonies around one of Wales's most photographed spots
A lighthouse of 1809 on a rock off the west coast of Holy Island, reached down 400 steps and across a bridge: an island off an island off an island. The cliffs hold thousands of guillemots, razorbills and puffins in early summer, and choughs all year, and the RSPB's rare-breed sheep graze the heath above. Above the car park are the Iron Age hut circles of Tŷ Mawr. -
Tidal island and dune reserve with Snowdonia views, a 90-minute walk
Are part of the Newborough Warren and Ynys Llanddwyn National Nature Reserve. The island also features an old lighthouse. You can take a walk along the island's trails, enjoy the beach, and take in the panoramic views of the surrounding coastline and Snowdonia mountains. -
A 5,000-year-old Neolithic burial chamber, remarkably well preserved
The Mound in the Dark Grove: a Neolithic passage tomb on Anglesey, around 5,000 years old, built on top of an earlier henge, so that it is two monuments in one, tracing a change in belief. You can walk into the chamber, where a stone carved with spirals stands. The passage is aligned so that the rising midsummer sun lights the chamber. -
The village with Europe's longest name, and the photo to prove it
The village with the longest place name in Europe, 58 letters, stretched to that length in the 1860s as a stunt to bring visitors to the new railway station. It still works: everyone stops to be photographed under the station sign. The name means roughly 'St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and St Tysilio's church by the red cave'.
What guests say
This was my third trip to North Wales and my husband’s first as I have family in North Wales but Anglesey was one area of Wales that I had not explored as much. Considering Anglesey is the “Mother of Wales” and an ancient Druids stronghold we wanted a more immersive experience. If you have never been to Wales, trust me when I say, easy immersive navigation is not what you’re going to find!
We decided to book John for the day and we experienced so much more than what we expected, on the tour day and beyond! As a Welsh born tour guide, John is thoroughly schooled in the history, beauty, the people, and the “must do/see” spots. He navigated us through places that I really would not have thought advisable to attempt and we experienced such a wonderful day with him. Not only did we have the opportunity to walk-through and see some of the most significant places of Anglesey, we had the opportunity to talk with some of the locals and business owners that he knew.
If you are on the fence about booking John for your very special trip to an even more special part of the world, just hop right off and do it. He is a warm, considerate, knowledgeable and accommodating person that can give you so much more than you would ever get on your own! AND, he consistently checked in on us during our remaining days “on our own” providing recommendations for other places to visit.
Thank you, John, for an amazing experience!
We had a fabulous day trip with John. Excellent communication via email/phone/text before we arrived. John made a custom day trip for us and even on the day we switched things up a bit. He grew up on Anglesey, so is very knowledgeable about the area and will take you to his favorite spots. We wished we had booked more than one day as there is so much to see here. If you want an awesome guide, book with John.
Frequently asked questions
- Can we change the itinerary?
Yes. Every tour we run is customised, so treat this itinerary as a starting point. Tell us what interests you and we will build the days around it.
- Can this tour be combined with other tours, or made longer or shorter?
Yes. A day tour can be built into a multi-day tour, and a multi-day tour can be shortened, extended or joined to another. Tell us how many days you have and we will plan around them.
- Are admission fees included?
No. Entry to castles, gardens and other attractions is paid on the day, where a fee applies. Many of the castles are cared for by Cadw, and we can advise on the best-value tickets when you book.
- Is food included?
No. As we tour we will suggest eating places that our guests have enjoyed.
- What should we wear and bring?
Sensible footwear for some light walking, and a rain jacket, just in case.
- How much walking is involved?
Some, and none of it strenuous: the walk from the car to a castle gate or a viewpoint. If walking is a concern, tell us and we will plan the stops accordingly.
- Where should we stay?
Somewhere central, so that touring time is not spent driving to the start. Our accommodation advice lists places our guests have used, and we are happy to suggest a base for your tour.
