Church Island (Ynys Dysillio) looking down the Menai Strait

On a recent weekend, Ann & I decided on the spur of the moment to have a couple of nights on the Isle of Anglesey. As Anglesey is a mere 80 miles from Liverpool, we can easily be there in under 2 hours, so a spur of the moment trip isn’t a hassle… especially if our Cath is at home to mind Elle (our Border Terrier).

Anglesey is somewhat of a favourite of ours, as for many years when our Cath was a toddler, and well into double figures (age wise), we would holiday there every year, in cottages or caravan, as the weather was always great in August/September…

Whenever we go… and cross the Menai Bridge from North Wales, to the Island… our first stop is always, Church Island to take in the view as a start to the break…

Celtic Cross on Ynys Dysillio to Menai Bridge

This weekend, we were staying at the Boathouse Hotel, Holyhead / Anglesey… where the views over the bay are great, but its quiet and out of the way, just how we like it. It also has a great bar and dining, coupled with a good English breakfast… what more could you want…lol.

Of an evening after a full day out, and feeling guilty for eating such a superb evening meal… you can take a stroll, past some really interesting photo opportunities, and walk into the Breakwater Country Park, and the 5km round trip along the Holyhead breakwater and back…

The old ‘Soldiers Point Hotel‘ was originally built as his family residence, by the Main Contractor appointed to build the 2.7km breakwater, which juts out from the port of Holyhead, which is one of the main ferry routes to Ireland… after the main contractor died, the residence was converted into a Victorian Hotel, in the 70’s due to a fire in the main structure, the hotel became derelict, but there are plans afoot to develop the site to its former Victorian splendor…. who knows ???

Wall to the now derelict ‘Soldiers Point Hotel’

Our first full day we went to the North of the Island at Newborough Warren, and parked down by the beach… if you should go… be sure to carry some change, as the way down to the beach has an unmanned cash only barrier… We parked up, and as it was quite a sunny day, decided to walk through the woods rather than take the beach walk to a favourite… Llanddwyn Island… Its quite a distance to walk, so be prepared as you will have to carry your photographic equipment there and back…lol. However, there are great photo opportunities to be had…

Fishermen’s Cottages (Llanddwyn Island)

Celtic Cross (Llanddwyn Island) looking to Snowdonia National Park

After the long walk back… we drove to our hotel, and after a great meal, a few drinks too many… a shorter walk tonight, then back in the bar… for a tipple before bed… we eventually hit the pillow…lol.

Next day, after breakfast, we headed up to the RSPB reserve of ‘South Stack‘ on Anglesey (see map), and parked the car… carried all our equipment down to the cliffs, including our spotting scopes, few a few hours of watching the local wildlife, including the birds, porpoises and seals on the cliffs or out into the Irish Sea…

Ellins Tower / South Stack / Anglesey

A quick change of camera to ‘visible light’, and a somewhat bigger lens out of the car, gave us a nice shot of a Peregrine Falcon, feeding its young way back on the cliffs…. a great weekend with good weather and added perks… lol.

  
Peregrine at South Stack