Our Anglesey walking tour is designed to give “A taste of Kudu” for newcomers to our company and remind experienced Kudus of this island, anchored on the north-west corner of Wales by Telford’s suspension bridge and Stephenson’s Britannia bridge.
Our Anglesey walking tour is designed to give “A taste of Kudu” for newcomers to our company and remind experienced Kudus of this island, anchored on the north-west corner of Wales by Telford’s suspension bridge and Stephenson’s Britannia bridge.
From megalithic ruins to Druidic battles and the re-emergence of the Welsh language and culture, we journey through both time and space to explore the past of Anglesey and its inhabitants. Myths and legends populate the hidden corners of the island which, though small, features many opportunities to uncover places and people.
Our final days in Portmeirion showcase the very different fantasies of one man, while displaying the beautiful Llyn peninsula.
DAY 1
L, D included
Meeting at Holyhead train station around midday, we transfer by road to our lunch stop before continuing to Church Bay on the west coast. We visit the local heritage museum housed in the lovingly restored 17th century Swtan thatched cottage. Our introductory walk follows an easy section of the Anglesey Coastal Path to a secluded shingle beach overlooked by the rocky islet of Ynys y Fydlyn. Our hotel for 3 nights is in Cemaes Bay.
DAY 2
B, L, D included
A 30 minutes’ drive returns us to Holyhead where we visit the historic St. Cybi’s (of whom more later) Church situated within the walls of the Caer Gybi Roman fort. The nearby South Stack Cliffs RSPB reserve protects a vital breeding area for guillemots, razorbills and puffins as well as the atmospheric remains of an ancient settlement, now mostly overgrown by heather and bracken. Weather-permitting, it may also offer stunning seascapes with waves crashing against the rocks below the Trinity House lighthouse.
DAY 3
B, L, D included
This morning we explore the extraordinary Parys Mountain, a source of copper ore known since the Bronze Age. We continue further into the interior of Anglesey, to Oriel Mon in Llangefni. This modern purpose-built edifice houses the island’s history museum and a gallery showcasing contemporary local artists, together with a rather pleasant café. Our walk today is on the south coast and takes us to St. Cwyfan’s Church in the Sea.
DAY 4
B, L, D included
On a hillside overlooking Lligwy Bay, we discover three monuments dating to three distinct time periods. The oldest is the Lligwy Cromlech, a burial chamber estimated to be up to 5000 years old. A short distance away is an extensive site revealing the remains of the ancient settlement of Din Lligwy, probably settled around 200 BC. Finally, we pause at the ruined 12th century Hen Capel Lligwy. In the afternoon, we rejoin the Coastal Path along Red Wharf Bay (Traeth Coch), bordered by sand dunes and salt marshes and designated as a nature reserve. We continue to Beaumaris, where a waterfront hotel is our home for the next 3 nights.
DAY 5
B, L, D included
We travel by boat towards Puffin Island (Ynys Seriol), situated at the northeast entrance of the Menai Strait. During the 1.5 hour trip we learn the history of the monastery, founded on the island in the 12th century, and the 19th century telegraph station. A Special Protection Area established on the island more recently is home to great cormorants, guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and recovering numbers of puffins. The afternoon is dedicated to exploring the Penmon promontory. Near the actual Point, our walk offers good views of the Penmon Lighthouse and Puffin Island, before continuing to the 6th century monastery founded by St. Seiriol, a contemporary of St. Cybi, whom he would meet regularly in the middle of the island.
Today, we walk in the nature reserve protecting the river Cefni estuary, sand dunes and saltmarshes, as well as the adjacent Newborough Warren. This tidal area is an important feeding ground for birds such as pintail, shoveler, redshank, curlew and snipe. In the afternoon, we investigate the Chambered Tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu, sometimes described as the ‘Stonehenge of the North’. Our final stop today is an award winning restoration project, the Hidden Gardens of the Plas Cadnant Estate.
Plas Newydd, a National Trust property on the north bank of the Menai Strait, merits a full morning’s visit. We tour the house and its gardens and parkland. Crossing the Britannia Bridge, we bid farewell to Anglesey and head for the western tip of the Llyn peninsula, where we walk in the charming former fishing village of Aberdaron. Our final destination today and home for 2 nights is the unique folly village of Portmeirion.
We spend the day exploring the fantasy Mediterranean village designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975. We walk through a series of gardens and on the river Dwyryd estuary.
Our journey concludes with a morning transfer to Bangor railway station.
Please note that the single use room supplement is imposed by the hotel and not by Kudu Travel. If you are willing to share but no other suitable guest books on the trip, we regret that the supplement will be payable.
VALUE FOR MONEY - SO MUCH IS INCLUDED
On Kudu trips, you will only need money for postcards, presents to take home, the odd G & T or an irresistible ice cream. Festival and opera tickets, museum and gallery entrances, National Park fees, all meals (with a very few exceptions specified in individual itineraries), wine with lunch and dinner, access to specialist books carried by the guides, gratuities for porters and hotel and restaurant staff, boat rides, train trips, internal flights, wine tastings, 4WDs with drivers, the services of skilled local guides and trackers etc are ALL INCLUDED in the cost of your holiday.
We are confident that, like previous very satisfied guests, you will discover that our tours give you excellent value for money.
Visitors from the EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to the United Kingdom. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest British Embassy. At present, there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Britain.
Insurance
It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents. If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.
Size of Party
This trip will run with a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 14 guests.
