04. Path Maps

The Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path is subdivided into 12 sections as shown below. The membership pack includes a sketch map for each of these sections.
Scroll down or click on the box to see a brief description of each section. Click on the links for 'Route Map', 'Route Directions' or 'Places of Interest' for maps, detailed clockwise path directions and places en route, which can all be printed. There is also a file with the whole route described on page (02) that can be read on a phone and there is an interactive google map on page (03). Path directions are altered as changes to the Path arise. Clicking on 'Google map' or 'Tide predictions' will take you to other sites. Mileages and ascents here have been measured by GPS.

1 - Holyhead - Church Bay Caergybi - Porth Swtan

Warning: It may help to the read Path Directions for this section

Although the start point of the walk is at St. Cybi's Church in Holyhead the initial short section to the embankment is shown on map 12. After the town, the Path passes through Penrhos Coastal Park over the embankment to Valley, the map for Section 1 is from here. The Path is attractive and low-lying with views back towards the port. There is now a new route around the Alaw estuary so there is no need to break there as instructed in some of the literature, however the estuary near the footbridge can be flooded at high tide, so check the tide tables.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Holyhead	Llanfachraeth	7.5	12.1	100
Llanfachraeth (footbridge)	Porth Trwyn (Llanfaethlu)	5.8	9.3	420
Porth Trwyn	Church Bay	1.2	1.9	100

Tide rushing through culvert under Ceri Williams
Stanley Embankment

2 - Church Bay - Cemaes Porth Swtan - Cemaes

Warning: Please be aware that on the inland route from Church Bay to Cemlyn the path goes through Mynachdy Farm, a large dairy farm which can be exceedingly mucky in places, especially in the area where the cattle go through to be milked.

The Path here includes some of the island’s most remote scenery and much of the coastline is National Trust. Rocky coves merge into steep cliffs that twist and fold all the way to Carmel Head, passing a sea arch and island at Ynys y Fydlyn. A section from here is closed in the shooting season, but there is an alternative inland route (see route directions). A nature reserve is crossed at Cemlyn before reaching Wylfa Nuclear Power Station, here owing to developments at the site the Path is subject to alterations but it is well marked. The section ends at the pretty, little village of Cemaes.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Church Bay	Cemlyn Bay	6.5	10.5	1850
Cemlyn	Cemaes Bay	6	9.7	880

Tern with fish at Cemlyn Ceri Williams

3 - Cemaes - Amlwch

Warning: Buses from Amlwch to Cemaes depart from Central Garage not from the library at present

This offers one of the most visually stunning sections of the Coastal Path..

Leaving Cemaes, the Path immediately joins the rocky cliff-tops and takes you on a dizzying journey past Llanbadrig church, Porth Llanlleiana and Porth Cynfor to arrive at the spectacular bay of Porthwen. Low, rocky cliffs follow, leading into Amlwch Port. Here, near the watchtower (in the middle of photo) you can look at a fascinating geological 'clock'.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Cemaes	Llanbadrig	1	1.6	150
Llanbadrig	Porthwen	2.5	4	950
Porthwen	Bull Bay	2.3	3.7	430
Bull Bay	Amlwch	2.5	4	350

Amlwch Harbour John Payne

4 - Amlwch - Moelfre

Leaving Amlwch Port along gentle heather clad terrain you could be forgiven for thinking this section of the Coastal Path is going to be easy on the legs. It is in fact, second only to section 12 in terms of height gain.

Once past Point Lynas, the landscape changes, taking in steep terrain with fine views eastwards. This diverse and often remote section of Path is characterised by the sandy expanses of Dulas estuary, Traeth yr Ora and Lligwy.

From	To	miles	km	ascent
Amlwch Port	Porth Eilian	2	3.2	460
Porth Eilian	Traeth Dulas	5.5	8.8	940
Traeth Dulas	Moelfre	6	9.7	800

Fish trap, Lligwy John Payne

Eric Chambers

5 - Moelfre - Pentraeth

Warning: the Path is diverted near Benllech owing to a landslip. Please view a map showing the diversion on page3: detailed maps There is also a diversion from Moelfre

This section of the Path, although short, offers a great variety of walking.

Starting from the attractive village of Moelfre, the Path takes a low level route to
Traeth Bychan.
From here, you are treated to a dramatic series of limestone cliffs, yet you are still sheltered by a thick hedge along much of the cliff edge. On reaching Benllech, the Path continues just above sea level around the western edge of Red Wharf Bay.

From	To	miles	km	ascent
Moelfre	Benllech	3.5	5.6	550
Benllech	Pentraeth (beach)	2.8	4.5	150

Limestone platform between Moelfre and Benllech Ann Harden

6 - Red Wharf Bay - Beaumaris Traeth Coch - Biwmares

There is now a stunning new route, closer to the coast which is well signed
This section of the Path probably feels the longest, as it involves a significant amount of shoreline walking.

You begin at sea level, taking in the eastern half of Red Wharf Bay before joining the top of a sea wall for a 500-metre stretch.
The new route from the beach towards Bwrdd Arthur is now open, climbing up here, you may wish that you were walking in an anti-clockwise direction, but the views through farmland to Penmon Point are an ample reward. The latter half of the walk follows the shore along a tidal route with fine views of the Carneddau mountains across the Menai Strait.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Red Wharf Bay	Penmon Point	8.6	13.8	600
Penmon Point	Beaumaris	5.5	8.8	440

Carreg Onnen Gwen Richards

7 - Beaumaris - Llanfairpwll

Warning: slight path change leaving Menai Bridge

Despite being largely road-bound, this section of the Path is enjoyable because of its attractive, elevated views along the narrowest section of the Menai Strait. The route passes under the historic Menai Suspension Bridge. The Wales Coast Path joins here. The route follows the Strait to the Britannia Bridge. It heads up and under the bridge before going down to St Mary’s Church, through the churchyard and along the shore to the hamlet of Pwllfanogl. There is now a detour inland around Plas Newydd so that the Path is complete with no gaps. You are advised to use the road route around Pen y Parc during winter months.

From	To	miles	km	ascent
Beaumaris	Menai Bridge	4.5	7.2	400
Menai Bridge	Llanfair PG ( Pwllfanogl)	2.9	4.7	360
Pwllfanogl	Moel-y-don	3.3	5.2	200

Menai Bridge and Belgian Promenade from Church Island

8 - Llanfairpwll - Moel-y-don - Dwyran (Llyn Rhos Ddu)

This is the flattest section of the Coastal Path and mainly keeps to the Menai Strait.

The landscape here is attractive; wooded farmland adjoins the shore and the mountains of Snowdonia and Caernarfon Castle provide a backdrop across the water.

You end the walk by heading inland to cross the Afon Braint over a memorable set of large stepping stones (now repaired) but beware they are covered at high tide and it is a long way round by Dwyran.

From	To	miles	km	ascent
Moel-y- don	Brynsiencyn (Llanidan)	2	3.2	175
Llanidan	Tal-y-foel	2	3.2	95
Tal-y-foel	Dwyran	4.5	7.2	451

Menai Strait Eric Chambers

9 - Newborough (Llyn Rhos Ddu - Aberffraw) Niwbwrch - Aberffraw

This section of the Path takes you through a National Nature Reserve where you can enjoy dunes, conifer forest and huge expanses of beach leading to the romantic island at Llanddwyn.

The remainder of the walk is a mixture of farmland and dunes, ending by joining the Ffraw estuary into Aberffraw itself. Snowdonia and the Lleyn Peninsula provide a powerful backdrop to the walk.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Llyn Rhos Ddu	Ynys Llanddwyn (end)	3.5	5.6	300
Llanddwyn	Malltraeth	5.75	9.3	170
Malltraeth	Aberffraw	5.6	9	360

Newborough Eric Chambers

Malltraeth estuary John Payne

10 - Aberffraw - Rhosneigr

This section of the Path highlights some of the island's best sandy beaches.

The Path follows low rocky cliffs as far as the burial chamber of Barclodiad y Gawres at Cable Bay (Porth Trecastell).

From here, huge expanses of beach backed by dunes stretch all the way to the Inland Sea beyond Rhosneigr.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Aberffraw	Porth Cwyfan	3	4.8	310
Porth Cwyfan	Porth Trecastell	2	3.2	200
Porth Trecastell	Rhosneigr	2.5	4	114

Aberffraw estuary Ann Harden

Porth Cwyfan at sunset Judith Bennett

11 - Holy Island South (Rhosneigr - Trearddur) Ynys Cybi De

From Rhosneigr the Path follows the shore, joining low-lying farmland to Four Mile Bridge where it crosses to Holy Island. The Path then heads slightly inland and through woodland.

After this, It closely follows a diverse stretch of coastline with rocky inlets, intermittent sandy coves and a series of striking cliffs in unusual colours.

You will pass the sea arches of ‘Bwa Gwyn’ and ‘Bwa Du’ before reaching a more developed section of coastline into Trearddur Bay.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Rhosneigr	Four Mile Bridge	7	11.3	800
Four Mile Bridge	Silver Bay	3.2	5.1	160
Silver Bay	Rhoscolyn	1.7	2.7	100
Rhoscolyn	Trearddur Bay	4.4	7.1	675

Cymyran Phil Jones

Bwa Gwyn John Payne

12 - Holy Island North (Trearddur - Holyhead) Ynys Cybi Gogledd

The island’s highest point is reached on this last section of the Path.
Once past the sandy bays of Trearddur, Porth y Post and Porth Dafarch you come to heather-clad coastline and towering cliffs as you journey on towards South Stack lighthouse and Holyhead Mountain. The mountain itself gives stunning views in all directions, allowing you to take in just how far you have walked, before heading down to the finish near the Port in Holyhead.

As the official start point of the Path is St. Cybi's Church, the map for this section also covers the first section to Valley.

From	To	miles	km	ascent ft
Trearddur Bay	Porth Dafarch	2	3.2	195
Porth Dafarch	South Stack	4.4	7.1	425
South Stack	Breakwater Country Park	3	4.8	1000
Breakwater Country Park	St. Cybi's Church	2.5	4	214

Holyhead John Payne