Guide: Gems to visit on Ynys Môn part i (Anglesey)

A wild Welsh island with storybook lighthouses and magical coastlines.

Breaking normal service to bring you some recommendations for Ynys Môn (the isle of Anglesey) the island I call home, since I am asked at least once a week by a friend where is worth a visit.

I’ve tried to focus on some of the less-obvious spots below, though perhaps one or two have slipped in simply because there is a reason they are famous (eg Newborough beach)

The island in my mind is standout in its beauty and in its amazing produce. When it comes to food then, if you love simple, seasonal eating then my first recommendation would almost always be to pick up a picnic and take it somewhere beautiful. There are an infinite number of spots for that.

There is far too much for one post, but here’s a starter…

Gems to visit

Porth Tyn Tywyn

• One of my fave swimming beaches, sandy and ideal for a cold glass of wine in front of the sunset

• Dreamboat food truck - veggie food that the owners make from their own garden, only there seasonally

• Also a mobile sauna called Sauna Bach. Really recommend this, take water to drink, don’t wear jewellery (it’ll burn you as it heats up) and be brave and have a sea dip too.

Porth Tyn Tywyn

Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens

• Really beautiful and unexpected, outside Beaumaris, check online for opening times, also has a National Trust vibe cafe

+39 cafe

• The friendliest team in Jane and co in Menai Bridge. Go early for the foccacia sandwiches - tomato and mozzarella, or bacon if that’s your bag. You can order bruschetta by the metre! They import lots of stuff from Italy, so you can pick up good oil and artichokes if you fancy too.

Porth Wen brickworks

• My brother found this a few years ago and I’ve been a few times since. A hidden Victorian brickworks which is an amazing walk off the beaten track. Not good if you have a buggy etc, be warned.

The Swellies cafe

• The best fry-up, on a pretty marina in Felinheli. It’s a favourite with locals so shhh keep it to yourself.

Newborough beach leading to Llanddwyn island

Llanddwyn island

• Hands down the most beautiful beach in Wales. Sorry Pembrokeshire. Check the tides if you want to reach the lighthouse. Be prepared to pay for parking. Park Run here every Saturday with a lovely forest route and option for a bracing dip afterwards

• There is also a smaller car park offering a different access but you’ll have to buy me a pint of Cwrw Llyn before I tell you where that is :-)

Halen Môn Sea Salt

• My family’s business so perhaps a biased recommendation, my apologies for that

• We run behind the scenes tours of how we make sea salt, which is in the top 10% of TripAdvisor’s listings

• There is also a lovely kitchenware/gift shop that my mum and I do all the buying for

• Seasonal Wild Seaweed Baths - come and bathe in a recycled whiskey barrel filled with mineral-rich seaweed and hot water. Very good for your skin.

• We also have a coffee shop with a beautiful view - check the website for opening times. V good coffee and cake.

View from Halen Môn in winter

Church-in-the-sea/ St Cwyfan’s (title image)

• The most beautiful tiny little church on its own tiny island. Impossibly romantic. Have been there for concerts in the past, and it’s also got incredibly dark skies so go and enjoy some star gazing. Check the tides if you want to walk onto the little island. Fun fact, ‘Cwyfan’ is ‘Kevin’ in Welsh.

Hawthorn Yard shop

• Just the loveliest shop run by my friends Sue and Simon in Menai Bridge - vintage, antique, prints, paintings, plants, ceramics etc

• A lot of things in my house are from them. Sue is also a talented florist so can usually be found behind a cloud of forget-me-nots and dahlias.

Janet Bell shop

• Scandi arty shop and gallery run by an artist, who has also opened another one in the tourist town of Rhosneigr

Hooton’s Homegrown

• A farmshop in Brynsiencyn selling seasonal gems - asparagus, pumpkins, strawberries at various times of the year. James also does hot potatoes now from his van (sounds so much better than baked potatoes)

& Caws cheesemongers

• I’m a big fan of this little cheese shop in Menai Bridge. Good to stop by for a picnic or lunch, and they have pop-up supper clubs most Fridays along with really nice wines, including biodynamic Welsh ones.

Spice Island restaurant + takeaway

• In Menai Bridge, my fave Indian, some nice street food options, plenty of veggie, and a very welcoming team.

Jones Pizza restaurant + takeaway

• They have a menu of what they call ‘bougie’ drinks (Aperol, negroni etc) and do the most amazing Neopolitan style pizza using local ingredients.

Chippies

• My friend Kiri and I disagree on the best ‘sglods’ on the island. Top for me has got to be Enoch’s, who have strong sustainability credentials and do deep fried sprouts at Christmas. I also go to Seawave in Menai Bridge and the Codmother in Newborough. But Kiri might give you different answer if you ask her. A chippy is a personal choice.

The Gazelle pub

• A breath-taking view and just the best place for a beer and some scampi fries.

The Bull’s Head pub

• My late grandad Ian’s favourite spot for a pint of bitter in Beaumaris. A roaring fire in winter, steeped in history.

More to come….