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Cycling in Anglesey
Cycle Ride from Holyhead
Coves & Cliffs
A ride on Holy Island with beautiful and sometimes dramatic coastal scenery
Route: Holyhead - Penrhos coastal park - Rhoscolyn - Trearddur Bay - South Stack - Holyhead Map: OS 50,000 Landranger No. 114. Photos of the ride
Distance: 20 miles (23 miles including the detour to the Breakwater Country Park at Holyhead)
Ascent: Mostly easy; after Trearddur Bay the route undulates between a succession of coves with quite a stiff climb before the last one; then you have rather a long slog gaining 90m height up to South Stack.
Start: The promenade (free parking) or railway station, Holyhead
The Ride
Go east along the promenade and turn right at main road, taking care as the road is often busy.
Turn Left at traffic lights just after railway station
Straight ahead at next traffic lights and shortly turn Right at small roundabout signposted cycle route 5
Turn Left at T junction signposted cycle route 5 and when the road head is reached in less than a quarter of a mile continue on the cycle path parallel to the beach
After less than half a mile straight ahead go through white gate signposted Penrhos Farm (rather than the less scenic adjacent path on the right with the official NCR 5 & 8 signs)
Immediately after a left-hand 90 degree bend by the cricket pitch Turn Right and go through side gate near the farm and continue through two more wooden side gates
Turn Left at junction of tracks and pass along another beach
Turn Left at a cemetery for pets and then keep Left after passing by side of wooden gate
Go along a final beach, past a car park and the toll house cafe
Turn Left on to cycle path to go along the Stanley embankment by the side of the A5
Cross a side road by following cycle route 5 signs and then cross the A5 and go straight ahead along the unclassified road
Turn Right at T Junction and go over bridge over A55
Go straight ahead at mini-roundabout
Turn first Left signposted Rhoscolyn
Turn second Left (after one and three quarter miles) signposted Traeth/Beach
Leave bike locked in car park while you visit this very beautiful cove
Return to the junction with Beach sign and Turn Left
Keep Left after 2 miles
Turn Left at T junction (B4545) and retrace route to Trearddur Bay
After a little over a mile Turn Left opposite a petrol station into Lon Isallt with small brown sign saying South Stack
Always Keep Left ignoring 2 right turns
Turn Left at the sign Ynys Lawd/South Stack
Go to the cafe near South Stack (three quarters of a mile) and take a short stroll to see the cliffs and the views (and in May-June the flowers) and visit Ellin's Tower
Go a little further on road to see South Stack
Retrace your route to the first junction where Turn Left
After 2 miles when you are in the outskirts of Holyhead.
Turn Left into New Park Road (signposted Beach and Town Centre) and continue down to the promenade
(If time allows it is worth doing the three mile there and back detour to the Breakwater Country Park:
Turn Left at the promenade and Left again at a large stone Country Park sign opposite the marina and continue along the lane to the country park)
Points of Interest
Penrhos Coastal Park has two cycle path routes. This ride goes by the slightly longer one visiting several unspoilt beaches and pools and is more scenic that the officially signposted one for NCN routes 5 and 8.
Rhoscolyn is an exceptionally attractive beach with the mountains of the Lleyn peninsula making a striking backdrop. It is well worth exploring on foot if only briefly, taking a short walk along the right hand side of the cove and perhaps going a little way on to the headland.
Trearddur Bay is a small resort with fine sands and numerous rocky islets and rock pools and is a popular spot for water sports enthusiasts. Just after Trearddur Bay you pass a succession of delightful small coves.
South Stack is a mecca for rock climbers for it is an area of breathtaking sea cliffs where thousands of birds nest in season. They can be seen during the breeding season from the observation deck in Ellin's tower, which belongs to the RSPB. In May and June there is often a profusion of sea flowers along the cliff edge path. The sensationally situated lighthouse (see photo) can be visited.
Holyhead has a pleasant sea front where the departure and arrival of the Irish ferries can be observed. There is a Roman fort and a fine church. The Breakwater Country Park (see detour, which is well worth making) nestling under the dramatic limestone cliffs of Holyhead mountain is an attractive beauty spot with a fishing pool and and well presented archaeological remains of the quarry used over 150 years ago to acquire the stone for Holyhead's 2 mile long breakwater.
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