17 Nov 2025

The walk today started at the east end of ‘The Cob’ This is the local name for the Stanley Embankment which crosses the Cymyran Strait between Holy Island and Anglesey. It carries the A5 London to Holyhead road and the Crewe to Holyhead railway. Thomas Telford wanted a more direct route for his road to Holyhead avoiding the old Four Mile Bridge which until 1823 was the only crossing point. The railway was completed later in 1848. Part way along, culverts allow water to pass from one side to the other according to the tide and when I crossed there was a strong current flowing through it.

After crossing The Cob the path travels north around Penrhos Coastal Park. Here I came across a hand painted Anglesey Rock on a bench. I didn’t know what it was, but I later found out that it’s a fun group activity. People paint rocks and leave them for others to find. If you find one you are encouraged to photograph it or take it with you and photograph it in various locations you visit. You can then place it somewhere else for others to find. There’s a dedicated Facebook page called “Anglesey Rocks” where you can see photos.

Woodland was planted at Penrhos in the 19th century and is home to a population of red squirrels. According to the information board the squirrels are most often seen high up in the canopy but unfortunately I didn’t see any. Did see a lot of goldcrests though (the smallest bird in the UK). Shortly after a pet cemetery, a lady passed me by while I was looking at the birds though my binoculars. She tried to pass me quietly but broke a small branch as she stood on it. I didn’t notice but she apologised when she met me a bit further on. Her name was Jenny and was having a short break on Anglesey from her home in St Helens. (Thank you Jenny for your donation).

The path skirts some fields and passes the ruins of a gun battery dating from the Napoleonic wars. After that it goes along Penrhos Beach and then more fields on the edge of the town of Holyhead. There were signs here warning visitors to keep out of the area between the path and the coast. It had been invaded by the notorious Japanese knotweed and was being treated to try and eradicate it. It can cause a lot of damage to surfaces and watercourses and reduces the diversity of native plants. It’s roots travel far and a new plant can regenerate from tiny pieces left in the ground. It takes a lot of time and effort to get rid of it.

At a small industrial estate I past some impressive sheds in a small industrial estate. They belong to “Men’s Sheds Cymru”, which is a group for men who have time on their hands due to retirement, unemployment or bereavement and need a space to do build or repair things or simply do whatever hobby they’re interested in. It’s especially good for men who are feeling isolated and lonely. If you want to know more visit the Men’s Sheds Cymru website.

The path joins the intriguingly named Turkey Shore Road and follows this road to the roundabout at the ferry and rail terminal. It then goes through the station building and across the stainless steel Celtic Gateway Bridge into the town centre. This was opened in 2006 to provide direct access to the railway and ferry terminals from the town centre and incorporates various artworks. Holyhead has been looking quite downtrodden and shabby but I noticed that a lot of renovation and improvement work was going on in the town centre. This is part of the £3.25 million Holyhead Townscape Heritage Initiative funded by the UK government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The main streets should look a lot better when the work’s finished.

[Continued in Part 2…]