The Anglesey Coastal Path (Llwybr Arfordir Ynys Môn) circles the entire island — roughly 125 miles of cliff, cove, dune, and saltmarsh, and now part of the longer Wales Coast Path. Walking the whole thing takes most people 10 to 12 days. But the best news for a visitor is that you don’t have to: the path breaks neatly into day sections, and a handful of them are as good as coastal walking gets in Britain. Here are the ones to pick.
Walking more of the path? Grab our free printable Coastal Path checklist — an A4 logbook to tick off all 12 official stages, track your miles, spot the wildlife along the way, and sign the certificate when you finish.
South Stack & Holyhead Mountain (Holy Island)
The most dramatic section. The Holyhead Mountain walk climbs Anglesey’s highest point (220m) on Holy Island (Ynys Gybi) and drops to the seabird cliffs at South Stack, where guillemots, razorbills, and — from April to July — puffins pack the rock faces. Big sea views, an Iron Age hillfort, and the white lighthouse offshore. Around 4–6 miles depending on your loop; moderate, with some climbing.
Rhoscolyn coves (Holy Island)
Gentler than its northern neighbour but just as rewarding, the Rhoscolyn coastal walk loops past hidden coves, a tidal arch, St Gwenfaen’s holy well, and clear water where seals shelter. Around 4 miles, with a good pub option to finish. Moderate.
Penmon Point (east coast)
A short, easy, rewarding stretch at the island’s eastern tip. The Penmon Point walk takes you past the priory, the dovecote, and the lighthouse, looking across the water to Puffin Island. Flat and family-friendly — around 2–3 miles. Easy.
Moelfre & the heritage coast (east coast)
The Moelfre coastal walk runs north from the lifeboat village past the Royal Charter shipwreck memorial and on toward Lligwy, with the option to detour inland to the ancient village of Din Lligwy. Around 4–5 miles, easy to moderate, with Ann’s Pantry in the village for a finish.
Newborough & Llanddwyn (southwest coast)
The gentlest of the famous ones. From the Newborough Forest loop through the pines to the dunes and out along Newborough Beach to tidal Llanddwyn Island — red squirrels, a white lighthouse, and the mountains across the water. Flat, around 5–6 miles for the full loop. Easy, but check Llanddwyn’s tide times.
Cemlyn Bay (north coast)
The Cemlyn Bay walk follows a shingle ridge between a brackish lagoon and the sea, past one of the UK’s largest Sandwich tern colonies (May–July). Quiet, flat, and wild. Around 3 miles. Easy.
Tips for walking the path
- Waymarking: the route is marked with the blue-and-yellow Wales Coast Path acorn-and-dragon-shell logo. It’s well signed, but take an OS map (Explorer 262 and 263 cover the island) or a GPS app for the quieter stretches.
- Tides: a few sections, including Llanddwyn and some estuary crossings, are affected by the tide. Check before you set off.
- Terrain: mostly good underfoot, but cliff sections near South Stack and Rhoscolyn have drops — keep dogs and children close.
- Transport: Anglesey’s rural bus network can link some start and end points, useful for linear walks. Driving between trailheads is slow on the lanes (8 miles ≈ 20 minutes).
- Weather: this is an exposed coast. The wind off the Irish Sea can turn a calm morning brisk by lunchtime — carry a windproof layer year-round.
Pick one section, walk it slowly, and you’ll understand why people come back to do all 125 miles. For a flavour of the wilder water along the way, our wild swimming guide maps the best places to get in.