South Stack Lighthouse (Ynys Lawd) is the picture that sells Anglesey — a white tower on a sea-girt rock, reached by a flight of steps down a cliff face streaked with nesting seabirds, with the open Irish Sea beyond. It sits on the western tip of Holy Island (Ynys Gybi), below Holyhead Mountain, and it’s one of the most rewarding half-days on Ynys Môn. Here’s how to do it.
The 400 steps
The lighthouse stands on its own islet, joined to the mainland cliff by a small bridge. To reach it you walk down — and back up — around 400 steps cut into the cliff. It’s steep and it’s a workout on the return, but it’s well-surfaced and railed. You don’t have to go all the way down to get the view: the clifftop above is spectacular in its own right, and the steps can close in high winds, so always check on the day.
If the lighthouse island itself is open (seasonal, and weather-dependent), you can cross the bridge and tour the tower and engine room. Check Cadw and the lighthouse’s seasonal opening before you set out — hours change through the year.
Puffins and the seabird cliffs
The cliffs here are an RSPB reserve, and from roughly April to July they’re crowded with nesting seabirds — guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, and the star attraction, puffins. The best vantage point is Ellin’s Tower, a small castellated former summerhouse the RSPB now uses as a seabird centre, with telescopes trained on the cliffs. Puffins are present in smaller numbers here than at the big colonies further offshore, so bring binoculars and patience — and see our dedicated guide on where to see puffins on Anglesey.
Out of the breeding season the cliffs are quieter, but the tide race below is one of the best spots on the island for porpoises, and grey seals patrol the base of the cliffs year-round.
Practical notes
- Parking: there’s an RSPB car park near Ellin’s Tower (charged; free for RSPB members), plus a smaller council car park.
- Getting there: South Stack is about 10 minutes by road from Holyhead — see things to do in Holyhead.
- Accessibility: the clifftop paths and café are level and manageable, but the 400 steps to the lighthouse are not accessible to wheelchairs or pushchairs — see accessible Anglesey.
- Time: allow 1.5–2 hours for the steps, lighthouse, and a look around Ellin’s Tower; longer if you climb Holyhead Mountain above it.
- Bring: binoculars, a windproof layer (it’s exposed), and proper footwear.
Best time to visit
For seabirds, come April to July. For calm seas and the clearest views to Ireland and the Isle of Man, pick a still, high-pressure day. Sunset here is one of the best on the island, with the light catching the tower and the sea below. Avoid the windiest days — not just for comfort, but because the steps and bridge close when it blows hard.
Steep steps, nesting puffins, and a lighthouse on a rock in the sea — South Stack earns its place on every Anglesey list.