Isle of Anglesey

The Isle of Anglesey (Ynys Môn) is a county and island off the northwest coast of Wales, separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait. The island covers about 276 square miles (roughly 715 km²) and its administrative centre is Llangefni. Main transport hubs include the ferry port at Holyhead and RAF Valley airfield on the west side. Local economy mixes agriculture, ports and light industry, and the island has its own council, roads and rail links to the mainland.

Coastlines vary from dunes and saltmarsh to rocky cliffs; the Anglesey Coastal Path runs the island’s shoreline for around 125 miles. Historic sites include Beaumaris Castle and the copper-spoiled slopes of Parys Mountain near Amlwch, a visible reminder of 18th-century mining. South Stack lighthouse sits on a small stack off Holyhead’s coast and attracts seabird colonies. Towns and villages range from Holyhead and Amlwch to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, the station with the long Welsh name that often draws attention in its own right.