snowdonia - Travels for Taste

In and Around Holyhead – Day 1 and 2

It’s never easy to try and summarize all the wonderful feelings one goes through on vacation especially in such a scenic place like the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales. The many lakes, mountains, nature trails, and remains of many magnificent castles make it difficult to not only go visit the best ones but also to do justice to the travelogue by giving useful information to anyone else trying to plan a trip. I don’t promise to live to these expectations I have and as a reader am sure you will to but I shall try my very best.

Hubby and I both gave serious thought to how we should see Wales and decided to start with North Wales to satiate my desire to see beaches and his to see the mighty Snowdon. I love that we could do both in one trip. Since it was pretty much a last-minute trip I had like a few hours to research, call the BnB’s that I had shortlisted, book, and draw up an itinerary. Thankfully all the honest and helpful reviews on TripAdvisor and the many listings on sites like Booking.com helped me plan our trip.

Will try and share as much of our experiences our this week back in 2013 as I can, I am loving seeing our photos and chatting with my husband about how amazing this trip was – as I write it up – makes it all the more enjoyable revisiting a week of fabulous sightseeing and an unexpected achievement!

Day 1: Arriving from London to Holy Head by train: Euston – Chester – Crewe – Holyhead

We boarded a Virgin Train from Euston- these super fast electric horses that take you to your destination in a flash! I love that as it allows for one to use the rest of the day quickly settling in and walking around familiarizing oneself with the new place and basically collecting brochures, finding a good place to eat and just getting a good local ale from a local pub – always a pleasure in Wales as the Welsh locals wherever we went were very warm, welcoming and chatty.

After 3 train changes ones getting that familiar feeling that … of being well out of London city limits. The First Great Western Rail -a charming 3 coach train journey that whizzes past brilliantly beautiful beaches from Crewe to Holyhead.

The evening we arrived we went to a local pub which is very to Travel Lodge – and a Black Sabbath tribute band called Electric Funeral played some really cool numbers. Love the unexpected I say!

After our unexpected beer evening at The Blossoms where we were swinging away, we could only find emergency food, late at night,at the Globe Cafe next door, it a small little place but very – VERY busy on weekend evenings – try their curry sauce it’s weirdly yum after lots of beer 😉

Day 2: Trearddur Bay

Day 2: Spent eating, drinking beer, walking around Trearddur bay…sand under our feet, the sea breeze in our hair… and just chilling – the days of doing nothing without guilt – umm – how rare are these days…

I am truly a sailor’s daughter and the allure of miles of sandy beaches with views like that … I find simply irresistible. We met a fit couple who were walking the coastline of Wales, having just sent off their youngest out in the world, they finally had taken off for themselves – I love bumping into people like that, always very interesting and at times highly inspiring.

Rockpools abound, one can walk along the beach or go on boating and fishing trips or even scuba diving. Enthusiastic people can even get walking all the way towards South Stack and the stunningly beautiful old lighthouse and RSPB Reserve.

Bus service from Holyhead to the beach is available, the bus service is not great but dependable, we left around 4 pm and had to wait for less than 15 mins for a ride back into town, not bad huh? Check bus time-tables here.

In my next post I shall share some photographs of our walk along with South stack where we had breathtaking views of the sea and the walk up to the lighthouse, a visit to a quiet secluded beach, and an unplanned visit to a quaint tea shop in Cemaes Bay.

We stayed at Travel Lodge while in Holyhead, as their ad’s claim the beds are very comfortable, it was exceptionally warm. as we went there in the last week of July. Don’t bother taking their breakfast deal, go out and discover the village, you will find a decent breakfast place or two in the smallest of towns – only advice – wake up early – after 11:30 am scope of getting scrambled eggs on toast is bleak.

Inspired to Travel and discover Wales for yourself? Here are a few tourist information sites you might find useful:

P.S: This is from my travel diaries back in 2013, have been meaning to share my travel tales forever now, finally shall share all my adventures so far in the coming months!