All About Anglesey
Anglesey, or Ynys Mon as it is known in Welsh, is an island off the coast of North Wales. It covers an area of 276 square miles, and has a coastline some 125 miles in length. Two thirds of the coastal path is in a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.
Anglesey was also known as Mon, Mam Cymru, or Anglesey, the Mother of Wales, because its fertile lands were considered capable of providing sufficient food for the whole of Wales. You will see Mon, Mam Cymru if you arrive on the island by car, as it is on the signs welcoming you to the island on both of the two bridges.
In addition to the island itself, there are a number of other islands. In fact, the main port at Holyhead stands on a separate island called Holy Island. This is joined to the main island of Anglesey at two points, Four Mile Bridge to the west, and the Stanley Embankment to the east. In addition to Holy Island, there are a number of other islands, such as Llanddwyn, Porth Cwyfan, the Skerries, West Mouse, Middle Mouse and East Mouse, Ynys Dulas, Ynys Moelfre, and Ynys Seiriol or Puffin Island.
Our aim is to give you a flavour of Anglesey, whether with a view to encouraging you to visit on holiday, becoming an Anglesonian, or simply to enable you to share with us one of the wonders of Wales. Where place names are shown in italics, they are the Welsh names. You may note the English name is often not a direct translation of the Welsh equivalent. For example, Menai Bridge is the English name for that town, and Porthaethwy is the Welsh one. A direct translation of the latter would be the Port of Aethwy, Aethwy being an ancient Celtic tribe. The English name of Menai Bridge would only have come into use following Thomas Telford's construction of the suspension bridge over the Menai Straits, which was not completed until 1826.
External Weblinks
These are external links. Please note we have no control over the content displayed in these pages. If any link appears broken, or shows incorrect content, please email us at
Isle of Anglesey County Council
Official site of the County Council, with local government information and services online.
Tyddyn Mon
A centre for helping adults with learning difficulties, on a smallholding. Open to the public most days.
Llys Llewelyn
A rural accommodation and tourist information centre, with shop, gallery and cafe.
Holyhead Mail
One of two local weekly newspapers.
North Wales Chronicle
The other one!
Mentor Mon
An organisation set up to attract inward investment into Anglesey, mostly into businesses and communities.
Daily Post
The daily newspaper focussing on North Wales.
Swtan
A fully restored 17th century Welsh thatched cottage
Anglesey Show
All you need to know about the Anglesey Show, its events and its grounds at Mona.
Anglesey Walking Holidays
The local experts who offer tailor-made holidays on the Anglesey Coast Path, including accommodation and luggage transfer.
Campsites.co.uk
The listing for campsites on Anglesey
Welsh Food and Drink
What imagine does that bring to mind? Lamb would be an obvious choice, as would leeks, but whisky and wine? Well, Anglesey is also known as Mon, Mam Cymru, or Anglesey, the mother of Wales. This stems from the fertility of its soil and mild climate, and means that Anglesey was considered able to produce sufficient food to provide for the entire population of Wales.
This productivity is reflected in the fact that at Llanbadrig, on the north coast of the island, over 6,000 vines are grown in their own micro-climate, producing grapes for both red and white wines.
On this page, we look at some notable Welsh foods, the majority of which you can expect to find on Anglesey. You should note that there are many variations both in terms of recipes, and even basic ingredients, no doubt based on availability of produce in the days before fridges and freezers.
Anglesey Eggs or Wyau Ynys Mon
Eggs, leeks, potatoes, cheese, breadcrumbs and nutmeg make up this historic Anglesey dish.
Bara Brith
The name roughly translates as 'speckled bread'. Bara brith will be found in almost every eatery on Anglesey. It is a yeast bread, spiced up with dried fruit. Bara brith tastes best when fresh out of the oven, but can be toasted if required. In times past, when the oven would be lit for baking only once a week, the dried fruit would be added to the last mix at a time when the oven was starting to lose its heat.
Welsh Cakes
A very common teatime treat, welsh cakes are cooked in a griddle, or heavy frying pan. Also sometimes known as bakestones.
Lobscows
This is a traditional North Walian stew, and, contrary to popular belief, the name has nothing to do with Liverpool. In fact, its origins appear to be Norwegian. Be that as it may, the principal ingredients are beef, marrow bone, onions, carrots, swedes and potatoes.
Welsh Rarebit
The rarebit emphasises the absence of meat, and rabbit will not be found here. Instead, it is cheese on toast with a difference. The difference is the addition of beer, mustard, egg yolk, and sometimes Worcester sauce, the whole being topped with grilled tomato slices.
Cawl
A soup, or a stew, with ingredients frequently depending on seasonal availability, with lamb and leek being particularly common. At one time, bacon was used instead of the more expensive lamb. Cawl is considered to be better for reheating, and it would frequently be made the day before it was intended to be eaten.
Lavabread (occasionally laverbread)
This is the odd one out, as it is more popular in South Wales. it is seaweed high in vitamins and iodine, and often served with oatmeal and cockles.
Welsh Whisky or Wysgi
Unfortunately, not a product of Anglesey, but still worthy of a mention. The distillery is at Penderyn, in South Wales.
Wine or Gwin
As we mentioned in our introduction, Anglesey has its own vineyard at Llanbadrig, near Cemaes.
Events on Anglesey
We have listed the major events on Anglesey. However, we strongly advise checking with the event organiser direct for up to date information.
June 2025
20th - Anglesey Yoga Festival, The Old Rectory, Rhosybol
21st - Dylan's Bread Making Masterclass, Llangefni
27th - Campfire: Country Music Festival, Anglesey Showground, Gwalchmai
27th - Amlwch Harbour Walking Tour, Amlwch
28th - Proms In The Park, Llanfairpwll
July 2025
3rd - Wildlife of Anglesey with Iolo Williams, RSPB South Stack
9th - Menai Heritage Family Guided Walk, Menai Bridge
17th - 20th - Folk on the Farm Festival, Tyddyn Mon, Brynrefail, Dulas
31st - Netwalking Anglesey, Menai Bridge
August 2025
12th and 13th - Anglesey Agricultural Show, Anglesey Showground, Gwalchmai
16th and 17th - Menai Food Festival, Menai Bridge
November 2025
8th and 9th - Anglesey Winter Show, Anglesey Showground, Gwalchmai
If you would like your event listed on this page, then email us at