Four Mile Bridge To Holyhead (2019-09-16)

Eurwyn was in early to pick up our suitcases this morning, so we left the hotel by 9:30 am, on the final day of our 8 day semi-circumnavigation of Anglesey.  It had rained overnight, but nothing in the forecast for the day ahead, for our last 12 km into Holyhead.

Anchorage Hotel, Four Mile Bridge

Our walk began with a 2 km backtrack to rejoin the coastal path at Valley.  From here we crossed the Stanley Embankment, which joins Holy Island to Anglesey, and is 1.2 km long.

After crossing the embankment we ventured into Penrhos Coastal Park, where the path passed through a small wood.  I was excited to see a large number of headstones in one part of the park, and always being on the lookout for dead relatives, I had to investigate further.  But I don’t think that I have a Sooty, Dickie or Tiggy Puss in my family tree.  These are truly Welsh pet names....it was a pet cemetery.

Pet Cemetery

The path then followed the contour of the coast, as Holyhead and the mountain behind became larger.  The Seabourn Ovation (ultra luxury cruise ship) was in port and we watched the Dublin ferries coming and going as we walked toward the town centre.  We could also see the west coast of Anglesey, which we walked down yesterday, across the bay.

Approaching Holyhead

After a brief stop at the railway station to pick up train tickets for our travel to Conwy tomorrow, we crossed the Celtic Bridge to the town centre, and finished our walk outside the church of St. Cybi, about 120 km from our start in Beaumaris.  We were pleased to complete the walk without injury, not even a blister between us, and were very happy with the services provided by Eurwyn and Gillian at Anglesey Walking Holidays, who arranged all the accommodation, transported us and our luggage as required, and provided up to date, day-specific notes and directions, that only a local company could provide.

We Did It!

We then continued on to our last hotel, the Boathouse, which is on the opposite side of Holyhead, so more kilometres and substantially more elevation gain.  By the time we walked into town for dinner at Simply Street (which was an excellent choice), we ended the day having walked over 20 km with 520 ft. of elevation gain.  Holyhead could perhaps be called Hillyhead.

The Boathouse Hotel, Holyhead

Tomorrow we are off to Conwy for our next adventure.