Holyhead, Wales, Great Britain cruises
Holyhead Port Guide.
Situated on Holy Island in the Isle of Anglesey, just a stone’s throw from the Welsh mainland, Holyhead is a charming and charismatic port to explore, as rich with history as natural beauty.
Neolithic burial chambers, Bronze Age standing stones and a walled Roman fort are just a handful of the archaeological treasures awaiting discovery, while further afield you’ll find the pretty Welsh town of Beaumaris with its impressive medieval castle. The Castle is one of four fortresses built by Edward I on the North Wales Coast that together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The three others are Harlech, Conwy and Caernarfon.
Holyhead is also perfectly positioned for quick and easy access to the Welsh mainland, offering the chance to explore Snowdonia National Park; home to Wales’ highest mountain Mount Snowden, or delightful Ffestiniog with its steam heritage railway.
Top landmarks and sights in Holyhead.
From its Bronze Age standing stones and Neolithic burial chambers to its walled Roman fort, Holyhead is full of fascinating archaeological sites spanning myriad periods in Wales’ history. Journey to Beaumaris Castle, the last Royal Stronghold created under King Edward I who ruled England in the late 13th Century, or cross the Menai Strait via one of Anglesey’s Victoria-era suspension bridges.
Holyhead Mountain, the highest peak in Anglesey, is another of the island’s impressive sights. Home to nesting birds such as Eurasian Oyster Catchers and Atlantic Puffins, its heather-clad peak offers panoramic views as far as Ireland on the clearest days. While, in summer, it’s not uncommon to spot families of grey seals sunning themselves on the rocks where the Irish Sea laps the mountain’s base.
Things to do in Holyhead.
Holyhead is the perfect port call to discover Anglesey’s wild and untamed beauty. The coastline here is truly spectacular, switching from craggy cliffs sprinkled with verdant pastures to mudflats, marshes and inviting sandy beaches. To make the most of the time you have on shore, consider taking a panoramic Anglesey tour. These island circumnavigations allow you to sit back and absorb the views as expert commentary narrates your journey.
Another interesting thing to do while in Holyhead is to head over the Menai Strait to mainland Wales. Both Mount Snowden and the Fjestiniog narrow gorge railway at Porthmadog are easily reachable on a day’s Shore Experience from Holyhead and offer a chance to immerse yourself in the beauty of Wales’ magnificent Snowdonia National Park.
At almost two centuries old, the Ffjestiniog steam railway is the oldest narrow gorge railway in the world and a slice of history in itself. Along the 13.5 mile journey, you’ll climb to elevations of 700 feet above sea level, clinging to the side of mountains as you take in breathtaking scenes of lakes, forests and waterfalls from the luxury of your heritage railway carriage.
Holyhead culture and history.
Holyhead’s history is diverse and far-reaching, with evidence pointing to signs of human settlers here as far back as Neolithic times. Holyhead also boasts remnants of Bronze Age and Iron Age structures, while what remains of a Roman Fort (believed to have fallen out of use around the start of the 5th century) still stands proudly in the town today. Two churches, St Cybis and Eglwys y Bedd, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries, are also among Holyhead’s oldest surviving buildings.
While Holyhead has been acting as a gateway to Ireland as far back as the 16th century, the town really began to take shape in the 19th century when it was chosen as the location for a strategic port linking London and Dublin. A breakwater, constructed from stones quarried from Holyhead Mountain and taking 28 years to build, was completed in 1873. Today it shelters an area of around 660 acres, allowing both commercial and passenger ships to moor safely.
Holyhead port facilities and location.
The port of Holyhead, which features a specific berth for cruise ships, is around half a mile from town and 400m from the nearest train station. Although you won’t find any shops at the port terminal, a shuttle bus is provided to ferry cruise ship passengers safely from port to the town centre and Holyhead’s main shopping areas where souvenir shops sell local Anglesey crafts.