0.4 mi to RhosneigrWalking Holidays in Anglesey From a Cottage Base
Anglesey walking holidays work best when you finish the day with your boots off and the kettle on. A cottage gives you that: a base within easy reach of the island's coast path, room to hang up wet waterproofs and a hot tub for tired legs. Pick the east shore for Beaumaris and Penmon, the north for Cemaes Bay and Point Lynas or the west for Rhosneigr and South Stack. Plenty of the cottages take dogs too, so four-legged walkers needn't miss out. It all suits self-guided walking, since you set the pace. Use the filters on the cottages below to narrow by town, sleeps and dogs, then plan your days around the Wales Coast Path.
47 cottages, best rated first
0.4 mi to Rhosneigr
0.3 mi to Red Wharf Bay
0.4 mi to Rhosneigr
1.0 mi to Bull Bay
0.6 mi to Cemlyn
0.2 mi to Rhosneigr
0.7 mi to Red Wharf Bay
0.8 mi to Red Wharf Bay
0.9 mi to Cemlyn
0.6 mi to Red Wharf Bay
0.9 mi to Red Wharf Bay
0.3 mi to Rhosneigr
1.7 mi to Red Wharf Bay
0.7 mi to Cemlyn
1.6 mi to Red Wharf Bay
2.6 mi to Red Wharf BaySleeps 8 · 4 bedrooms · Dogs welcome
4-Bedroom Hot Tub House in Llanddona
Beaumaris, Anglesey
from £190 a night
6.5 mi to LlanddwynSleeps 2 · 1 bedroom · Dogs welcome
1-Bedroom Hot Tub Shepherd's Hut in Gaerwen
Gaerwen, Anglesey
from £76 a night
0.4 mi to Red Wharf Bay
6.4 mi to Llanddwyn
3.2 mi to Cemlyn
1.6 mi to Trearddur Bay
0.4 mi to Rhosneigr
0.7 mi to Red Wharf Bay
0.6 mi to Cemlyn
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Where should you stay for Anglesey walking holidays?
Think of Anglesey as a loop. The Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path is a circular trail of roughly 140 miles including the Llanddwyn Island detour, according to the Friends of the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path. It's part of the Wales Coast Path, which follows the Welsh coast for hundreds of miles. Walking operators often plan the full circuit over about 12 days. You won't cover that from one front door.
You don't have to.
Choose a base that puts several good stretches of the Anglesey coast path within a short drive. Then pick a walk each morning to suit the weather. A few miles of cliff top before lunch is a fine start to any day. Across the Menai Strait the Wales Coast Path carries on in both directions, so keen walkers can keep going on the Welsh mainland.
Our cottages range from small places for two to big houses for large walking parties, so a group can share one walking holiday under one roof. Our guide to where to stay in Anglesey compares the wider areas if you're still deciding.
Most Anglesey coastal path accommodation sold by tour operators means moving on every day. For walking holidays, Anglesey cottages let you walk a different stretch of coastline each morning and come back to the same base for a few nights, with a pub nearby at most of the cottages. Anglesey sits off the coast of north Wales, reached by road over the Menai Strait bridges. From the east side, Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) fills the horizon across the water.
East coast walking: Benllech, Red Wharf Bay and Beaumaris
Wake up here and the sea is never far away. Many of the cottages around Benllech and Red Wharf Bay are close to a beach or a pub, which is handy when your legs have done their share. From that area it's about 12 minutes by car to Moelfre, 14 to Menai Bridge and 15 to Beaumaris, where Beaumaris Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a good rest-day visit. Penmon Point is 25 minutes away at the tip of the peninsula, with views across to Puffin Island and its seabirds.
The drawback? South Stack is a long haul from here. Treat the west as a day out.
North coast walking: Cemaes Bay
The north coast is the quieter stretch. The path here passes Point Lynas and the ruins of the Porth Wen brickworks before reaching Cemaes Bay and Church Bay. Staying in Cemaes Bay puts that stretch of the trail close by. Point Lynas is good for wildlife, with porpoises and seals regularly seen off the headland. From Cemaes Bay, Point Lynas is about 19 minutes by car. The trade-off is distance: Beaumaris is a good way round the coast, so save the east for another day.
West coast walking: Rhosneigr and Holy Island
This is the base for South Stack. From Rhosneigr it's 26 minutes by car to South Stack, where the lighthouse sits below the cliffs. The steep steps down to it only open in advertised hours and Trinity House lists the lighthouse as closed for essential maintenance at the time of writing, so check before you plan on going down. The cliff-top walk doesn't depend on it.
The Llanddwyn car park at Newborough is 21 minutes away, then you walk out to a tidal island linked with St Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. Aberffraw is just 9 minutes. Holyhead Mountain, the highest point on the route, is close to Holyhead. You'll trade away the east: Beaumaris is a long drive from here.
| Walk start | Minutes from Benllech area | Minutes from Rhosneigr |
|---|---|---|
| Aberffraw | 32 | 9 |
| Holyhead | 36 | 19 |
| Llanddwyn Island car park | 27 | 21 |
| South Stack | 43 | 26 |
| Cemaes Bay | 27 | 35 |
Drive times are measured by road from the Benllech and Red Wharf Bay area and from Rhosneigr village.
Which walks should you do first?
Take a stroll from Beaumaris beside the Menai Strait, then follow the path by way of Llangoed to Penmon. The scenery opens out with every mile. Check the tide first, because Lleiniog on this stretch can't be passed at high water. That's one of the gentler days on the island.
On the west side, the walk out to South Stack is the big one. The lighthouse sits on a rocky islet with sea cliffs all around. The landscape changes fast on Anglesey: sweeping bays, woodland, saltmarsh, farmland and sea cliffs all turn up along the path.
Menai Bridge is worth a morning in its own right. Thomas Telford's bridge, completed in 1826, is widely described as the first major modern suspension bridge. Many walkers start or finish a stage here. Cross it on foot and look back along the Strait.
The trail is waymarked, but carry a map. A cottage base suits a mix of days: a long coastal stage one morning and a short loop to a village pub the next.
A sample itinerary for self-guided walking
- Beaumaris to Penmon: from the Menai Strait by way of Llangoed to the headland and Puffin Island views
- South Stack and Holyhead Mountain: sea cliffs and seabirds on the highest point of the route
- Llanddwyn Island: a tidal island walk to the ruins of St Dwynwen's Church
- Bull Bay to Cemaes Bay: a quiet stretch of north coast trail past the old brickworks at Porth Wen
Self-guided walking: what to check before you go
Some sections of the coast path are tidal, so the route can change with the water. The Friends list Lleiniog, Afon Braint and Four Mile Bridge among the spots you can't pass at high water. They also warn against crossing from Benllech Sands to Red Wharf Bay on a flood tide. Check tide times for the nearest port on the Friends of the Coastal Path tidal page before you set off. Never guess.
Local buses on Anglesey link many villages, so a one-way walk with a bus back is worth checking against current timetables. Bangor station on the mainland is a short bus or taxi ride from Menai Bridge.
Tour operators sell the Anglesey coast path as a package, with a different B&B or hotel each night and your luggage moved for you. Book a cottage and you unpack once.
- Choose your base by the stretch of trail you most want to walk before you book
- Check the sleeps for your whole walking party
- Look for circular walks if you want to finish where you started
- Use the dogs filter if a four-legged walker is coming
- Check tide times for any tidal section
- Pack a paper map as well as your phone
- Bring waterproofs and boots with grip
- Check bus timetables for one-way walks
When is the best time to go walking?
Walking operators suggest March to October for Anglesey. Spring brings lambs and early wildflowers along the path. Summer brings longer, brighter days. Early autumn is quieter and still good for a long stage.
If you're planning Anglesey walking holidays with a group, pick the cottage first. Then work out which stretches of coast path sit within your drive times.
Bring the dog on your walking holiday
Dogs are welcome at many of our cottages: browse dog friendly cottages or read about dog friendly beaches. Anglesey Council bans dogs from marked areas of some beaches from 1 May to 30 September, including Benllech, Beaumaris, Cemaes Bay and Llanddwyn, so check the council's beach maps before you walk. Ready to pick a base? Start from our Anglesey cottages and filter by town, sleeps and dogs.
Questions
How long does it take to walk the Anglesey Coastal Path?
Operators often plan the full loop over about 12 days, sometimes with a rest day. From a cottage base you can walk it in sections instead, using the drive times above.
Can you do a walking holiday from one cottage?
Yes. Pick a base and drive to a different stretch each morning. From the Benllech area, Moelfre, Beaumaris and Menai Bridge are all within 15 minutes by car.
When is the best time for walking on Anglesey?
Operators suggest March to October. Spring has lambs and wildflowers. Early autumn is quieter.
Are any parts of the coast path tidal?
Some sections are, including Lleiniog, Afon Braint and Four Mile Bridge, which can't be passed at high water. Check tide times for the nearest port on the Friends of the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path tidal page before you set off.
Can you bring a dog?
Many stays accept dogs. Use the dogs filter on the stays above. Anglesey Council bans dogs from marked areas of some beaches from 1 May to 30 September, so check its maps first.
Where does the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path start?
The Friends of the path name St Cybi's Church in Holyhead as the official start. Tour operators often start at Menai Bridge or Bangor. You can join the path at any point.