Making the most of Holyhead Wales
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Approaching from the west, ships pass South Stack Lighthouse, which rises 60m above the sea.
The nearest train station is 400 meters away. Town centre distance: 0.8 km / 0.5 miles.
Holyhead is a deep-water port operating 24 hours daily. Its new cruise pier has an alongside depth of 10.5 meters and can readily take large ships. Vessels above 300 merters anchor instead.
The pier is too long for passengers to walk and walking on it is not permitted, so cruise passengers and crew receive a free shuttle to the town centre and shopping district. Coaches have ample quayside parking, and quayside can offer a warm welcome and occasional entertainment. Hand-crafted Anglesey souvenirs are available nearby.
Bring a printable map.
Anglesey has a long, ancient Celtic past. A Druid stronghold during the Roman Invasion, it was called Ynys Dywyll, or the Shady Isle, and regarded as one of the Druids’ most sacred and magical places.
Holy Island lies off the west coast and contains Holyhead, Anglesey’s largest town and North Wales’ main seaport. This lively place has a distinct character, an award-winning Maritime Museum and the Ucheldre Arts center.
Britain’s largest island off the mainland holds many hidden treasures and a deep history. It is said that Anglesey has more historically important sites per square mile than anywhere else in Britain. Beaumaris Castle is a World Heritage Site and, in many views, Europe’s finest example of medieval military architecture. See the 18th century manor, Plas Newydd, beside the lovely Menai Straits and traditionally home to the Marquess of Anglesey. Ancient churches, burial grounds and hermits’ huts are among the religious remains scattered across the island.
Getting around
Make sure that any private tour you arrange can be cancelled without penalty, because rough seas can sometimes mean the ship cannot dock.
Holyhead is a typical UK village, with narrow streets, shops, plentiful pubs and a notably hilly setting.
A private-hire taxi or tour company is likely the best option. Consider Carnaerfon Castle, about 35 mins away, then the excellent National Slate Museum at Llanberis, a further 8 miles. It has one of the slate industry’s small steam railways, although not among the finest. From there, drive 25 minutes below Snowdon through Snowdonia Nat Park to Betws-y-coed, an attractive but rather touristy village. Continue down the Conwy valley to Conwy and its smaller, well-preserved castle, then return via Menai Bridge. If time permits, buy souvenirs at llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysilio gogogoch on the way back. (I’m not…
Nearby places
Anglesey is home to one of the world’s longest place names: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. It offers a day out and a real flavour of Wales. William and Kate, the Royal Couple, lived on Anglesey. The long-named town, LlanfairPG, is not really worth a special journey; without its name, no one would visit!
A few miles away, Ynys Llanddwyn is a beautiful stretch of land on Anglesey’s south coast where Dwynwen, the patron Saint of Welsh lovers, is buried.
Holyhead is well placed for the Irish Sea Cruise Market. World-famous Snowdonia National Park is only 30 miles from port, while Caernarfon Castle is 40 minutes away by road.
Money
For local crafts and souvenirs, head to Market Street, the main shopping area.
The pound (£) is used across the UK, and pounds are also called quid. Scottish bank notes are not well received elsewhere in the UK, so exchange them before leaving Scotland.
Cash machines, or ATMs—also called “holes in the wall”—are extremely common and normally give out £10 and £20 notes.
Most shops and restaurants accept Visa, Mastercard and Maestro.
Staying connected
English is used throughout the country, though some accents are strong.
Welsh is Wales’s language and remains widely used in some areas. Welsh people take great pride in their country and language.
The local library provides free internet access.
Dial 999 for local emergencies; the EU-wide number 112 also works.
Opening Hours and
General shopping hours are:
Small stores trade 6 or 7 days a week (10am - 6pm). Larger stores usually stay open until 9PM, while Hyper marts often operate 24/7.