Menai Strait Spectacular Llanfair PG to Menai Bridge on the Isle of Anglesey
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Menai Strait Spectacular Llanfair PG to Menai Bridge on the Isle of Anglesey A walk of unfolding delights; not just the world famous Menai Suspension Bridge built by Telford in 1826 and the Britannia Bridge built by Stephenson in 1850, but also a mighty statue of Lord Nelson, tidal lagoons, a Church on a tiny island surrounded by the racing tides and beautiful views up and down the ever-changing Menai Strait that separates the Isle of Anglesey from mainland Britain. A walk you'll remember forever. " Distance 11.02 miles / 17.7 km Duration 4-5 hours Difficulty Easy Starting from Marquis of Anglesey's column Car Park Menai Strait Spectacular www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk !1 / !4 www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk Trail Map ! ! !Key ! ! ! ! Car Park Tourist Attraction Castle/Stately Lighthouse/Tower ! Harbour/" Walks/Trails Berth/" Flora Café/Restaurant Mooring ! Sculpture/" Place of" Bridge/River Accommodation Monument Worship Crossing Public! House/Bar ! ! ! Menai Strait Spectacular www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk !2 / !4 Chapters ! Chapter 1 Arrival and the Marquess of Anglesey Column The walk begins at parking lot below the Marquis of Anglesey's column. The first thing to do is follow the trail through the small woodland to the Column, which is well worth a visit, and is described in features. The view from the top gives a wonderful panorama across the Menai Strait to the rugged hills and mountains of Snowdonia. It also shows you the walk you're about to enjoy, exploring the shoreline of the Strait. Once !back down exit the parking lot onto to the main road and turn right. Chapter 2 Past the toll house to the Strait Walk along the main road until you come to an old eight sided toll house, now converted to a private residence, across the road. Turn down the road that goes off to the left of the toll house, taking care as you need to cross this road when the pavement jumps from side to side. Five minutes down this road you'll come to a lane going off to the left at 90 degree. Finger posts for both the Isle of Anglesey Coast Path and the Wales Coast Path direct you to turn down this lane, which has a tall stone wall running down the right hand side. The lane descends and eventually bends to the right and you will arrive at the shoreline of the !Menai Strait. Chapter 3 Pwllfanogl to Nelson's Statue Your first sight of the Menai Strait will be at the tiny cove of Pwllfanogl, with an old stone mill, a couple of homes, and maybe a spectacular motor boat moored alongside the quay. (see features). Follow the shoreline along to the left, enjoying an old stone pier, fine views of the Strait and the fine building of the Indefatigable Centre with the modern watersports barn attached to it. You'll then come to a stretch of natural shoreline, eventually leading to the large stature of Lord Nelson, standing proud on his tall plinth. !(see features) Chapter 4 St Mary's Church to a Fat Lion Just passed Lord Nelson's statue the route leaves the shoreline and goes through the graveyard to St Mary's Church, which contains monuments to those who died building the Britannia Bridge. Exit the church yard via the main gate and follow the finger posts passed the hotel until you are underneath the Britannia Bridge. Continue on as far as you can and you'll come to two 'fat' lion statues that can be seen from the !train but not from the Britannia Bridge roadway overhead (features). Chapter 5 Britannia Bridge from top to bottom Meander back the way you came, taking some time to enjoy the wonderful graffiti on the bridge pillar. The trail descends along the side of the bridge all the way to the Menai Strait, where a grassy meadow is a perfect place for picnics. The engineering structure of the bridge, from both before and after the fire, are on !display, a testament to engineering skill across the centuries. Chapter 6 Nature along the Strait shoreline Cross over the brook and head east along the shoreline for a mile. Along the way you'll encounter pristine a pristine tidal lagoon, a nature reserve, Coed Mor, which is maintained by the National Trust and a long Menai Strait Spectacular www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk !3 / !4 paddock with a fenced off oak tree in the centre of it. The land around the tree can get a little boggy. Just !off shore are a series of tiny islets, washed constantly by the raging tides. Chapter 7 Detour Around the Cartrefle Estate Follow the path along the eastern wall of the paddock to the wooden stairs, where you'll come up onto the busy A5 road into the town of Menai Bridge itself. Follow the road to the right, passed the Lodge of the Cartrefle Estate, which has a large house which you'll see in a little while from the Straitside. It is now divided into a series of flats. Continue along passed four modern terraces on your right hand side and then !turn right down Rhyd Menai lane. Chapter 8 Rugby Ground, Church Island and the Belgian Promenade Walk around the Rugby pitch, keeping it to your left until you reach the shoreline. Follow this to the left and you'll come to wonderful Church Island. Take some time to explore the church and the pathways among the graves. There are wonderful views of the Strait and Cartrefle stately home. When you're done, return across the stone bridge and turn right along the Belgian Promenade, taking some time to see monument !collaborating the building of the walk. Chapter 9 Telford's 'Menai Bridge' and the harbourfront Carry on along the Promenade until the bridge is just ahead of you. You'll climb up the pathway to the left onto Beach Road, which will take you under the bridge. After admiring the bridge from below, you'll see the working harbourfront of Menai Bridge stretching before you, with views beyond to Beaumaris and the Great Orme on the horizon. Here you'll find some lovely waterfront homes, as well as some interesting pubs and !restaurants. Chapter 10 Town of Menai Bridge Before the bridges, the town of Menai Bridge was the ferry port for those crossing between the mainland and Ynys Mon. So it is an ancient town that today has a thriving town centre, full of galleries, shops, a ironmongers that hasn't changed in many decades and cafes and resturants. Climb up passed the public !parking lots into the centre of the town and explore! Chapter 11 Return on the Main Road This is such as special walk that we suggest you return to your starting point by either public transport or taxi. www.traveline-cyrmu has full bus information and the taxis are operated by PG Cars on 01248 716503. Well worth a visit for a photo stop is the train station at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which, of course, is the longest train station name in Britain and arguably, the world. There is a large modern tourism attraction next door, based on the name. From here it is a half mile easterly walk back through the village of Llanfair PG to the starting point. Menai Strait Spectacular www.walkingnorthwales.co.uk !4 / !4.