©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd Anglesey & the North Coast Includes ¨ Why Go? Caernarfon . 268 This compact region can be boiled down to two essential Bangor . 272 things: castles and coast. Yes, there are look-at-me castles all Conwy . 276 over Wales, but few attract more admiring stares than the Llandudno . 281 glamorous trio of Caernarfon, Conwy and Beaumaris, which is why they’re recognised as World Heritage Sites today. Menai Bridge . 287 As for the coast, there’s a reason that Llandudno has been Beaumaris crowned ‘the Queen of Welsh Resorts’. Its genteel appeal (Biwmares) . 291 stands in stark contrast to the altogether more wild edges of Holyhead the Isle of Anglesey, where the echoes of the ancients can be (Caergybi) . 294 heard in the waves that batter South Stack and the breezes Rhosneigr . 298 that eddy around clifftop barrows. Beyond the sands and stones, this part of Wales offers rich opportunity for surfing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, kitesurfing, powerboating, paddleboarding, walking and Best Places birdwatching. You certainly won’t be bored. to Eat ¨ Blas (p271) ¨ Osteria (p271) When to Go ¨ Hayloft Restaurant (p276) ¨ May is both the sunniest and the driest month, and ¨ Watson’s Bistro (p279) Llandudno celebrates the warming weather with much ¨ Tredici Italian Kitchen Victorian merriment. Walkers will find it a good time to (p293) hit the coastal paths. ¨ Temperatures are highest in July and August, which are the best beach months, although average highs are rarely Best Places above 20°C. to Sleep ¨ In October, Gwledd Conwy Feast (p278) gives foodies an ¨ Victoria House (p270) excuse to start working on a warming layer of winter fat. ¨ ¨ Cleifiog (p292) The winter months give student musicians plenty of incentive to stay inside and practise for the Bangor Music ¨ Totters (p269) Festival (p274) in March. ¨ Bodysgallen Hall (p280) ¨ Château Rhianfa (p290) 266 Carmel Head #\ Cemaes #\ Amlwch Dulas Church 0¸A5025 Bay Bay Llyn Alaw 0¸A5025 Holyhead #\ Bay Moelfre ANGLESEY THE& Holyhead Mtn (220m) Isle of R Anglesey #\ #] Holyhead Benllech #5 South Holy Stack Island #\ Trearddur #\ Valley 0¸B5109 N ORTH CO /·A55 Anglesey #\ Llangefni Rhoscolyn #\ #– Airport A ST ST #\6 Rhosneigr # i n Llanfair PG & T & ef #\ C er H iv E NO E Barclodiad y Gawres R #7 Burial Mound 0¸A4080 Ø# #\ Plas R Aberffraw Newydd T H COAST HIG COAST Newborough #\ PlasØ# Menai Llanddwyn Island Caernarfon ##]2 hl IG Abermenai Point H TS 0¸A487 #\ #\ Dinas Caernarfon DinasÙ# Bay Dinlle 0¸A499 #÷ #\ Groeslon Parc Glynllifon Penygroes #\ Anglesey & the North Coast Highlights 1 Beaumaris (p291) Falling Byzantine beauty and strength of this perennially popular for the Georgian charms of of Caernarfon’s castle . seaside resort . Anglesey’s finest town. 4 3 Llandudno (p281) Conwy (p276) Savouring 2 Caernarfon Castle Discovering vast Bronze Age the history of the medieval (p268) Witnessing the mines alongside the Victoriana walled town, in the shadow of its mighty castle ..