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Holyhead Mountain walk

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This walk was done using a GPS device and we've included GPS marker points with the directions, should you wish to follow them.

For this walk Derek teamed up with Coastal Path Officer - Rosie Frankland. This circular walk begins at the Breakwater Country Park, taking in North Stack, Holyhead Mountain, South Stack and Ellin's Tower.

The Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path is over 125 miles long and runs through some of the grandest coastal scenery in Wales with wide sandy bays and estuaries; intimate coves; dramatic cliffs sand dunes and forests.

Much of this coastline is designated as one of Wales' five 'Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty' and is popular with birdwatchers who come to see the visiting sea birds in summer.

1. Start of the walk: Breakwater Country Park


N 53.31645, W -4.66457

Walk out of the park past a large man-made pond and you'll quickly join up with the coastal trail. Head through a large wooden gate towards the cliffs where you'll notice large rock slides on the quarry face.

Derek and Rosie

At one time there were up to eleven quarrying sites at the Breakwater Quarries and stone from here (7 million tonnes) was used to build the famous Holyhead Breakwater which was completed in 1873, making it the largest in Europe.

Walk through the old quarry for around 150 metres and head up some rock steps carved out of the hillside and up onto the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path.

2. Views over the breakwater


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Behind you are views over Holyhead Harbour, two picturesque little bays below and the west coast of Anglesey in the distance.

Along this stretch you'll regularly spot ferries zipping in and out of the harbour en route to Ireland as you follow a rocky track towards North Stack.

Views over the breakwater

The path here is very uneven, made up of scattered limestone rocks and lined with gorse, heather and a sprinkling of common and spotted orchids.

The trail has been created using local rock so tread carefully but don't forget to look up at the views as you might spot the odd porpoise in the turquoise blue water below.

3. Magazine hut


N 53.32040, W -4.67182 Magazine hut

Head up the hill past an old stone munitions - magazine hut, once used by the quarry to store explosives and dynamite in.

Continue past the magazine hut and continue along a steepening path.

4. North Stack fog horn station


N 53.32244, W -4.68048

Keep right and stay on a winding coastal path until you arrive at North Stack fog horn station.

The fog horn station is now redundant and is home to local artist, Philippa Jacobs. She now lives and paints at the station and occasionally opens it up to the public for exhibitions.

Trinity House, the ornate stone magazine hut was used to store gunpowder for a large canon that was once positioned on the cliff top.

The canon would fire warning shots to any passing ships venturing too close to the rocks but eventually fell into the sea. It has since been recovered and is now on show at the Breakwater Country Park.

Path leading to North Stack

The views from North Stack are staggering as you are surrounded by steep sea cliffs with seals and porpoises below, sea birds above and rock climbers somewhere in between.

Directly beneath the stack is an enormous sea cave and inaccessible small beach where grey seals give birth to their pups in autumn.

You'll often see climbers dangling from ropes along the steep cliff here but be extremely careful where you walk as the drops are sheer and you definitely need to keep an eye on children and pets.

The front gate leading to North Stack

From here there are sweeping views over to nearby South Stack with its towering sea cliffs surrounded by wide expanses of blue sea and you can see why an artist would choose to live here.

The light is constantly changing, with every passing weather front but it must be a frightening spot to be perched on, during violent winter storms.

Old telegraph station

From here head south along the coastal footpath towards Holyhead Mountain passing an old ruined telegraph station, which has long since been reclaimed by nature.

The track leading up the hillfort

The telegraph station was built by the Trustees of Liverpool Docks in 1827 and was the most westerly station along the North Wales coast.

A signal from here could be conveyed along the line in as little as 23 seconds.

Heading down hill now, you'll spot a winding trail taking you off to the left and up a steep, indistinct rocky track towards the mountain summit at 220 metres and the Iron Age hill fort of Caer y Twr.

5. Caer y Twr hill fort


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The forts defensive walls comprises of naturally occurring, rocky outcrops as well as quite extensive stone ramparts to the north and east of this seven hectare site - (approximately three football pitches in size).

The track leading up the hillfort

The fort was probably occupied during Roman times and the conquering Romans continued to use the site as a watchtower to keep an eye on Irish Sea raiders. You can still find remains of the watchtower on the summit.

Opposite the fort, on a ridge overlooking Gogarth Bay is a small, Bronze Age burial cairn: N 53.31150, W -4.68206

Views from the top of Holyhead Mountain

Once you reach the trig point, you'll be rewarded with 360 degree views over Holyhead harbour, Y Carneddau and Snowdon, standing at 1085 metres high.

From the top, wander down in a southerly direction through a rocky landscape and onto a wide path leading to South Stack and Ellin's Tower.

Rare wild flowers

Along the way we were joined by RSPB Head Warden, Dave Bateson who gave us an insight into the habitat, wild flowers and sea birds found along the coast here.

spotted dog rose

Dave pin pointed the rare spotted-rock rose that cling to the dry, rocky areas, hidden within the scrub along the sides of the path.

This tiny plant with yellow and crimson-spotted petals, only flowers once, and drops its petals within a few hours, making it extremely difficult to find.

Another species endemic to South Stack is the - found here and nowhere else on the planet.

6. Views over South Stack


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Following the path, you come to an old ruined building on the cliff top directly above South Stack lighthouse which on a wet and windy day would provide excellent shelter.

The 91 feet tall lighthouse has been warning ships of danger since 1809 and the cliffs above it are a great place to perch amongst the pink sea thrift and watch the sea birds down below.

From here you'll see choughs, various gulls, the odd puffin and peregrine, thousands of guillemots and razorbills and the occasional porpoise.

South Stack

To your right are nice views down over North Stack and the Skerries further out to sea in the distance.

You might also recognise the rocks below the bridge at South Stack. It was here that the Roxy Music album cover for 'Siren' was photographed, featuring Jerry Hall as a mermaid draped over jagged volcanic rocks with Ellin's Tower in the background.

7. Ellin's Tower


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The tower is easily accessible and one of the few places in Wales where you can literally park your car, have a bite to eat and walk just a few hundred yards and see thousands of visiting sea birds such as guillemot, puffin, chough, fulmar, razorbill and gannet.

The tower is actually a Victorian folly, built as a summer house by the Lord Lieutenant of Anglesey for his wife, Ellin Williams in 1868.

Dave, Derek and Rosie at Ellin's Tower

The RSPB staff on hand, have scopes for you to use along with a remote controlled video camera to help pin point the elusive puffins, so pop in and have a look if you're down that way.

You can also watch nesting choughs, tucked under the cliff, thanks to a video camera which streams live footage onto a giant plasma screen inside the tower.

Leaving the tower, walk back up the steps and head across the road you walked down earlier.

8. Mountain track


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Follow a track leading up behind the small car park above Ellin's Tower and onto the top, heading back towards the mountain and a concrete trail in the distance. Heading back to the mountain track

Follow the path north-east as it skirts around the base of Holyhead Mountain: N 53.31058, W- 4.67690 taking you past its southern end.

9. Medieval field boundaries


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The track runs fairly parallel to South Stack Road which is an alternative route. Head into the fields where you'll encounter old medieval field boundaries and follow the track between some old dry-stone walls: N 53.31149, W-4.66697.

10. End of the walk: Back to Breakwater Country Park


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Follow the walls and at a cross-roads in the paths, walk straight across until you reach a lane.

Turn left by some houses and turn left again at the T-junction and walk to the end of the lane.

Old mining equipment at the park

A path then bears left, then right, following a fenced path.

Walk down a set of steps and you will find yourself back at the Country Park.


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Pictures from the walk

South Stack lighthouse

Holyhead to South Stack

Take a look at photos taken during the Holyhead walk.

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