The ‘pure natural beauty’ of the North Wales road which ‘takes the points out of Cornwall’

The Anglesey Coastal Path is a 130 mile journey through stunning scenery that seems to change at every turn. Along the way there are tiny coves, peaked dunes and dramatic cliffs, interspersed with picturesque fishing villages and ancient ruins.

A smaller wonder is often considered a must by UK walkers. Confirmation of its status came with a new study by Land Rover Discovery, which found the track consistently ranked at the top of Google searches and social media hashtags.

The research was aimed at finding the most scenic walking and driving routes in the UK. In Wales, Anglesey’s only real competitor was the Pembrokeshire Coast 200, a relatively new road trip designed to be run over three days. While this came up a lot on social media, it lagged behind the Anglesey Coastal Path on Google.

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It’s not hard to see the appeal of the path. Almost its entire portion (95%) passes through landscape designated as an area of ​​outstanding natural beauty. As well as tidal estuaries and sandy beaches, the route is steeped in history if you care to look for it, while the island’s geology is recognized for its international importance.

As of late 2011, only 300 walkers have collected certificates to complete all 12-day sections in one go. In reality, most people target specific sections, with some completing the entire fragmented route.

A walk from Manchester who is a repeat visitor shared his thoughts on Tripadvisor. “I have walked this path many times and could not find a more peaceful and beautiful place,” she said. “I’ve been to Cornwall many times and this knocks it off – much quieter, less crowded and just natural beauty.”

The official starting point is St Cybi’s Church, Holyhead. Officially, the route goes clockwise, descending through Penrhos Coastal Park before climbing up and around the north of the island. The last two sections, along the coves and cliffs of Holy Island, are perhaps the most dramatic. North Wales Whatsapp Live Community for the best breaking stories and news is live now – here’s how to join

Highlights include the sea arches of Rhoscolyn, South Stack Lighthouse and, a little further afield, the stark beauty of North Stack. But there’s plenty more to admire elsewhere, from the remote wilderness of Ynys y Fydlyn to the serene beauty of Llanddwyn Beach and its magical pony-loving island.

Other landmarks range from the Menai Suspension Bridge to the photogenic Penmon Point and St Cwyfan’s ‘Church by the Sea’ in Llangwyfan. Along the way there is a chance to see seals and dolphins and sometimes something bigger.

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To support you on your journey, there are plenty of well-rated pubs and restaurants along the route. Walkers just need to follow the road signs showing a white stern on a blue circle (cyclists and horse riders can also follow certain sections). Some road markers also have grid reference plaques along with appropriate Welsh place names to spark interest in the locality.

It is possible to travel all sections using public transport. As Anglesey is largely rural, this can involve some effort. But it’s worth it, as this Worcester couple described. “Just an amazing ride to go on,” they said. “The coast road from one end to the other is over 120 miles, but there are plenty of places to stop along the way and enjoy the sights, sounds and just take it all in.”

For its study, Land Rover Discovery examined the UK’s top 34 walking and road trip routes. Over 3.2 million Instagram posts were analyzed, as well as 88,000 TikTok posts. Google Search data from the 12 months to February 2024 was also analyzed to create lists of the top routes.

How the Anglesey Coastal Path compared

Instagram

• Anglesey Coastal Path: 30,054 positions; United Kingdom place – 7th.
• UK top ranking: Jurassic Coast, southern England – 471,230 posts

Tick

• Anglesey Coastal Path: 192 posts; United Kingdom Place – 9th.
• UK top ranking: North Coast 500, Scotland – 31,500 stations

google searches

• Anglesey Coastal Path: 2,900 searches; United Kingdom Place – 8th.
• UK top ranking: Cheddar Gorge, Somerset – 90,500 searches

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