Yahoo News 'Pure natural beauty' of North Wales trek that 'knocks spots off Cornwall'
Anglesey Coastal Path is a 130-mile trek through breathtaking scenery that seems to change around each corner. Along the way there are tiny coves, steepling dunes and dramatic cliff-tops, interspersed by picturesque fishing villages and ancient remains.
Smaller wonder it’s often considered a must by walkers around Britain. Confirmation of its status came with a new study by Land Rover Discovery that found the path consistently ranked high in Google searches and social media hashtags.
The research was geared towards finding the UK’s most scenic walking and driving routes. In Wales, Anglesey’s only real competitor was the Pembrokeshire Coast 200, a relatively new road trip designed to be driven in three days. While this featured highly on social media, it lagged behind Anglesey Coastal Path on Google.
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It’s not hard to see the path’s appeal. Almost its entire stretch (95%) passes through landscape designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As well as tidal estuaries and sandy beaches, the route is littered with history, if you care to look for it, while the island’s geology is recognised for its international importance.
Since late 2011, just 300 walkers have collected certificates for completing all 12-day-long sections in one go. In reality, most people target specific sections, some completing the entire route piecemeal.
A Manchester walker who’s a repeat visitor shared her thoughts on Tripadvisor. “Walked this path many times and could not find a more peaceful and beautiful place,” she said. “We have been to Cornwall many times and this knocks spots off it - much quieter, less crowds and just pure natural beauty.”
The official starting point is St Cybi’s Church, Holyhead. Officially, the route goes clockwise, heading down through Penrhos Coastal Park before trekking up and around the north of the island. The final two sections, along the coves and cliffs of Holy Island, are perhaps the most dramatic. The North Wales Live Whatsapp community for top stories and breaking news is live now - here’s how to sign up
Highlights here include Rhoscolyn’s sea arches, South Stack lighthouse and, a little further along, the stark beauty of North Stack. But there much more to admire elsewhere, from the remote wildness 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 photogenic Penmon Point and St Cwyfan’s “Church in the Sea” at Llangwyfan. Along the way there a chance you’ll see seals and dolphins, and occasionally something bigger.
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To sustain you on the journey, there are any number of well-reviewed pubs and restaurants on the route. Walkers need just follow waymarkers featuring a white tern on blue circle (cyclists and horse riders can also follow certain sections). Some waymarkers also have plaques with grid references, along with proper Welsh place names to spark interest in the locality.
It is possible to complete all sections using public transport. As Anglesey is largely rural, this may involve some effort. But it’s worth it, as this Worcester couple described. "Simply stunning walk to go on,” they said. “The end-to-end coastal path is over 120 miles but there’s lots of places to stop on the way and enjoy the sights, sounds and simply taking it all in.”
For its study, Land Rover Discovery examined the top 34 walking routes and road trips in the UK. More than 3.2m Instagram posts were analysed, as well as 88,000 TikTok posts. Google Search data across the 12 months to February 2024 was also scrutinised to create lists of top-ranking routes.
How Anglesey Coastal Path compared
Anglesey Coastal Path: 30,054 posts; UK rank - 7th.
Top UK ranking: Jurassic Coast, Sothern England - 471,230 posts
TikTok
Anglesey Coastal Path: 192 posts; UK rank - 9th.
Top UK ranking: North Coast 500, Scotland - 31,500 posts
Google searches
Anglesey Coastal Path: 2,900 searches; UK rank - 8th.
Top UK ranking: Cheddar Gorge, Somerset - 90,500 searches
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