North Wales 2023: Anglesey
After our wet day in Llanwrst we were happy to get up to sun the next morning and decided to cross the Menai Strait to the island of Anglesey. Our first port of call was Plas Newydd (New House), family home of the Marquess of Anglesey and now a National Trust property. We just visited the gardens, because there were other sights we wanted to see, and very lovely they were too, especially the Italianate Terrace. There was even a 4000 year old neolithic burial chamber in the grounds.
After lunch we set off for somewhere completely different. Ever since first reading about it some years ago on Eunice’s blog I have wanted to visit Parys Mountain, otherwise known as Copper Kingdom, where metals have been mined since the Bronze Age. In the 18th century it was the largest copper mine in the world and it is amazing to think that today’s surreal landscape was shaped by miners using nothing more than picks, shovels and gunpowder. We followed the trail around the edge of the site. The colours were stunning.
Finally, before crossing back to the mainland, we took a short walk out to Point Lynas Lighthouse. A pilot station was established here in 1726 to guide ships heading for Liverpool, with the current lighthouse dating to 1835.
The following day was our last in Wales and we headed for Caernarfon. However, Christmas will come before that post – wishing a good one to all of you who celebrate.
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
A day of very interesting contrasts.
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Thanks for taking me along on your travels. It looks like a fascinating place full of rugged charm.
Merry Christmas!
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Thanks Laura! Happy Christmas to you and your menfolk. I don’t suppose any of them are really boys now!
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I’m so enjoying your tour of North Wales.
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Oh good! I’m pleased to hear it.
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Great to visit these wonderful places and see them through your lens. Pleased that Wales showed its good side to you and stopped the rain and brought out the sun!There are many more lovely places to visit on Anglesey you’ll have to return for another visit! Best wishes for a very happy Christmas.
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Yes, I think we shall have to do that! So much more to see. Apart from that one wet day we had good weather in Wales. Happy Christmas to you and yours.
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Parys mountain is quite good for an industrial waste dump. Spectacular colours on a good day, which certainly appealed to my inner Chemist when we visited.
If you get down that way again Beaumaris (and its castle) and Newborough Beach are worth visiting.
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We went to Beaumaris on our only other visit to Anglesey which was in the 1980s! I don’t remember much about it, but suspect it won’t have changed much – though judging by the castles we did visit the presentation has probably improved a lot.
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We’re spending a week on Anglesey next year. Looks like we’re in for a good time.
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I think you are! I could happily spend a week there, loads more things to do.
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I must get to Angelsey. It has been a long time since I was there and you make it look great.
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It was great. We had been once before, very briefly, about 40 years ago so didn’t really know it at all. It’s certainly somewhere I can imagine returning to spend more time in.
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I think it may be that long since I was there!
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A lovely virtual day out in Anglesey – the manmade landscape of the Copper Kingdom looks intriguing!
Have a lovely Christmas Anabel 🎄🎄
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It was intriguing, reminded me very much of some of the North American Badlands we have visited – similar minerals I guess, but not man-made.
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Thanks for the virtual tour. I particularly enjoyed the photos from the Parys Mountain, really looked stunning and I think that Pierre & I would have gone a bit crazy with pictures in that place!
A very Merry Christmas to you and John…(Suzanne)
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There were a lot more Parys Mountain photos that didn’t make the cut! It was a fascinating place. I hope you and Pierre have a lovely Christmas.
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The north coastline of Anglesey is beautiful, with lots of mining history. I can’t remember why I did not take a photograph of that fine lighthouse. Wishing you both a lovely Christmas.
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And the same to you and your family, Tony. Happy Hiking in 2026!
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Lovely photos of Plas Newydd gardens, especially the Italianate terraces. You missed a treat not going in the house, Rex Whistler’s mural is definitely worth seeing – I would revisit the house just for that. It takes up a full wall, 58ft long and about 12ft high and if you walk slowly along parallel to it the perspective changes, it’s amazing. Nice to see the photos of Parys Mountain too, the Great Open Cast one is my favourite – you can actually walk down in the bottom of there. It looks like the heather was a bit past it’s best though – in full bloom in August it really adds to the stunning colours of the mountain.
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I’m sure you’re right – but we were being very picky because we only had that one day. Also, after the previous day’s rain we wanted to make the most of the sunshine outdoors. I think someday we Weill definitely spend more time on Anglesey. Thanks for introducing me to Parys Mountain!
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