Wales - Anglesey's Coastal Footpath involves fairly low level walking, with the highest [optional] point being Holyhead Mountain (220m). The most challenging sections, but most scenic, include Holyhead Mountain, the north coast from Porth Swtan to Porth Wen, the section south of Point Lynas and the rise to Bwrdd Arthur from Red Wharf Bay. The western coast is characterised by a series of rocky headlands with intervening sandy bays and extensive sand dunes that enclose shallow marshes. Impressive sea cliffs dominate the northern coastline, while on the eastern side of Anglesey, more modest limestone cliffs and wide sandy beaches provide an interesting contrast. Two tidal straits – the Menai Strait and the Inland Sea – provide more sheltered coastal landscapes. The mountains of Snowdonia and Llyn dominate the view along the south and west coast making a stunning contrast to the softer, gently undulating landscape of the island. The Great Orme and the eastern part of Snowdonia are in view along much of the east coast from Lynas round to Beaumaris. The geology is very varied with some amazing evidence of deep ocean eruptions, violent volcanic systems, plate boundaries and a huge copper deposit. Fossils include Precambrian stromatolites [fossil seaweed 800 million years old], corals and shellfish. Ancient man colonised the area in the Mesolithic leaving occupation sites and burial chambers ... archaeology continues up to the World Heritage castle built by the English king, Edward, at Beaumaris. Evidence of the use of stone is all over, as is quarrying and mining - a truly fascinating geological heritage with stunning scenery. And the beaches - miles of unspoilt sand, great for kids, swimming, kite surfing and sand yachting. Lots of great restaurants and places to stay whilst you enjoy the beauty of our GeoPark. We are a member of the European and Global Geopark Networks, recognized by UNESCO.
Come and visit us. More info on our website www.geomon.co.uk

South Stack, probably the most iconic landmark in Anglesey

Porth Wen, a disused brickworks using precambrian quartzite and shales

It is estimated that the ice melted away some 14,000 years ago, but sea level was over 100 metres lower than now, so Anglesey was an “upland” area above a vast low-lying plain. Folk tales of drowned lands persist all along the Welsh coast and it is true that around 8000 years ago sea level rose quite quickly to something like its present day level, though whether people ever really incorporated this into folk memories is a fascinating topic of debate! What is certain is that there are Mesolithic hunting sites on what are now coastal headlands, so people were certainly living in the area.
As sea level rose to its present level establishing the coastline we see today it also drowned areas that had been land for some considerable time and we can find submerged forests and peat beds around the coast of west and north Wales at low tide; on Anglesey these can be seen at Lleiniog. Rising sea levels have also caused erosion of softer sediments along the coast, and the boulder clay on the east coast [Lligwy] and near Lleiniog is eroding fast. Drumlins on the northwest coast have been eroded to leave cross sections exposing the internal structures of these glacial mounds.
Rising sea levels also meant wave erosion of glacial deposits in areas that are now sea bed, winnowing out sand and creating large areas of sandy beaches; subsequent storms have driven this sand inland, sometimes burying farmland and even villages. The scenery of the south west coast owes much to these large areas of blown sand such as at Newborough and Aberffraw.
River valleys were drowned by rising sea and rivers slowed down and deposited more sediment within the floodplain – areas like Malltraeth formed at this time.
The land surface had been depressed by the weight of ice caps and glaciers lying on it [ice was up to 1500m thick over Snowdonia at the height of the last ice phase] and started to rise back after the ice melted.

lleiniog - near Beaumaris ....extensive glacial deposits

Beaumaris castle - originally built to be supplied by sea, now high and dry

Archaeology
There are 23 sites in the care of CADW, 14 of which we will visit on this coastal walk though many more are not too far away. These range from standing stones whose origins are lost in the mists of time, to Bronze Age burial sites, through Iron Age hill forts and hut circles to an Edwardian castle and medieval monasteries. All of these are of interest as they were built primarily using local stone, sometimes showing a very clear preference for certain rock types. Beaumaris Castle is the only CADW site that charges for entry, and has an exhibition and bookshop where information on all the other sites can be purchased.
There are several other archaeological sites not owned or listed by CADW where the geological setting is of great interest, such as Mesolithic flint sites, holy wells and the celebrated lake, Llyn Cerrig Bach, now firmly associated with the druids and possible human sacrifice by a recent television documentary.

Barclodiad - y Gawres, a Bronze age burial chamber

neolithic standing stones - one site of many on the island

Iron age hut group on site of mesolithic inhabitation