Following on from Classic Coast at Porthdinllaen in the April/May 2017  issue (it really is an idyllic place though I wouldn’t have described the Ty Coch as a gastro pub; didn’t do food in the evenings in August 2016, yet has been rightly voted one of the ten best beach bars in the world), it’s a short hop over to Pilot’s Cove off the end of the wonderful island of Llanddwyn. 

Having had a mooring on the Anglesey side of the Menai Strait, opposite Caernarfon (which is a town, not a city) for many years, we were able quite often to head to Pilot’s Cove for a night’s bbq’ing, heading out over Caernarfon Bar with the tide and anchoring snug in settled weather. Mermaid’s Cove, snug behind Ynys Clochydd, was another choice. Closer to home, many a weekend were spent anchored in sheltered waters tucked around Aber Menai Point, easy to run ashore for bonfires.

But the west coast of Anglesey has numerous anchorages in fine weather, though is obviously exposed to the SW and W. Rhosneigr Pool offers a degree of protection though greater shelter can be found under the headland at Cymyran, just across the bay. For the day sailor, there are various choice bays to anchor off for a lazy lunch and a swim in the clear, cool waters.

Another of my favourites is the fine anchorage in Rhoscolyn Bay, snug behind tiny Ynys Traws. It’s only a short walk up to the White Eagle pub. On the west side of Rhoscolyn is Porth-y-corwgl (cove of the coracle) though narrow and open to the SW. From Rhoscolyn it’s a short hop around the headland to Trearddur Bay which can get pretty hectic in summer with a multitude of moored boats.

From here a carefully timed passage around to Holyhead takes into account the strong tides off South and North Stack. Holyhead has marinas and facilities, good protection provided by the breakwater, but not a lot else. Heading north around Carmel Head, there’s good protection at Cemlyn, Cemaes and Amlwch.

I’ve a copy of FH Glazebrook’s The Inshore Passage or ‘West Coast of Anglesey Local Pilot’ from 1937 which describes the coast in full. There are, of course, other charts!

From Anglesey and its coastal Tradition by Mike Smylie