Holyhead factfile

How to get to Holyhead
Holyhead sits on Holy Island, to the far west of neighbouring Anglesey. By car you can reach the town via the A55 North Wales expressway or the A5. The town's train station is part of the UK's rail network.

Holyhead's claims to fame
Holyhead is best known for its ferry port, with direct crossings to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire in Ireland. Archaeologists claim this nautical route has been used for thousands of years.

Holyhead's harbour has the longest breakwater in Europe. Built in 1845, it stretches 2.4 km (1.5 mi).

Things to see and do in Holyhead
One of the town's major tourist attractions is the 13th-century church of St Cybi. It was built inside one of the only three-sided Roman forts in Europe (with the sea originally acting as the fourth wall of defence). The restored church features a window by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.

If you're interested in wildlife, head to the RSPB nature reserve at South Stack Cliffs. This special area attracts breeding puffins, peregrine falcons, guillemots, and many other species.

Guided tours are available around the 18th-century South Stack lighthouse, where you can see seals at close quarters too.

Famous landmarks in Holyhead
There's a rare concentration of prehistoric settlements and ancient monuments in the area around Holyhead. The Ty Mawr Hut Circles on the slopes of Holyhead Mountain date back to the Stone Age. At the mountain summit you'll find the ruins of Caer y Twr, a huge Iron Age hill fort. The foundation of a Roman watchtower lies on the very peak, believed to have been built to spy on marauding Irish sea raiders.

Natural beauty spots in Holyhead
On a clear day, the summit of Holyhead mountain (at 220 m/720 ft) has fine views of the Isle of Man, Snowdonia, the hills of Cumbria and Ireland. From here, the Coastal Footpath will lead you along the "Rocky Coast", an impressive stretch of coastline famous for secluded coves and seal-spotting.

The blue-flag beaches of Trearddur Bay in Porth Dafarch are also a popular scenic destination for holidaymakers and water-sports enthusiasts.

Arts and culture in Holyhead
Holyhead's Ucheldre Centre hosts a mixture of artistic and cultural community events in the town. The building is a former convent belonging to a French Roman Catholic order of nuns, the Sisters of the Bon Sauveur.

The Maritime Museum on the seafront at Newry Beach lives in the oldest lifeboat house in Wales (dating back to the early 1800s). It depicts the maritime history of Holyhead from Roman times.

Entertainment in Holyhead
Holyhead hosts a number of diverse, annual events, including an Arts Festival, an Oyster and Shellfish Festival, a Maritime Festival and even a Beer Festival.

Famous people from Holyhead
Comedienne and actress Dawn French, one half of French and Saunders, was born in the town, as was the Labour MEP Glenys Kinnock.