Guide to Penmon Point, Anglesey

Our morning at Penmon Point was packed with wild beauty, wonderful sea views, and memories we’ll never forget.

Standing on the pebbled beach, Brock squealed with excitement at the sight of a pod of dolphins swimming into the distance. The warmth from the soft sunrise, which was starting to rise above the mountains, hit our faces as we watched them glide through the water. Right at the same time, we met a pair of inquisitive seals by the shoreline with a cormorant following them from above.

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Our pocket guide has all of the information you need to visit Penmon Point. What to do, where to go and what you can see!

WHERE IS PENMON POINT?

Penmon Point is on the northeast coast of Anglesey, which is an island on the northwest coast of Wales.

The name Penmon Point derives from Welsh: “pen” (which can mean "head", "end" or "promontory") and “Môn”, which is the Welsh name for Anglesey.

Read our article “8 FREE PLACES TO VISIT ON THE ISLAND OF ANGLESEY” for more places to visit on the island, from copper mines to wildlife hotspots.

Standing on the rocky coastline, on the left, you have the black and white lighthouse, in front, you’ll find Puffin Island and to your right is the Snowdonia National Park mounting range.

With its unconventional black and white stripes, the Trwyn Du Lighthouse is one of only five working lighthouses on the island of Anglesey and was built in 1838 to mark the north entrance to the Menai Strait.

WILDLIFE

If you’re wildlife lovers like ourselves then Penmon point is a must-visit while on Anglesey.

While walking along the coast we spotted a large group of Turnstones, who were making such loud noises we had to investigate.

Along with the birds, we spotted seals basking in the sun, so keep an eye out for wildlife while walking the coastal path. From the mainland seals can be seen close to the shore, bobbing along in the water or over on Puffin island relaxing on the sand. Penmon Point is also a great place to spot dolphins and harbour porpoises in summer!

If you want to see the puffins with their unmistakable colours, and strikingly bright bills then we’d suggest a Puffin Island tour. Puffin Island, about half a mile offshore, is the ninth-largest island off the Welsh coast. Here you can take a boat trip to explore the seabirds including guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, and of course the puffins. The island is of European importance for its breeding population of cormorants, and is also an important roosting area for oystercatchers! These boat trips run from the town of Beaumaris (learn more about Beaumaris below) during the months between April and July and prices range from £10 to £20 depending on the duration.

If you’re an expert kayaker and enjoy water sports then you can kayak out to Puffin Island from the mainland. During low tide, you can see a colony of seals who usually inhabit the island resting on the shore or catching fish.

NORTHERN LIGHTS

Countries like Iceland, Finland, and Norway are often considered some of the best vantage points to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights but we often overlook other countries like the UK. After reading the article “10 amazing photos of the Northern Lights you won’t believe were taken in Britain” we realized that this natural phenomenon can be visible at Penmon Point!

Tips for seeing the Northern Lights

Visit AuroraWatch UK. You can keep up to date with their website or sign up for alerts on their app or social media. They’ll tell you, via the colour-coded system, whether or not you can expect to see the lights in your area at a particular moment.
Make sure you have the right weather conditions. A clear night with no cloud coverage is essential so make sure you check the weather forecast before heading out.
Like stargazing, stay clear of built-up areas with a lot of artificial light.
Stay warm! The Northern Lights on Anglesey usually appear during the colder months of the year, September through April. So while on your hunt for the lights remember to wrap up warm and bring a flask with a hot drink!

COASTAL WALK

The Anglesey Coastal Path is a 130-mile (200km) scenic route that follows the coastline around the whole of the island. The whole route takes around 12 days to complete and it’s broken up into 12 subsections. The path falls within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) which isn’t surprising if you’ve ever visited one of the many beaches and bays on the island before!

The sections of the coastal path that covers Penmon Point starts from the village of Moelfre and ends at the town of Beaumaris. This route showcases a dramatic series of limestone cliffs along with the beautiful Red Wharf Bay and views of the Carneddau mountains across the Menai Strait. You can find a detailed map of the route here.

If you’re visiting Penmon Point we’d highly recommend doing this section of the route, or at least part of it. Along the route and just a 10-minute walk from the lighthouse is a natural sea arch created by the rocks. The colours of the different layers of rocks uncovered here are particularly striking.

Along the way, we were joined by the local dog named Shadow, better known as “Rent-a-dog” who accompanied us for the duration of our walk and back.

CAFE & FACILITIES

The closest place to park is right by the seafront. From here you’re meters from the pebbled beach and the cafe.

The Pilot House Cafe is in a scenic location that offers views of the lighthouse, Puffin Island, Great Orme, and Snowdon. The whitewashed building was once home to three lighthouse pilots and their families in the 1800s, hence the name of the cafe.

If you’ve made it for sunrise enjoy a good ol’ bacon bap for breakfast, sit on the multicoloured benches outside and feel the fresh sea air! Or if it’s later in the day why not indulge in one of their famous homemade cakes or a Welsh cream tea!

BEAUMARIS

The Medieval town of Beaumaris is a 15-minute drive from Penmon Point and is a great way to extend your day in the area. The town itself is well worth a visit with its Georgian architecture, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the hometown for the Puffin Island tours.

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Along with the puffin tours which we mentioned earlier, we’ve listed a few recommendations for things to do and places to visit in Beaumaris.

➜ Booking.com links for places to stay in and around Beaumaris

BEAUMARIS RECOMENDATIONS

Beaumaris Castle, built with an almost geometric symmetry, is surrounded by a water moat and a scenic view of the Snowdonia Mountain range.

This World Heritage Site is famous for being “the greatest castle never built”. The construction of the castle started in 1295 but was put on hold and never actually finished, leaving it “gloriously incomplete”. The castle is the last and largest of castles that were built by King Edward I in the country and well worth a visit when in Beaumaris.

If you're a gin lover like myself then why not create your own handcrafted gin at the Spirit of Anglesey. Choose your own selection of botanicals to craft, distil, and bottle! A unique gift or souvenir to remember your time on Anglesey.

If you enjoy shopping for unique gifts then we’d recommend a visit to The Mock Turtle, Janet Bell, and Pip & Darcy. These gift shops are full of unique ceramics and delightful one-off pieces created by international and local artisans.

While on the main road of shops (Castle Street) have a wander around the Castle Gardens. This hidden gem can be found down an alleyway in-between the shops and is a tranquil break from the busy town. An oasis of plants, shrubs and flowers (including rare ones) with a little shop nestles in the centre of the garden packed with planters and local crafts.

We always love our time on the island of Angelsey! We hope this article has inspired you to visit for yourselves and will be helpful for your next trip!
Have you visited Angelsey before? If you have any recommendations you’d like to share then please do! Let us know in the comments below.