Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
include the prisoner-powered treadwheel (a punishment) and the “luxury” con-
demned man's cell—two public executions were staged here in the 1800s. Opening
hours are the same as for the Court; admission costs £3.50 for adults, £2.75 for
seniors and children.
Low-rise turrets and circumnavigating ducks give moated
Beaumaris Castle
(
&
01248/810361;
www.cadw.wales.gov.uk) a rather twee appearance. However, in
the 14th century the last and most elegant of Edward I's maritime fortresses was a
feared outpost of English might. Its formidable and largely intact concentric defenses
give you an immediate sense of what it was used for—you'll quickly lose count of how
many firing berths there are for defenders. In those days the sea came up to the
southern walls, and on certain tides small ships could reach the castle directly; the
dock is still visible. Visits are possible March to October, daily from 9:30am to 5pm;
and November to February, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm, Sunday 11am to
4pm. Admission is £3.80 for adults and £3.40 for seniors, students, and children 5 to
15; family tickets cost £11. Pause for an ice cream at
Red Boat,
34 Castle St.
(
&
01248/810022;
www.redboatgelato.com), where flavors like New York lemon
cheesecake and crème brûlée are handmade on the premises.
LLANFAIR PG
Its fame is its name:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysil-
iogogogoch,
or something like that. It translates as “St. Mary's Church in the Hollow
of the White Hazel near a Rapid Whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio near the
Red Cave.” In the 1860s, a local tailor had the foresight to embellish the original
(shorter) name as a tourist attraction—and the ruse worked. You can get the longest
train-platform ticket in the world from the station here, giving the full name. (On
maps and most references it is usually called just “Llanfair PG.”) The first Women's
Institute in Britain met here in 1915.
A short walk from the station is the
Marquess of Anglesey Column
(
&
01248/714393
), standing 27m (90 ft.) high on a wooded mount 76m (250 ft.)
above sea level. It has a statue of the marquess on top, to which visitors can climb—
it's 115 steps up a spiral staircase. The marquess lost a leg while he was second in
command to the Duke of Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo and was thereafter
called “One Leg”. The column is open year-round daily 9am to 5pm, charging £1.50
for adults, 75p for seniors and children.
About a mile southwest of the village with the long name, beside the A4080, is
Plas Newydd
, Llanfair PG (
&
01248/715272;
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/plas
newydd), standing on the shores of the Menai. An ancient manor house, it was con-
verted between 1783 and 1809 into a splendid mansion in the Gothic and
neoclassical styles. In the long dining room, there's a magnificent
trompe l'oeil
mural
by Rex Whistler, and a military museum houses relics and uniforms of the Battle of
Waterloo. The beautiful woodland garden and lawns have glorious Snowdonia pan-
oramas. Plas Newydd can be visited only from Easter to October, Saturday to
Wednesday 1 to 5pm. The gardens are open from 10am. A combined ticket for both
the house and garden costs £8.45 for adults and £4.20 for children 15 and under; it's
£21 for a family ticket.
Beyond Plas Newydd, a mile southwest of Brynsiencyn (follow signs for the Sea
Zoo), is the home of family-run
Halen Môn Anglesey Sea Salt
19
(
&
01248/430871;
www.halenmon.com). This prized natural salt is found in many
of the world's most famous kitchens; it's used by Heston Blumenthal (p. 137), and
goes into President Obama's favorite brand of chocolates, Fran's. You're free to taste
