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Focus Wales: Isle of Anglesey

The Isle of Anglesey, with an area of 276 square miles, is the largest Welsh island, and the fifth largest off the coast of Britain. Located off the north west coast of Wales ot enjoys dramatic views across the menai Straits to the mountains of the Snowdomia National Park.

The island's welsh name is Ynys Môn and despite a healthy population of some 68,000 people, it manages to feel blissfully quiet, relaxed and uninhabited, from its empty single track roads to mile upon mile of countryside and coast. Home to some a great diversity of wildlife amongst its 85 square miles of classified Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it's an island rich in historical and archeological heritage. There's also the 125 miles coast path, which wends its way around the island, to explore, along with 60 sites of Special Scientific Interest and national and local nature reserves and various areas of protection and conservation.
In many ways the island has an engaging "back in time" feel, the pace of life is slow and you feel as though you've compeltely escaped hectic, modern day life. The interior of the island is largely rural and scattered with hamlets and villages surrounded by a patchwork of fields.

One of the main strongholds of the Welsh language and culture, around 60% of the current population are proud to continue to speak their traditional language which is one of the oldest surviving in Europe.However all those who speak Welsh are bilingual so there's no worries about being understood!

If you fancy embracing the outdoor lifestyle with a walk then you'll find plenty of safe and unspoilt routes that will allow you to explore the island's countryside and small villages and coast.

The island has a fine reputation for local produce including world class oysters which are found in the fast flowing waters of the Menia Straits and celebrated each October with the Anglesey Oyster and Shellfish Festival. Another local delicacy to try is bara brith, a bread made from seaweed which apparently tastes much better than it sounds.

The village with the longest place name can be found on the island, commonly abbreviated to Llanfair PG, the name was said to have been invented by a local tailor back in 1880 to raise the profile and attract tourist. The tongue-twisting full version is
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch and is said to mean, when translated into English, "The church of St. Mary in a hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and near St. Tysilio's church by the red cave".

If you're thinking of heading to Anglesey then how about trying out your Welsh and learning a few key words in this ancient celtic language:

Welsh Words To Try

Word How it's pronounced English meaning

Bore da - boh -reh-dah Good morning
Croeso - croy-sawh Welcome
Diolch - dee- ohlch Thank you
Hwyl - hoo-eel Goodbye

Find out more…
www.visitanglesey.co.uk/

For cottages in Wales click here