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Pentraeth Llanddona Beach Walk, Anglesey Coastal Path
The Pentraeth Llanddona beach walk is a shorter section of the main Anglesey coastal path leg to Beaumaris, via Penmon. Here we enjoy the pleasant walk along what is a fairly low lying part of the east Anglesey coastline. Outside the Panton Arms pub in Pentraeth you walk down the village on the right hand side until you come to a small lane marked as a public path which takes you down towards the shore near some houses at Pen-y-Lon and then to Red Wharf Bay.
Turn right here and along a rough gravel track, crossing a stone bridge and at the junction you have two options, turn right to take the forest walk option or left for the beach alternative. On this occasion we took the beach route along Red Wharf Bay and this is what we describe below, but the tide can move quickly here.
If it is close to high water, you may prefer the walk through the impressive coniferous Pentraeth Forest which runs parallel with the beach but much higher up. After crossing the stone bridge you walk through a sandy car park which breaks out onto the dunes and follow a grassy path in an easterly direction. Look across the mouth of the River Nodwydd and Red Wharf Bay and you will see the yachts moored on the other bank near the Ship Inn.
When the tide is ebbing some boats moored in the bay are quickly left high and dry.
The path changes from very grassy to sand and mud, then gravelly and pebbly and marshy in places, so you need to be sure that you have good boots to avoid getting your feet wet. We could not help but notice the thick coverage of reeds in the marshy sections of the coastal path. On the landward side there is thick tree coverage, both deciduous and coniferous, and the hedges running close to the path are rich in variety. Wild garlic, thistle, black berries, purple flowers, lilac, sea pinks, bright yellow daises and many other coloured flowers are just a few of the flora to appreciate along this stretch.
As we continued along this track of varied surfaces the sun was rising above the high woodland coverage of Mynydd Llwydiarth to the south, and on the vast ochre stretches of Red Wharf Bay were three riders on horseback, making their way slowly across the wet sandbanks.
In the distant woodlands to our right we could hear a solitary wood pigeon and in the hedge before us, next to a small beach cottage literally five steps from the costal path, were bees hovering above the cornucopia of flowers. Across the estuary is the amazingly impressive limestone block of Castell Mawr just north of Red Wharf, a legacy of the quarrying industry on this corner of Anglesey.
See Map of Anglesey here to help you plan your walk
Closer in the remnants of the wooden hull of a working boat lay rotting in the sand and marshes, testament to more productive times. The marshy and sandy beach paths give way to a well-constructed sea wall which is about 0.75 miles (0.5 km) long, and has a strong barrier on the seaward side to ensure a safe walk even in a strong wind. Below the wall the beach is very marshy and thick with reeds while the seaward side contains meadows and the cattle and sheep may come right up to where you walk. After the sea wall continue through the bracken covered paths, with only the sound of the occasional cow to remind you of the agricultural dimension of this leg. The coastal path swings to the right and through the high coverage of reeds and bracken you can just make out the Blue Flag of Llanddona beach.
As you come off the path you turn left onto a small road which takes you to the car park and toilets at Llanddona Beach. Continue walking, with the beach on your left behind the reed coverage, and you will soon start to climb for the next leg to Arthur’s Table and Penmon Point. The Pentraeth Llanddona beach coastal walk is a very pleasant experience, and if you take note of the state of the tides, you can enjoy either the forest route or the beach walk. Red Wharf Bay is a fascinating isolated part of the Anglesey Coastal Path and this walk may help you get a better feel for this interesting, colourful corner of the island.
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