Do you like the idea of exploring instead of just traveling? Then you have to go to little frequented destinations, perhaps far from the most touristy routes. For example, if there is a beautiful destination in Great Britain that is Wales and within Wales, the north of the kingdom is made up mostly of islands.
Among the islands of North Wales is the Anglesey Island, a territory that at the time of the Roman invasion It was the last stronghold of Celtic culture. So far we travel today, will you join us to discover what is so charming about this distant destination?
Anglesey Island
It is also known by the name of Ynys Mon, in Welsh, and is in the extreme northwest of the coast. It has 715 square kilometers of surface and in the Irish Sea it is the largest of all and the most inhabited after the popular Isle of Man. two bridges that connect it to the mainland, one of them dating from 1826 and still working.
The Vikings set foot on these islands in their wild voyages, back in the XNUMXth century, and the Norman conquerors also arrived. In your landscape there are megalithic ruins, ancient menhirs and more cromlechs or huge stone circles, also called dolmens, prehistoric stone tombs.
Perhaps these ancient structures, huge and mysterious, have made the Welsh island also known as the island of the Druids. Celtic culture took refuge here with the Roman invasion. The Druids controlled the gold trade that passed through Wales from the Wicklows Hills in Ireland eastward, beyond the North Sea, to Europe. For this very reason, they were soon in the sights of the Romans, who in turn saw them as rebellious savages.
Thus, they invaded them and that led to the end of the Celtic culture and its power in the region. While it fell in France and later in Great Britain, this culture was cornered in Scotland, Wales and Ireland. It seems that the Romans detested the Druids so they drove them back to the Isle of Anglesey. Thus, when they reached the island they attacked and destroyed everything, the Druids, their temples and their sacred oaks. Even so, they only managed to assimilate it completely to the colony in the year 78.
The Romans exploited the copper mines and they laid out roads that are still used today. Vestiges and ruins remain from its occupation, all excavated in the XNUMXth century. But once the Romans left in the XNUMXth century the island was at the mercy of the Irish pirates and then fights broke out with the Scots and Welsh who ended up driving them out. Also The Danes, the Norwegians and, of course, the English passed through.
What to do today in Anglesey
The size of the island sometimes makes it difficult to consider it that, an island. But it is. It does not have big mountains, it is quite flat, and is decorated by some lakes. If you arrive interested in his druid past then a place that you cannot miss is the lake of Llyn Cerrig Bach. In 1942 this body of water located at the mouth of the Allaw River was drained and 150 objects that had been thrown in sacred rituals. These were very valuable objects and it is believed that they were thrown into the water over a period of two and a half centuries, until the end of the XNUMXst century AD, right in the Druid period.
All the Bryn Celli Ddu Tombs They are impressive. They date from the Neolithic and have been partially restored. There is also the Barclodiad and Gawres Funerary Monument, a rather unusual cross-shaped grave that has only been found like it in Ireland. Unfortunately many of its rocks were used for other constructions but in the 50s a complete archaeological reconstruction could be done and the beautiful rock art that he was hiding. With 2500 years of history it is an archaeological pearl in Great Britain open to the public.
Continuing with the Celtic wave you can visit the settlement of Din lligwy, in Moelfre. It's hidden in a forest and it's about stone houses very well preserved dating from the Romano-Breton period. You have a nice view of Lligwy Bay and excavations have revealed that these houses were occupied by Britons who had adapted to the lifestyle brought by the Romans.
Llys rhosyr is National Heritage since it is the only Royal Court of the Prince of Gwynedd and it has reached our time almost intact. We talk about a Welsh fortress from the XNUMXth century. Further advanced in history are the Penmon Priory Ruins, XNUMXth century, part of the Augustinian order, or the Hafoty Medieval HouseAlthough it can only be seen from the outside, it is a charming construction in pure rock.
Castle Beaumaris was ordered to be built by Edaurdo I, Alias longshanks, in the thirteenth century. It is imposing and by then it was a marvel of military architecture, following a design of walls within walls. The entire population of Llanfaes was forced to move and build it, a divine task ... It is World Heritage since 1986, with other castles of Eduardito. It's open to the public and admission costs £ 6 per adult.
The ideal is to visit the island with good weather to be able to move everywhere and enjoy not only its historical ruins but also the landscapes. For this follow the Anglesey Coastal Path, either on foot or by bike or on horseback. 95% of the coast has been declared an Area of Natural Beauty, so it is worth it with its beaches, cliffs, dunes, agricultural areas and forests: travel 200 kilometers and begins at the Church of St. Cybi, the Holyhead.
Pass 20 towns and villages and can be traveled from start to finish using public transport also. You will see the South Strack Lighthouse, the stone arches on the Bwa Gwyn coast, Llanddwyn Island, the Menai Suspension Bridge, the Britannia Bridge, the Menai, some churches, nature reserves and much more.
How do you get to this Welsh island charm? Well, all you have to do is cross the Menai Suspension Bridge either by car or by train or direct bus from London. You can also arrive by plane, the island has an airport, or by cruise since there is also a cruise port here.