Holy Island, Anglesey
Isle of Anglesey | |
---|---|
Largest settlement | Holyhead (pop. 11,237) |
Demographics | |
Population | 13,659 (2011) |
Pop. density | 346/km2 (896/sq mi) |
Ethnic groups | Welsh people |
Holy Island (
Pre-history of Holy Island
The settlement of Holy Island, Anglesey is dated to c. 4,000 BC with the discovery of an original
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Ty_Mawr_Stone_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1046.jpg/220px-Ty_Mawr_Stone_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1046.jpg)
A well-preserved hut settlement on Anglesey was adjacent to the Holyhead Mountain hillfort. The Holyhead Mountain Hut Circles (Welsh: Tŷ Mawr / Cytiau'r Gwyddelod, Big house / "Irishmen's Huts") on Holy Island were inhabited before the Iron Ages, as of c. 1,000 BC. A stone wall built in the enclosure was found with limpet shells dating to 200 BC. Also at the huts was Roman-era ancient pottery proving the hut group habitation from the 3rd to 4th centuries AD.[8][9][10][11] The Ty Mawr Hut Circles archaeological excavations were carried out by William Owen Stanley (son of Baron Stanley of Alderley) of Penrhos, Holy Island in 1862.[12][13]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Holyhead%2C_the_Mountain_and_the_Breakwater._-_geograph.org.uk_-_363805.jpg/220px-Holyhead%2C_the_Mountain_and_the_Breakwater._-_geograph.org.uk_-_363805.jpg)
Natural features
There are a variety of natural habitats on the island including mudflats, dunes, marshes and beaches.[15] Practically nothing is left of the oak forest that covered almost all of the island before the arrival of Neolithic farmers.[16] The western side of the island is taken up mainly by Holyhead Mountain, an area of maritime heather moor, which is the highest peak in the county at 722 feet (220 m). North Stack and South Stack are two islands just off the coast by Holyhead Mountain. South Stack is joined to Holy Island by steep steps and a suspension bridge which provides access to the South Stack Lighthouse.[17]
Whilst most of the coastline is rocky, there are sandy beaches at
Transport
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Holy_Island%2C_Anglesey_1-250%2C000_OS_map_2010.png/220px-Holy_Island%2C_Anglesey_1-250%2C000_OS_map_2010.png)
Holy Island is connected to Anglesey by two road links. The first, the
Around 30 miles (50 kilometres) of the 125-mile (200 km) Anglesey Coastal Path is on Holy Island. National Cycle Route 5 and National Cycle Route 8 traverse the island.[21] The nearest airport is Anglesey Airport a few miles away on the Anglesey mainland and provides daily flights to Cardiff. The nearest major airport is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, 100 mi (160 km) away.
Sport and tourism
There are three
is popular.Many people staying on Holy Island do so short term whilst waiting for the ferries to
Schools and governance
There are six primary schools and one secondary school, Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi,[25] which lays claim to being the first Comprehensive school in England and Wales. Tertiary education can be found at Bangor University, some 20 miles (30 kilometres) away on the Welsh mainland.
Along with the rest of Anglesey, Holy Island is part of the
References
- ^ "Ty Mawr Excavations, Holyhead (417386)". Coflein. RCAHMW.
- S2CID 192048027.
- ^ "Parc Cybi, Holyhead Border Control Post". gov.wales. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Tŷ Mawr Standing Stone". cadw.gov.wales. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Ty-Mawr Standing Stone;Bonc Deg Maenhir (302268)". Coflein. RCAHMW.
- ^ "Proposed Hotel at Parc Cybi Enterprise Zone, Holyhead, Anglesey" (PDF). coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Caer-y-Twr Stone Walled Hillfort on Holyhead Mountain (93839)". Coflein. RCAHMW.
- ^ "Holyhead Mountain Hut Circles". cadw.gov.wales. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Ty Mawr Circle Huts". anglesey-history.co.uk. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Ty Mawr Hut Group;Cytiau'r Gwyddelod: Holyhead Mountain Settlement Complex, North-East Area (308078)". Coflein. RCAHMW.
- ^ "Cytiau'r Gwyddelod, Holyhead Mountain Settlement Complex, South-West Area (93837)". Coflein. RCAHMW.
- ^ "William Owen Stanley". britishmuseum.org. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Cadwallon Lawhir, King of Gwynedd". earlybritishkingdoms.com. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Natural History of Anglesey". www.anglesey-history.co.uk.
- ISSN 0266-593X
- ^ "South Stack Lighthouse visitor centre". Trinity House. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "BEDDMANARCH – CYMYRAN SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST" (PDF). Natural Resources Wales. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "The Stanley Embankment, Holyhead". History Points.org. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Bus timetables". Isle of Anglesey County Council. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "UK Cycle Network Map". Ordnance Survey. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Fixtures announced for Inter-Island Games". Môn FM. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Holyhead Park". Open Play. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Holyhead Breakwater Country Park". Visit Anglesey. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Primary, Secondary and Special Schools". Isle of Anglesey County Council. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Your councillors". Isle of Anglesey County Council. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ "Councillors". Holyhead Town Council. Retrieved 2 March 2020.