Holyhead, Ferries and Ferry Crossings

Welcome to the Holyhead (UK) section of FerryCrossings.org, the site for information about major UK and continental ports and the ferries between them. Our site includes an introduction to a number of ports and feature pages about the various crossing ways, lanes and routes and companies operating between them to help you plan your journey and discover interesting travel destinations along the way. You can even compare prices and save money on your ferry tickets with ads from booking sites and major ferry lines.

Port of Holyhead

Holyhead. The town of Holyhead has a ferry link with both Dun Laoghaire and Dublin in Eire. From Holyhead you can be in Ireland in around 2 hours. You could even go for a day out! The town makes an excellent base both as a jumping off point for the ferries to the Republic of Ireland and also for exploring the many attractions of the Druids' Isle of Anglesey.

The port of Holyhead is in a well-protected bay in the north-west corner of the Isle of Anglesey. In practice, Holyhead isn't really on Anglesey, it's actually on Holy Island, which is linked to Anglesey proper by causeways carrying the A55 and A5 roads, and the railway line, directly to Holyhead. There is also a much older, smaller bridge (Four Mile Bridge) which carries a 'B' road onto the island. Holy Island is so named because of the numerous standing stones, burial sites and other ancient sites with religious connections. Anglesey is separated from the North Wales mainland coast by the Menai Straits.

Thomas Telford's Menai Bridge, opened in 1826, carried the original road link from the mainland to the island and was just to the south-west of Bangor. However, as rail transport for both passengers and goods became more important, the need for a rail link between the mainland and Anglesey became paramount. The Brittania Bridge, just a mile from the location of the earlier road bridge, was designed by George Stephenson and construction of the innovative tubular bridge began in 1846 and finished in 1850. The railway line would run inside rectangular iron sections. The design was highly successful and remained in daily use until 1970 when a fire on the bridge caused serious damage. The bridge was rebuilt, utilising the original stone piers and, when re-opened in 1972, also incorporated a single track carriageway of the fast A55 road. The railway line runs beneath the roadway.

Just off the coast of Holy Island is the South Stack Lighthouse, seemingly precariously balanced on its own tiny little island, and warning shipping of the dangers of that jagged stretch of coastline. The lighthouse was erected in 1809 and protects ships travelling between Dublin and Holyhead and is the first warning light they see on their approach from the west. Public access over the deep water channel between Holy Island and South Stack is via 400 steps and an aluminium bridge (access was originally via a basket slung from a cable and hauled across!). The cliffs of South Stack are home to thousands of nesting birds in the season and are part of the RSPB South Stack Cliffs Bird Reserve. South Stack is also a point on the Anglesey Coast Path, a route covering 125 miles around the coast passing through around 20 towns and villages. It takes about 12 days to do the full walk. The coastline area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the walk passes through a stunningly beautiful landscape with the possibilities of seeing rare birds, porpoises, seals and innumerable wild flowers.

Anglesey's known history reaches back around 9000 years, with the archaelogical evidence to support it. There are stone burial chambers, standing stones and hill forts. At Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) there is a prehistoric hill fort. Many of the archaeological sites are identified and open to the public. During the Roman occupation of Britain, Anglesey was a thorn in the Empire's side as it became the last bastion of the Celts and the Druid priests when they were pushed ever more westward from Britain and Wales. On Anglesey, at Holyhead, you can find a Roman fort and a watchtower on Holyhead Mountain. In the early Middle Ages the Celtic Christian Church held sway across Ireland and much of Wales and two monasteries were founded on Anglesey, St Cybi's at Caer Gybi (Holyhead), and St Seriol's at Penmon. Viking raids disrupted and destroyed island communities but the island survived the Vikings and prospered. However, during the 13th century, King Edward l of England defeated Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, known as 'the last Prince of Wales'. To maintain his grip on Wales, Edward ordered the construction of a series of castles around the Welsh coast and Beaumaris, on Anglesey, was one of them. Beaumaris Castle is a World Heritage Site, is open to the public and hosts numerous fairs, concerts and plays.

From the early years of the 18th century Anglesey was of great importance for its copper mining industry and for its strategic position linking London and Ireland. In the 19th century a two and a half mile breakwater was constructed at Holyhead creating a safe harbour and anchorage for ships in stormy seas. Improved road and rail links with London and major cities in England all contributed to the importance of Holyhead as a link with Ireland and, in particular, Dublin. Parys Mountain copper mine, which was in use during Roman times, became the world's largest copper mine at the peak of its production. The museum at Llangefni, the Oriel Ynys Môn, Anglesey Museum and Art Gallery is the largest on the island and its exhibitions reflect the maritime, mining, agricultural, social and natural history of the island.