CHURCH BAY
By the time the cliffs reach Church Bay Beach they’ve risen a hundred feet above a small rocky and sandy bay. The beach is about 300 metres across and is reached by following a very steep but good path from a look-out by the Wavecrest Café. Church Bay is definitely a character beach.
If you really want to make your stay really memorable why not save up your pennies. Put on a smart shirt and book a table at the renowned Lobster Pot Restaurant.
The lobsters are locally caught by local fishermen and the owner who rows out to his own pots. No engine. He rows. Many regular visitors make a meal here an important part of their holiday and are planning it months ahead in their dreams.
Plenty of beach to rest, sunbathe and have an evening barbecue. If you’re brave enough you may come here to SURF. Mind you, you’ll need to be good at dodging the rocks to catch the 6 o’clock waves.
PORTH SWTAN / CHURCH BAY
For those you interested in place names of villages, you might have worked it out that this tiny hamlet is named after the Church of St Rhuddlad, which stands proud and dominant over the bay.
After all, the most dominant feature from the sea off this entire coastline has to be this large church with its imposing spire. As I write above, it is probably a name attributed to the hamlet by others. Those who lived in this hamlet just a mile or so from Rhydwyn, have always called the place PORTH SWTAN.
‘SWTAN’ means Whiting – the fish. So 'Bay of Whiting' would be the correct English translation, not ‘Porth yr Eglwys’, which is the Welsh translation of Church Bay. Hope I haven’t confused you. I understand that a small bay or cove was normally called after whatever fish was brought ashore at that point. In this case, whiting.
Interesting Fact This is another fact about this area of Anglesey that I didn’t know: the cliffs are made up of volcanic ash mixed up with mud and roasted and compressed over the millennia. The rocks are from the Pre-Cambrian Era, around 570 million years old and are called ‘TUFF.
You’ll find warning signs around the beach warning you not to climb the crumbling cliffs. Please take care.
ST RHUDDLAD'S CHURCH
I’ll repeat the information that you can find on the notice board outside the church. It’s concise and says it all, really. “The Church of St Rhuddlad, a daughter of the king of Leinster (Ireland), was consecrated in 570 A.D. Her feast day is 4th September. The present church with its stone spire, a feature not commonly seen on Anglesey, was built in 1858.”
CHURCH BAY SUNSETS
Remember to tarry a while at the look-out above the beach because it offers a glorious view of the sea and The Skerries Lighthouse in the near distance. Even better, watch and embrace the wonderful sunsets from here. Allow these glorious, yet fleeting, moments to captivate you and reach into a part of your soul you keep forgetting about.
Treasured and magical memories are born of such moments.
CHURCH BAY BEACH
The beach is varied because below the cliffs it is pebbly and shingly. The centre is lovely sand, though mostly tide-compacted.
Below the cliffs is great for pebble picking. Find a suitable stone or boulder to sit down on for a while.
Just sit and quietly reflect on the simple fact that you are here and not somewhere else in a state of ever-stressful anticipation.
Much of the beach disappears at high-tide, so take care in case you have to make your way back to the path over wet and slimy rocks. The cliffs above are loose and not even the dimmest of sheep go near the edge. Though, you’ll notice that the bunny warren holes face out directly over the cliff edge. CRAZY BUNNIES or what?
SANDCASTLES! TELL ME ABOUT YOUR SANDCASTLE BUILDING SUCCESSES AND FAILURES. Click Here
THE ISLE OF ANGLESEY COASTAL PATH
The Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path really is one of Anglesey’s treasures and is very clearly signposted. Church Bay beach and the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path above are great places to just sit and watch the seagulls’ aerobatics and soaring along the cliffs. I kid you not. Just as for the other beaches on the Island the Anglesey Coastal Footpath quite naturally skirts the cliffs above. I encourage you to make time to go for a little walk, especially to the north in early evening. The place is full of lovely bunnies. Take Care, though, because it's a big drop down to the beach.
These cottage images are of SWTAN COTTAGE, where you can visit and step back in time to the 1900s. For More Click Here ...
CHURCH BAY FACILITIES
First of all, you have the brilliantly located Wavecrest Cafe right over the beach.
In a sense, the facilities are pretty limited in the immediate locality. Quite a few years back you might have been able to do most of your shopping in Rhydwyn but, sadly, not these days. All is gone. Most of the goodies you'll need for an excellent beach day are close at hand. However, everything else you'll need is only a few miles away.
PETS ON THE BEACH
• No major prohibition on dogs, but please keep them on a leash - Unlike Crazy Fido here. • Though not here at Church Bay, there are Seasonal Prohibitions on dogs on certain Anglesey beaches. • Always bring a doggie poo-bag with you because the little dears can't always help themselves. Imagine specific matter oozing from between your tanning and sandy toes. Imagine a worse scenario; it’s your child. • The main concern regarding dogs on Anglesey beaches is a health issue. Doggie poo can blind for life. >FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DOG RESTRICTIONS ON ANGLESEY BEACHES PLEASE CLICK HERE.
SURFING - THE FAMOUS SIX O’CLOCK WAVES
If you’re brave enough then you may come here to surf. Essentially it’s a rocky beach sheltered from the best natural sea conditions. Head-on westerlies provide large waves that can be dangerous for novices. It’s well worth having a good old inspection of the beach before surfing here. It’s not a surfing beach for beginners.
Remember This, if conditions seem enticing at Church Bay, then they’ll be even better at TREARDDUR BAY and beaches around RHOSNEIGR, CABLE BAY and ABERFFRAW. These beaches are far safer in comparison. It’s always better to ‘Chew Beach’ than ‘Chew Geology’. Mind you, you’ll need to be good at dodging the rocks to catch the 6 o’clock waves.
“SIX O’CLOCK WAVES?!” What on Earth is he on about?
These will reach as far as Church Bay. WARNING!! Watch out for the large Stena HSS catamaran ferry in particular. It pushes an enormous amount of sea before itself that continues on its merry way when the HSS reduces speed. You’ll find plenty of Stena Ferry warning signs on beaches to the south about these dangerous waves.
Come six o’clock on some evenings you may well find a group of surfers and bodyboarders. They wait. That's what they do. Patiently waiting for the waves that can last up to fifteen minutes as they recede.
No history of windsurfers or kite surfers. It’s much too messy for that.
Also, opinions are clearly split about the quality of Church Bay as a surfing beach. Some think it brilliant while others disregard it out of hand.
Such rocks inevitably act like magnets for boards and unwary human flesh.
You won't even find the death-defying cliff-top bunnies surfing here.
CHURCH BAY INN
This stands glowering down over Church Bay like Norman Bates’ home on the hill. Nonetheless, it's a welcoming place and great place to be on a stormy evening with a pint and a pickled egg for company.
You’ll know that the end of the season has arrived when you see a little sign stating ‘No Food Served’.
About twenty-five years ago my friends and I used to keep the BABBs Guide for pub toilets – Bad and Basic Bogs. We had a star rating ranging from a single star up to four stars. A toilet could only be validated if three accredited members were in attendance.
We looked for character, distinctive odour, dampness, filth and squalor and an excess of pointless fresher cubes.
Despite hundreds of toilet freshers in the trough the smell of urine was overpowering. That toilet alone justified our existence and inspections. The pub has now been ‘TRANSFORMED to an Irish theme-pub.
Everything in the Church Bay Inn is fine these days. BETTER THAN FINE. However, there was a time ... Bad and Basic Bogs Guide
CONTACT ME
Maybe you've never visited Anglesey before and have a question you want answered before you arrive. Please tell me what makes Anglesey a special place for you. Maybe you have special advice - or even warnings. Please feel free to share by CLICKING HERE.
BOAT LAUNCHING AND REGISTRATION
You can't launch your yacht or power boat from Church Bay. No-one in his or her right mind would engage in such a daft enterprise. WRONG! I just found out that it is possible. People do launch their boats from here. The Beach Warden tells me that it's an adventure to behold. Vicious black rocks and a heavy swell will guarantee being an item on local television and a haranguing from the Coastguard. However, for other of Anglesey beaches the County Council requires you to register powerboats over a certain horse power and also lists the required qualifications.
GETTING TO CHURCH BAY
The routes to Church Bay are really quite simple. There are two routes. One being prettier than the other. I'll leave you to decide.
Route 1: • Cross Anglesey on the A55 Expressway or Holyhead. Come off at Junction 3 for Valley/Trearddur Bay. • At the traffic lights TURN RIGHT. • Continue on this road for about seven miles to LLANFAETHLU. You'll pass through the villages of Llanynghenedl and Llanfachraeth on your way. You'll see the vilage on a hill from a distance away. • Pass by Llanfaethlu and half a mile onwards you’ll come across a turning on your left indicating Church Bay and the Lobster Pot. • Follow this road to the bay through the small village of Rhydwyn. You can imagine Rhydwyn as having been a busy rural village with garage, shop and post office. Sadly, cars have rendered these once vital community assets obsolete. • Follow the clear set of signs to the bay, passing lovely cottages on your way.
Route 2:
I believe that this is the prettier of the two routes to Church Bay.
• First of all, follow the same route as above from Valley to Llanfaethlu. • Turn into the village past the post office/shop/café/chip shop (The Coffee House). Drive up and straight through this little village. • About one mile down this road you will travel through the farmyard of Borthwen. Keep to the right around the outhouses. This farm is gradually being converted into holiday cottages. • Follow this road for Church Bay Beach past Porth Trwyn Beach, which is behind the Borthwen outhouses and indicated by a large Blue information board. Follow the road for a mile. • You will see a tall church steeple ahead on your right. Before you get to the church there is a left turning down to Church Bay Beach. • Follow this down to car park and begin to unwind and relax before you get down to the beach.
What's The Best Sandcastle
Second to excellent ice-cream, I love sandcastles and love building them.
Return from Church Bay to ANGLESEY WESTERN BEACHES
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Its reputation has spread far and wide.
However, this is a name probably attributed to the bay by sailors who traversed the coastline.
The rocks on either side are ferocious looking and you really have to watch out when there’s a swell rolling in.
Then, you have the renowned Lobster Pot Restaurant with its freshly caught lobsters running on idle in a tank at the back.
Well, Gentle Reader, though the ships entering Holyhead Port seem far away they’re still close enough to generate surf-able waves.
If you’re surfing then keep a wary out for the ugly black tooth on the middle right of the beach as you look out.
This is a pretty good Inn that serves food in Summer.
I think the only Four Star toilet that the BABBs guide recognised was the King’s Arms pub in Bangor.
As I write on each of my beach pages, I would love to hear from you about your stay in this area.
