THE BRITANNIA BRIDGE
&
SIR KYFFIN WILLIAMS' PWLLFANOGL
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 24th 2011
I’ve mentioned the Britannia Bridge area of the Menai Straits before and I hope you enjoyed those particular pages.
Please allow me to expand a bit on that information and introduce you to another viewing of the same spots.
This time I’ll take you across to Pwllfanogl where the artist Sir Kyffin Williams spent his last years in friendly company with the Marquess of Anglesey and as uniquely productive as ever.
I’ll introduce you to Pwllfanogl on an attached page and you’ll the link will be at the bottom of this page.
Robert Stephenson's Bridge
Unless you’re enjoying the Anglesey Coastal Path from Menai Bridge or arriving from the other way from Brynsiencyn, then this is a portion of a very pleasant walk along the Menai Straits.
You can spend five or ten minutes below the Britannia Bridge and at Pwllfanogl or, like me, stand and stare for quite a while. I also listen a great deal.
With my eyes shut it is another landscape to view and appreciate.
Page Contents
BRIDGE MENDING IN PROGRESS
GETTING HERE
BELOW STEPHENSON'S BRIDGE
ADMIRAL LORD NELSON
HISTORY TO ENHANCE YOUR VISIT
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG
CONTACT ME
Pwllfanogl at Llanfair PG, Menai Straits
BRIDGE MENDING IN PROGRESS
I’d read in the papers that there was a great deal of maintenance work being carried out on the Bridge and wanted to nose about. I’d also wanted to take a long overdue at the Pwllfanogl area of Llanfair PG.
I’ll be brief on my description of the work being carried out in renovating the 1846 construction that spans the Menai Straits at this point.
The £4million pound scheme should be complete by late June according to one of the contract workers.
The project work is to replace the ironwork damaged by the salt air in the decades since it was damaged by fire in the cataclysmic fire of 1970. There will also be major work inside the turrets, replacing damaged brickwork and re-pointing.
For more information please have a look at the BBC Link provided at the bottom of this page.
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GETTING HERE
Relatively easy to reach.
Three Routes: On the Llanfair PG side of the Britannia Bridge you’ll find a sign for Carreg Môn Hotel.
Turn down here and follow the road all the way down to St Mary’s Church. This is your starting point.
Come off the Bridge at the FIRST LEFT TURNING and keep to the left. The Carreg Môn Hotel sign is on your left.
From Menai Bridge - Follow the sign for Llanfair PG at the garage roundabout. Follow this road and pass under the A55 Expressway for the bridge. Again, the Carreg Môn Hotel sign is on your left.
From Llanfair PG – So easy. Pass below the Marquess Column . After about 300m you will come across the Carreg Môn Hotel sign is on your right.
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BELOW THE BRITANNIA BRIDGE
In this specific area the Anglesey Coastal Path will lead you below the Bridge and along the Menai Straits.
It is a wonderful opportunity to view this staggering structure across the Straits and spend some time just being there.
I'll refer you to valuable information about the bridge on a link below.
In the meantime, please let me guide you to a viewing point below the bridge and also issue a bit of a stark warning to ensure your safety.
Getting Here:
As I wrote above, leave your car in St Mary's Church carpark and make your way back up hill in your sensible walking boots.
Take the track marked for the Anglesey Coastal Path immediately on your right after the railway bridge.
If you're arriving while they're still working here, then the entrance is that to a construction site.
It is sensible to introduce yourself at the gate in case some work is underway or large vehicles in motion.
The track which is now a rough gravel road will take you down right below the Anglesey-side turret and a viewing point for the entire length of the Britannia Bridge and the Menai Straits.
N.B. TAKE THE GREATEST OF CARE WHEN YOU ARE IN THE AREA OF THE BRIDGE.
This is a beautiful stretch of water; however, Admiral Lord Nelson regarded it as one of the most treacherous stretches of water he had ever sailed.
The tide rushes by at quite a speed and should you fall in then you would be carried through the deadly currents of The Swellies.
Always bring your Mobile Phone with you.
I would NOT recommend bringing young children this close to the Menai Straits.
The inflateable below is not an on-site safety boat but a local Boat Safety Training Company who happened to be training during my visit.
So don't depend on it being there.
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ADMIRAL LORD NELSON
If the tide affords the opportunity you can also make your way to Lord Nelson's Statue right on the banks of the Menai Straits below St Mary's Church.
The rocks can be very slippery, so again I urge care.
If you've been below the Britannia Bridge then just make your way back to the church carpark and make your way through the cemetery. Take time to read the large obelisk on our left.
At the lowest point there'll be a little track to your left. Follow this down to the Straits. It can be very slippery, smelly and mucky wet underfoot.
It's possible to get to the statue but do take the greatest of care.
Tarry here to enjoy the peace and natural sounds of Nature.
Check the links immediately below for historical information about this particular spot.
Take Care To Watch the Tide
Below The Britannia Bridge Can Be A Lonely Spot
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HISTORY TO ENHANCE YOUR VISIT
Rather than inundate you with the history of the Britannia Bridge, Lord Nelson and the Menai Straits here and now I have decided to post the links below so as to allow to read and learn at your leisure.
In addition to the significant history associated with the Menai Straits, you will find information about Where To Eat and also directions for Pleasant Walks.
The Britannia Bridge
Menai Bridge
Marquess of Anglesey’s Column
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG
Interestingly, on the day of my visit I made two nice discoveries:
Firstly, that a dig was going on in the field next to St Mary’s Church. Secondly, Rhys Mwyn a Welsh Punk Singer of the 80s and 90s and journalist was present and his degree and interest is in Archaeology.
It was an unexpected and pleasant encounter. He didn’t spit in my face and pogo away, instead he came across smiling and shook my hand.
We fell into an interesting discussion about the dig and I learned that the team was seeking artefacts from the Late Bronze, Iron Age on Anglesey and were hoping to find Roman artefacts.
So far they had found no Roman remains and it was puzzling them. I suggested, from my own studies, that wasn’t it less likely that such artefacts would be found here compared to Brynsiencyn where Suetonius Paulinus launched a successful invasion of Anglesey.
We nattered a while and then went our own way. Very pleasant indeed.
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Part Two - Visit PWLLFANOGL
Visit ANGLESEY WALKS
Back to my ANGLESEY JOURNAL.
BBC Wales Bridge Maintenance Work
Return to HOME PAGE.
North Stack Fog Signal Station, just south of the Port of Holyhead, offers astonishing coastal walk and beautiful views of rugged Anglesey coastline.
Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. Astonishing coastal beauty. Award Winning Anglesey Green Flag Country Park. A superb green space for family fun and walks
White Beach really, really is a hidden gem. By that, I mean it is really, really well hidden. Dinner plate pebbles, nice picnics, CRAZY HORSES and some pretty good fishing.
