Further information on this walk

History and interest

• Pentraeth derives its name from being at the “head (or point) of the sands” referring to its location at the head of nearby sandy Red Wharf Bay.
• The name of Red Wharf Bay is partly derived from the colour of the mudflats, while Wharf is a corruption of Warth, a term common in south-west England meaning shore or strand.
• The Tower on private land was built in the early 19th century by a Captain Morgan, then owner of Fron Goch, as a folly and lookout tower. The Captain owned a number of trading vessels and could watch for them arriving at the quay in Red Wharf Bay.
• The Memorial in the beach car park is dedicated to Hywel ap Owain Gwynedd and commemorates the nearby Battle of Pentraeth in 1170 in which he died. Owain, a prince and a poet, fought his half-brothers for a share of the Kingdom of Gwynedd following the death of their father who ruled most of Wales.
• Pentraeth Forest is 3km² of conifer woodland and was planted in the 1950s. It was the last refuge of the red squirrel on Anglesey until their recent reintroduction.

Wildlife

At low tide the 10km² of exposed sand and mud welcomes curlew, oystercatcher, redshank, plover, sandpipers, dunlin and, during the winter months, brent geese.

In the summer pyramidal orchids can be seen growing in the sand dunes. Otters may be spotted in the river, and Pentraeth Forest is home to the red squirrel.

Public transport

The No.50 from Llangefni to Beaumaris; No.55 from Llangefni to Pentraeth and Talwrn; Nos.62 and 62C from Bangor to Amlwch; and No.63 from Bangor to Llanerchymedd, all run services to Pentraeth from Monday to Saturday.

Refreshments

Pentraeth has a couple of pubs serving food. There’s also a sandwich shop, and a convenience store at the petrol station.