For an enjoyable day out in Anglesey's beautiful countryside visit the Holyhead Breakwater Country Park. It is situated next to the town and port of Holyhead - the Celtic gateway to Ireland.

• Exhibitions - discover more about the wildlife and industrial heritage of the country park in the information centre (with audio-visual and interactive displays) and the outdoor exhibits.
• Llyn Llwynog - where you can fish, watch the model boats or relax in the company of the moorhens and mallards.
• The Rocky Coast - enjoy the stunning coastal scenery amongst the gorse and the heather.
• Wildlife - Spot the chough and peregrine falcons as they swoop above the old quarries.
• Walking - a variety of walks for all levels including access to Holyhead Mountain and South Stack.
• Orienteering - try the orienteering course at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park.
• Cafe available on site.
• Children's play area.

The Holyhead Breakwater Country Park was opened in 1990 and is situated on the site of an old quarry which supplied stone for the 2.39km (1.5 miles) Holyhead Breakwater, the longest in Europe, which was built between 1846 and 1873. Part of the park is situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).The park is managed by the Countryside Service of the Isle of Anglesey County Council. For more information please see the council website.

Wildlife

Breakwater Country Park is situated within a couple of miles of Holyhead town centre, and is easily accessible from there along the main road which hugs the coastline past the breakwater. The offshore islands that are visible on the horizon on a clear day are the Skerries, approximately 7 miles away.

The area was the source of the stone that was used to construct the breakwater. The park has a visitor centre, good parking facilities, and is well served by footpaths. The Anglesey Coastal Path runs through the reserve, following the coastline around Porth Namarch and on to North Stack and the fog signal station. The park’s nature trail is a good way to experience the area’s many different types of habitat and wildlife. Breakwater Country Park is a particularly good spot for migrant passerine birds in spring or autumn, as well as seabirds, and summer visitors like swallows and swifts. Inhabitants of the old quarries include the charismatic chough and the amazing peregrine falcon.

The heathland areas support a population of silver studded blue butterflies, and the reserve is home to many different species of moth, including the ruby tiger, cinnabar, buff tip and silver Y moth. The gorse and bramble scrub attracts willow warblers, stonechats, wheatears, and linnets, and little owls frequent the reserve – typically being seen more readily during the day than tawny and barn owls. There are many different types of orchid including bee orchid, marsh and common spotted orchid. The spring yields lovely displays of flowering thrift, spring squill and bird’s foot trefoil. The coast is a good place to watch for harbour porpoises, grey seals and Risso’s and common dolphins. The lakes are home to breeding moorhen and mallard, and grey herons can often be seen, standing stock still, waiting intently for fish-catching opportunities!