Set off westwards on the A5025 from Cemaes, Anglesey’s northernmost village. Within a mile (at Tregele) take the minor road on the right to Cemlyn Bay, one of the island’s most distinctive natural features, singled out for its exceptional wildlife and beauty. There are two car parks and either end of the bay.

It’s an unusual place. The bay is cocooned from wind and sea not just by rocky headlands at either side but also by a long bank of shingle that protects a large saltwater lagoon. This is an important habitat for seabirds, including the only nesting colony of sandwich terns in Wales.

It’s one of the North Wales Wildlife Trust’s star sites. The accolades don’t end there. Cemlyn Bay is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Special Conservation Area and Special Protection Area. And, along with the rest of coastal Anglesey, it’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s quite special, then.

We’ve covered Cemlyn Bay’s prolific birdlife in more detail in our Go Wild North Anglesey tour. In this tour, we concentrate on the bay’s other qualities. The pebbly ridge (known as Esgair Cemlyn), for example, is a significant habitat for specialised plants like sea kale, sea campion and yellow-horned poppy.

Landwards, areas of gorse, heather and grassland attract butterflies and brown hares. And, as well as its famous birdlife, wildflowers and orchids like it here too. Gaze out to sea and you might catch sight of grey seals and bottlenose dolphins.

From Cemlyn Bay, rejoin the A5025 south for about 5 miles/8km, turning right on the minor road through Rhydwyn to Porth Swtan, Church Bay.

After all that fresh air at Cemlyn Bay you’ll have built up a healthy appetite for lunch or dinner at Porth Swtan, otherwise known as Church Bay.