Wildlife - Holyhead Breakwater Country Park

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.  It has an attractive setting, flanked by Holyhead Mountain to the west, and the Irish Sea to the north.  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!

For a list of public toilets on the island, please see Isle of Anglesey County Council - public toilets