HolyheadUnited Kingdom · Ferry Destinations

All About Holyhead

A fascinating blend of beautiful rugged coastline and ancient Welsh culture awaits anyone heading to Holyhead. As a major port, the town sits on the north Wales coast on the Irish Sea, and sees regular sailings between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

In addition to its status as a port, Holyhead is also the largest town on the island of Anglesey, a popular traditional vacation destination within the British Isles for both domestic and international travelers. An island off an island, Holyhead sits separate from the rest Anglesey by the narrow Cymryan Strait.

When it comes to deciding on the right ferry crossing for you, there’s no better place to start than the Ferryscanner website. Making it incredibly simple to search ferry routes and destinations, you can quickly scan the latest available ferry times, allowing you to book your ferry tickets to Holyhead directly without it becoming a hassle.
 

Routes and Ferries to Holyhead

Holyhead has been one of the main routes to the Republic of Ireland for decades, and today ferry services connect the town with Dublin, the Irish capital. The route is operated by Stena Line, which has become one of northern Europe’s largest ferry companies after humble origins in Sweden.

Passengers looking for ferry tickets to Holyhead are able to choose between 28 different sailings each week in either direction. Ferries run right throughout the year, so even in less common months for travel you can get ferry tickets to Holyhead if that’s what you’re after. With the route between Holyhead and Dublin taking only three hours and fifteen minutes, it’s even possible to consider taking the journey as a day trip.

The route is so popular that Stena Line makes use of two superferries, called the Stena Adventurer and the Stena Estrid. Measuring a mighty 210 meters long (making them more than twice the height of London’s Big Ben), the vessels are able to welcome up to 500 motor vehicles and 1500 passengers, or more than 10% of Holyhead’s entire population with each sailing.

Onboard, passengers will find modern spaces in which to relax, with a variety of amenities, including complimentary WiFi, free movies, areas of seating and a variety of food and drink establishments over multiple decks. Prices for an adult foot passenger range between €33 and €37.

Holyhead is the terminus of the North Wales Coast rail line, with the line following the coast via the Britannia Bridge over the Menai Strait before it passes the internal border into England to reach the cities of Chester and Crewe. Anglesey Airport connects the island with Cardiff, while Manchester and Liverpool Airports have a much larger list of destinations, including some of Europe’s most important cities.
 

Ports of Holyhead

The ports of Holyhead comprise a zone for industrial traffic and another for the Stena Line ferries to and from Ireland. This welcomes around two million passengers each year, and covers an area of 240 hectares. Sheltered by the United Kingdom’s longest breakwater, the 2.7-kilometer Holyhead Breakwater, the port can also be divided into Inner, Outer, and New Harbor areas.

Connecting to the passenger terminal from Holyhead train station takes approximately two minutes, and can be reached from the town center in around five minutes on foot. Drivers will find the port and ferry terminal well signposted from both the A5 and A55 roads, with ample on-site car parking.
 

Best Beaches

Whether your idea of the best beaches in Holyhead are isolated coves that capture the glory of the Welsh coast, or regions ideal for sandcastles and a traditional British fish supper, you won’t be disappointed.

Porth Dafarth Beach

While the waterline can be dotted with seaweed, it’s rare that this puts off anyone from enjoying this relatively flat expanse of sand. Flying a Blue Flag for cleanliness, the waters are popular with small boats as well as swimmers.

Cemaes Bay

Possibly an even more impressive sand beach, Cemaes Bay is of such a size that it can be divided into areas that welcome and prohibit four-legged visitors. If the little ones can tear their eyes from the sands, they’ll also find a few rock pools at low tide.

Trearddur Bay

Just a short drive across Holyhead from the town and port, Trearddur Bay is difficult to argue against. Surrounded by attractive whitewashed cottages, the bay incorporates a dedicated swimming area marked out by buoys, in addition to several hundred meters of soft sand.

Newry Beach

Formed out of shingle and rock, Newry Beach sits within the sheltered waters of the harbor breakwater. Close to all manner of facilities and amenities, it’s also near to the Holyhead Maritime Museum.
 

Places to Visit

Occupied since prehistoric times, Holyhead has had plenty of time to come up with some great places to visit. Check out the ones suggested below and you won’t be disappointed.

Holyhead Maritime Museum

This museum space tells the story of the town’s maritime history from before the written word until the advent of its modern ferries. Its star attraction is what is believed to be the oldest lifeboat in Wales, while the next-door air raid shelter provides a fascinating insight into what the people of the town endured during World War II.

Ucheldre Center

One of Holyhead’s main arts spaces, the Ucheldre Center sits within an imposing converted chapel which was constructed as part of the Bon Sauveur convent. Hosting exhibitions and events throughout the year, it’s a wonderful place in which to delve into the local art scene.

Breakwater Country Park

Occupying a rocky area of coast crisscrossed with footpaths, Breakwater Country Park is one of the best ways of getting out into the fresh Holyhead air. Partly located within an area of outstanding natural beauty, it provides some spectacular views, and has the possibility of catching sight of wildlife including peregrine falcons, the fastest animals on Earth.
 

Transportation Around Holyhead

Short term visitors to Holyhead are unlikely to have much need of public transportation because of the proximity of the town center and railway station to the port. However, if you do, your main options are the town’s bus network, and its private taxi fleet. Buses link up most points of interest, with the latest schedules and timetables available online. Licensed taxis can be prearranged by telephone, and will either cost an agreed amount, or will operate on a meter. There’s no reason to worry about being overcharged by a taxi driver in the region.