With its spectacular 100-mile coastline, there’s no better way to discover this island than on a high-speed RIB ride
Ynys Môn, or Anglesey, is no ordinary island. Off the wild north coast of Wales, the largest of the Welsh Isles brims with maritime legends and pulses with ancient Celtic spirit.
Once the sacred stronghold of Druids and the final refuge of the Celts, Anglesey feels like an ancient corner of Wales.
Standing stones and Iron Age forts rise from wildflower meadows, while Neolithic tombs sit among storm-lashed cliffs, windswept dunes, and secret coves that beg to be explored.
With its spectacular 100-mile coastline, there’s no better way to uncover its dramatic beauty than on a high-speed RIB ride, skimming past rugged headlands, remote beaches, and eerie sea caves.
If you think you’ve seen Anglesey’s best bits from land, you haven’t truly experienced the island. The only way to grasp the scale of its raw, rugged beauty is from the sea. And that’s exactly what I did, spending almost an entire day racing across the waves on a high-speed RIB with Ribride.
This full-day tour costs £138.00 per person and lasts over six hours. During this epic voyage of the coastline, we visited sea caves, lighthouses, and deserted coves, and saw something unbelievable – seals, puffins, seabirds and dolphins, right here in Wales.
Our trip began at St George’s Pier, where we were strapped into life jackets and given a safety briefing by our salty skipper, Captain Charles, before boarding our Explorer RIB.
With a jolt from the jetty, we surged into the Menai Strait, wind stinging my cheeks as the mainland faded into the distance.
Our confident captain promised a day-long odyssey through the Swellies, past Plas Newydd and Y Felinheli, with glimpses of Caernarfon Castle, Ynys Llanddwyn, and the towering South Stack Lighthouse.
Few moments rival the thrill of bouncing over the Swellies, the Menai Strait’s most infamous waters. Passing beneath Telford’s grand suspension bridge, this stretch of water is infamous for racing tides and shipwreck legends.
Here, the tide charges in from both directions, clashing over a seabed riddled with unseen rocks. The ghostly remains of shipwrecks below remind us that these dangerous waters have claimed many before us.
As we threaded our way between whirlpools and racing currents, our skipper explained how, centuries ago, tall ships had to navigate this treacherous channel, hoping the tide wouldn’t drag them onto the sharp rocks.
Looking down at the frothing, swirling water, I could see why so many had failed and held onto my seat a little tighter.
Beyond the Strait, the open sea awaited, and Anglesey’s dramatic coastline unfurled around us. Cliffs tumbled into the waves, exposing hidden caves and old smugglers’ haunts. Lighthouses stood sentinel on rocky spurs, guiding sailors home.
At one point, we slowed to a crawl as seals bobbed in the waves, lazily eyeing us up before disappearing beneath the surface.
Further on, puffins flitted above the water, their tiny wings working overtime to keep them airborne. Kittiwakes and guillemots clung to the cliffs, their cries carrying over the wind.
But Anglesey’s jaw-dropping coastline is not just about wildlife and sea views; it’s also rich in maritime history. Over the centuries, this wild stretch of water has claimed more than its fair share of ships, making it a true graveyard of the sea.
The area is littered with the wrecks of doomed vessels, many of which are still visible today during low tide or on calm days when the water recedes to reveal their eerie remains.
One of the most famous wrecks is that of the Royal Charter, which sank off the coast of Anglesey in 1859 during a violent storm.
The ship, which was carrying gold from Australia to London, ran aground on Penmon Point. Tragically, 459 lives were lost, and the wreckage was scattered along the coast for miles.
Anglesey once lured smugglers to its maze of coves and caves, perfect for dodging the law. These shadowy hideouts brimmed with contraband, from barrels of rum to forbidden treasures.
Smuggling flourished in Anglesey during the 18th and 19th centuries, taking advantage of its rugged coastline and secluded caves. Local lore suggests that Pirate Bay, near Holyhead, was once a well-known drop-off point for smugglers to trade goods under cover of night.
As our RIB sliced through the waves, we approached the enigmatic Ynys Llanddwyn, a small island known as well for its history and legends as for its natural beauty.
This magical spot, with its rugged shoreline and crystal-clear waters, is closely tied to the legend of Saint Dwynwen, Wales’ patron saint of lovers.
According to the story, Saint Dwynwen sought solace on this very island after a heart-wrenching love story of her own, and the island is a place of both romantic and spiritual significance.
The real delight was spotting seals sprawled on sun-warmed rocks, their sleek forms almost melting into the shadows. Though shy, they let us admire them before slipping below the waves.
We didn’t have time to visit the island ourselves, but the views from the boat were enough to make us feel the pull of its history and wildlife.
If you’re lucky enough to visit, you can walk around the picturesque island and explore its historic lighthouse, ancient church ruins and sandy bays.
Cruising the Anglesey coast, we soon glimpsed South Stack Lighthouse, perched alone on its rocky islet, just 30 metres from the mainland yet separated by swirling, perilous waters.
I could only see the lighthouse from the bobbing rib, but once you’re back on dry land, you can visit South Stack Lighthouse to get closer.
The lighthouse is accessible by descending 400 steep steps carved into the cliffside, which I can tell you now are not for the faint-hearted.
But when you reach the bottom, you’ll be rewarded with the chance to cross a narrow bridge that links the mainland to the lighthouse.
It’s a picture-perfect moment, and if you’re keen on learning more, you can visit the lighthouse and pick up cash-only tour tickets to explore the interior and discover the history of this landmark structure.
Close by, the RSPB South Stack Cliffs reserve is ideal for avid birdwatchers. Borrow binoculars and step onto viewing platforms to spot puffins, guillemots, and a flurry of seabirds.
We soon picked up speed and headed towards The Skerries, a scatter of rocky isles off Anglesey’s northwest tip, which stand out as both a dramatic landmark and a vital sanctuary for Welsh wildlife.
Managed by the RSPB, this site is home to the country’s largest breeding colony of Arctic terns, with 2,035 pairs recorded in 2005.
But it’s not just terns that make The Skerries special; the islands also host puffins, common terns, lesser black-backed gulls, herring gulls, and even the occasional roseate tern.
As we approached the remote islands, it became clear why the RSPB had a vested interest in protecting this site. The rocky outcrops are sparsely vegetated but teem with wildlife.
We caught sight of seals basking on the rocks as the air buzzed with seabirds. If you’re lucky, you might even glimpse a puffin or two darting in and out of their burrows.
One of the best parts of the RIB trip was undoubtedly the wildlife. As we zoomed along, we spotted grey seals lounging on the rocks, looking like they were sunbathing.
They gave us a curious glance before slipping silently into the water. Not far off, puffins darted above the waves, their little wings flapping furiously.
We also spotted dolphins popping up in the distance, their sleek bodies cutting through the water in playful arcs. A few porpoises joined in too, quickly and smoothly diving in and out of the waves.
The cliffs and waters were teeming with seabirds, such as black guillemots and kittiwakes, and we took some lovely photos.
Why you should do this boat trip
A boat trip around Anglesey is not just a basic boat trip; I loved how stories were interwoven into the landscapes we whizzed by and the sea caves we slowed to visit.
It’s a brilliant way of learning more about the island’s history from the bob of the waves rather than on a traditional walking tour.
The wildlife is another huge draw, with seals basking on rocky outcrops, puffins darting through the air, and dolphins playing in the distance. You’ll see these animals up close in their natural habitat, which you just can’t get on a regular land-based tour.
You’ll also visit places that are hard to reach otherwise, like The Skerries, a remote group of islands home to some of Wales’ most important bird colonies.
Booking the trip is easy. Go to RibRide’s booking page to see all the boat trips they offer and select your date and time online.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login