BOF's Big Bucket List Trip To Anglesey! *MNHQ editing title to say that there is some very sad news contained in this thread. Sending love to all*

[BitOfFun]

AIBU to ask for some help planning this?

I've been on mumsnet almost forever, and it's my go-to place for wisdom, help and advice. I don't really have a long time alive, as my cancer treatment has stopped working, so I'm hoping that some of you can help me plan a trip to Anglesey, so that I've seen somewhere that isn't these four walls during my Liverpool Lockdown!

I don't want to go much further afield, as I would feel better being easily accessible to medical care if necessary. The plan is to hire a car with my husband, who'll drive, and stay a night or two in B&Bs, taking in some coastal views and sunsets.

I'd love to trawl antique shops.
I'd like to take the dog, if possible, though this isn't really essential.
Outdoors is good, but I'll have to use a wheelchair for more than short distances.
I like the idea of "hidden gems" in terms of places to visit (who doesn't?) but comfort is good too.
I'll wait for the weather to warm up a bit, so in a few weeks is fine (I hope!).

I don't want to annoy anybody, but I'd like to use this thread for a bit of support and encouragement, and keep bumping it for more ideas and suggestions.so I can make this trip as special as possible. As Anglesey isn't all that far from where I live, I could split the trip into a few parts.

So, can you help? AIBU?

BOF - sorry just reread your post and seen your wheel chair comment so forget the coastal path and white stacks. Benllech and newborough beach both have parking right on the beach and both have toilets and cafes. Penmon you can drive right up to the end as well. Not much shopping on the island - there is a little antiques place near red wharf bay, but not much else like that.

There a nice art gallery in llangefni. If you like architecture, the oyster catcher restaurant is a huf house - really cool to look at.

Got the kite surfing breach wrong as well - that's at rhosneigr.

BoF before you book anything please check the Welsh government websites. They have a slightly different roadmap out from lockdown to England. I really hope you enjoy it when you do go, Anglesey is beautiful.

I second The White Eagle at Rhoscolyn for its fantastic food or The Sea Shanty in Trearddur Bay for something slightly more relaxing (admittedly biased, relatives work in both!)

There’s a lovely wheelchair friendly walk through the Penrhos nature reserve in Holyhead - we used to take MIL down in a wheelchair - great for a dog run too.

South stack is great - but ridiculous when the wind is blowing, it whips a gale up very easily. Betwys-y-Coed is nice to wander round, but very much for mountain/hill climbers. Drive through if you get a chance though as you may get to see the RAF flying through the valley - it’s surreal being eye level with a fighter jet!

Love to you BoF and F*ck Cancer ❤️

I can 10000% recommend Beaumaris. We stayed in Moelfre which was lovely but tiny.

It is really absolutely stunning. You will love it.

@BitOfFun so sorry to hear your news. I name change all the time but I too recognise your name and I'm wishing you all the best for enjoying the time you have.

I second Newborough beach and the lovely forest just behind it full of squirrels. There is a great restaurant nearby (not sure if anyone's mentioned it) called Marram Grass. There is a lovely B&B in Beaumaris called Church-something - it's in the centre, have a google you'll find it.

Sorry to hear your news. There are loads of great suggestions here. I second the advice though to be very careful to check restrictions- Wales's covid rules are different and there are no dates yet for allowing travel into Wales or outside your local 5 mile area, or for shops and restaurants or hotels/b&bs reopening. Currently for example the beach car parks are all shut, so you can really only go if you can walk in from your very local home. There is only one hospital for the Anglesey/Gwynedd area.

You also mentioned quiet places - I think when lockdown does end, places risk being swamped like they were last time, so you may struggle with that. Eg my parents very rural area with no special attraction other than it being the countryside regularly had 60-80 cars parked up in a very small spot every day back last spring and again in August/September and the police patrolled regularly to send away people who weren't local.

Fingers crossed things ease up in time for you and you do manage to get away.

We liked Llandudno, on the way to Anglesey. The town has a bit of faded grandeur, and you could check if the pier is wheelchair accessible

This is the latest on the roadmap for Wales:

If the public health conditions continue to be favourable, from 27 March:

The stay local restrictions will be lifted to allow people to travel within Wales.
Self-contained holiday accommodation will re-open for one household.
Organised children’s activities outdoors will restart.
Libraries will reopen.
The review on 1st April will consider whether all remaining shops and close contact services can reopen on the 12th April. This is in line with planned re-opening in England.

I’m no Anglesey expert BoF but love to you and I hope the sun shines brightly on your adventures. My mum missed out on seeing the sea again as she was too poorly last summer so definitely make the most of feeling better off the drugs and restrictions easing. Wishing you wheelchair walks, fresh air and good food.

It's worth noting that travel within Wales is not the same thing as travel into Wales from england. Mark Drakeford has explicitly said recently that the self contained accommodation that will open for Easter will be for people within Wales and that people from outside will have to wait longer. He hasn't said how long, as far as I can find out so far.

Go to the north of the Island - areas like Cemaes Bay in particular are beautiful and quiet (most visitors usually go to the obvious areas such a Niwbwrch or Benllech). Beaumaris is a must in my humble opinion. Glorious views, quaint shops and lovely ice cream.

Not Anglesey, but I'd also stop off in Conwy if you can. They have an absolutely fab chippy (the one by the arch, opposite a bank iirc), some of my best childhood memories was having a Conwy chippy and sitting near the waterfront by the castlw to eat them.

I'm very sorry to hear your news. I hope you have a lovely trip.

I live about three miles from Newborough Forest and I agree with all the recommendations on here - there is lots to do and see and some wonderful places to eat. Menai Bridge has some lovely little restaurants and antique shops, as does Beaumaris. There are lots of walks and places of interest already mentioned that I’d also recommend. Rhosneigr is also a lovely little seaside place with - a great beach and some good food!

If you do fancy Llandudno the prom is flat so wheelchair accessible, and you should be able to get down the pier (it’s closed if I recall correctly due to C19). West shore is lovely too, and Deganwy has beautiful views over to Conwy.

Conwy itself is beautiful, highly recommend a glass of something from the Liverpool arms on the front, some chips and maybe a boat ride (much more sedate that the rib ride!). Just keep an eye on the seagulls, they are feral at the moment!

Sending best wishes

Anglesey is outwith my experiences, the nearest I have been was a most ill advised weekend at Pontins Prestatyn so I shall be watching with interest as your itinerary forms. Much love and bestest wishes dear funny Boffers. FY cancer.

I hope there's a MaccyD's somewhere in Anglesey for that poor dog of yours

Oh matey. I wish you hours of small moments of happiness. Hours and hours and hours. I'd wish for years and years but cancer has disallowed it so I am investing every fibre of my being in hoping for the days and weeks and months instead. May they be fucking brilliant.

Anglesey sounds amazing. Icecream and puffins? Perfect.

"Pontins Prestatyn" sounds alliteratively and melodically wonderful @FlibbertyGiblets

Is it actually fucking grim?

I hope there's a MaccyD's somewhere in Anglesey for that poor dog of yours

Only one Maccys on the whole of Anglesey - that's in Holyhead! Not sure it's worth going to Holyhead even for that .

I was just coming on to say I hope there's a McDonald's for Rory too

Mark Drakeford explained on Friday that it was England's regulations stopping people from coming to stay in Wales. So, whenever Boris says you can stay overnight, you will be able to stay in Wales.
I would also recommend Dylan's in Menai Bridge, The Golden Fry fish and chips in Benllech and a visit to Oriel Mon (gallery) in Llangefni.

@ShowOfHands

"Pontins Prestatyn" sounds alliteratively and melodically wonderful *@FlibbertyGiblets*

Is it actually fucking grim?

Showy grim doesn't cover even the half. Suffice to say we had been Told In Advance so had brought bleach, scourers, rubber gloves but it was still absolutely disgusting. The beach was suitably bleak, too Liverpool turd bank.

We had been warned, only had ourselves to blame!

So sorry to hear your prognosis @BitOfFun. Cancer is such a shitty bastard thing.

This lot do good cottages (and you can take your dog). I hope you have some sunny days with a salty breeze on your skin

Forgot the link!

www.boltholesandhideaways.co.uk/

BOF- we met many hears ago on a mumsnet meet up in an irish bar in manchester-we all had a meal and lots to drink. I am so sorry to hear your news.

My anglesey experiences have all been camping which isn't what you want but the beaches are amazing. Real blow the cobwebs away territory.

Trearddur Bay is beautiful and has a wheelchair accessible promenade. The Sea Shanty cafe as lovely food and is a bit more reasonably priced than the Black Seal. They allow dogs in before 5 pm.

The White Eagle at Rhoscolyn is a nice pub which is worth a visit if you would like a meal out.