
Penmon Point & Penmon Priory, Anglesey – A Fabulous Family Day Out!
This has to be one of my favourite family days out on Anglesey so far. The surroundings are truly stunning and peaceful – certainly a perfect place to get some Vitamin Sea and cleanse the soul!
Penmon Point
We initially drove past the Priory and surrounding buildings, paying our £3 toll-charge to make our way to Penmon Point (also known as Black Point), so that we could view the area before dusk – and I’m so glad we did. This is definitely one of my most favourite places on the whole of Anglesey and North Wales. You almost feel like you are approaching the end of the earth as you walk up a bank of white limestone pebbles towards a small beach and a rocky outcrop, upon which sits Trwyn Du Lighthouse, with a view across to Puffin Island (Ynys Seiriol). Even though the waves were crashing in around us on the rocks and there were a few other people around, it was such a relaxing place to visit and to feel ‘at one’ with nature. The whole place is truly stunning. And to top it all off there is a fantastic little cafe where we all warmed up with a yummy hot chocolate and cake! I would highly recommend a visit to Penmon Point – you will not be disappointed. I cannot emphasise enough just how stunning the area is, and the children absolutely loved being able to get so close to the crashing waves, climb over the rocky outcrops and build “Makka Pakka” style towers with the beautiful white stones and pebbles.
Once we had finished at Penmon Point we returned to Penmon Priory and surrounding buildings for some more exploring. The toll-charge also covers parking and you can park right next to the Priory and Church.
Penmon Priory
The Priory was founded in the 6th Century by St Seriol, next to the site of a Holy Well. There was a wooden church attached but this was destroyed in the 10th Century by the Vikings and finally re-built in stone in the 12th Century. This forms part of the Church building still standing today and has been added to over the years, most notably in the fifteenth century and the 19th century. Even though the monastery was dissolved in the time of Henry VIII, the Church remained as the Parish Church and is still in use today. Most of the original monastery buildings have gone but part of the building containing the refectory with a dormitory above, still stands to some extent. A prior’s house between the refectory building and the church, probably built in the 16th Century, is now a private dwelling.
St. Seriol’s Well
Originally built by the monks around a natural spring coming from a cliff behind the church, the well (enclosed within a small stone & brick structure, probably dating from the 18th Century but with the lower parts probably older) is such a peaceful place and definitely worth a visit. It was visited over the years by the sick and infirm, hoping for a cure, and it is easy to see why.
Dovecote
Across from the church, well and priory stands a dovecote, most probably built by Sir Richard Bulkeley in Elizabethan times when he was given the monastery lands after the dissolution. The side part of the building has mostly gone, but a domed pillar still remains, with 1000 nesting boxes inside.
A short drive from Penmon Point & Priory is Castell Aberlleiniog, a little-known castle built on top of a hill near Beaumaris nearly 1000 years ago – you can read more about it here.
N.B. All photos on this site are the property of typicalmummy.co.uk, unless otherwise stated, and must not be reproduced without permission. Many thanks!
I love to read your comments on my posts. Please feel free to leave a comment below.
Pin for later:


15 Comments
Fiona Cambouropoulos
So this is where your lovely Instagram photos come from this week. It looks beautiful and a lovely day out away from the hustle and bustle of life. #CountryKids
typicalmummy
It is indeed! Such a beautiful place. I took so many photos it was difficult to know which to share!!
Pamela Agar
Oh my goodness, this is absolutely beautiful. That beach is amazing – it’s going straight on my wish list! #countrykids
typicalmummy
It really is a wonderful place to visit! X
Nic
My homeland, brought up at the top of the hill overlooking Penmon Point. Magical place x
typicalmummy
Wow! What an amazing place to grow up!! Thank you so much for commenting! x
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One
What an interesting place to explore. We didn’t really see much of Anglesey when we visited North Wales in April, will have to come back and explore some more. #Countrykids
Louise (Little Hearts, Big Love)
Penmon Point looks stunning – what a beautiful view with the lighthouse and Puffin Island. I love the Makka Pakka-style stone towers – my daughter would enjoy building those too! The priory looks like such an interesting place to explore and the ruins of it are beautiful. Thank you for sharing with #CountryKids
Annette, Four Acorns / Quatre graines de chêne
Oh I do love a lighthouse! Anglesey truly looks like a stunning place to visit, and I know that my gang, like your two kids, would spend hours exploring the rocks and playing by the sea. Beautiful photos. I love old buildings and their often colourful history.
#CountryKids
Kids of the Wild
What a great place to visit and lovely pics too. I love that it feels like the end of the earth! However I may now fall out with you as I can never look at cairn scupltures again without thinking of Makka Pakka!! Thanks for sharing at #CountryKids
typicalmummy
Haha! Yes, that’s happened to me now too! So we always just refer to them as Makka Pakka towers now!! 😂😂
Annabel
Lovely photos! I haven’t been to Anglesey for years, I didn’t realise there were so many historical spots to explore, it looks fascinating and great fun for kids!
typicalmummy
Thank you! It’s a fantastic day out! We love everywhere on Anglesey but this is definitely a favourite!
Katy Stern
Well, you know what I think of this post, because you inspired me to visit Penmon Point during half term!!!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful place. We loved the little cafe too to warm up, it was freezing!!! #MondayEscapes
Daisy - Dais Like These Family Travel Blog
This brings back so many memories for me as I remember visiting here as a child but had completely forgotten about it until I saw your pictures and read the post!!
One to add to the list when we’re next up at the cottage as I think my kids would love it 😊
Thanks for linking up to #MondayEscapes