Menai Bridge is shaped by the history of two bridges and the Menai Strait. Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge opened in 1826 and was the world’s first iron suspension bridge. The Britannia Bridge opened in 1850 and today is the main road and rail link to and from Anglesey. The Menai Strait separates Anglesey from the North Wales mainland.

Bridges and Exhibition

The Menai Bridges Exhibition tells the story of both bridges, their engineers and the workers who built them. Visitors can see artefacts from the original bridges there. In this way, the exhibition connects the structures with the people and work behind their creation.

Menai Heritage’s guided tours explore the Menai Suspension Bridge, the Britannia Bridge with its lion sculptures, and the historic waterfront of Menai Bridge. These tours must be arranged in advance; contact Menai Heritage to check current availability. Menai Heritage’s Thomas Telford Centre is on Mona Road in Menai Bridge, 300 metres from the Anglesey end of the Suspension Bridge.

Walks and Longer Hiking Stages

The base of the Menai Suspension Bridge is a short walk from the centre of Menai Bridge. A short loop around the churchyard of the Church of St Tysilio offers views of the Menai Strait. The Belgium Promenade runs southwest from the base of the Menai Suspension Bridge to a causeway connecting Church Island and the old Church of St Tysilio with the shore. The promenade was built between 1914 and 1916 by Flemish refugees from the First World War.

The walking route from Menai Bridge to Caernarfon can be walked in stages ranging from 2 miles (3 km) to 11 miles (18 km). This range distinguishes short local walks from clearly measured stages; for planning, the key is which individual route you choose. The walking distance thus provides a concrete point of comparison between a local loop and a longer hiking stage.

The Menai Strait and Gardens

The Menai Strait features marine reefs, sandy beaches and sea cliffs. From the Anglesey side, there are views of the mountain ranges of Snowdonia and Carneddau. The strait is also a marine Special Area of Conservation; check the latest management guidance for the protected area before visiting.

The historic Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens lie between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey. Covering just under ten acres, they comprise three areas: the large “Walled Garden”, the “Valley Garden” with waterfalls, and the “Upper Woodland Garden”. The gardens are undergoing ongoing restoration.

Getting There

Menai Bridge can be reached from Bangor, the main station on the Holyhead line, by bus routes 62, X4, 42, 43, 47 and 57. If you plan your journey via this station, check current routes and timetables before travelling, as both may change.

Discover more destinations: Gaerwen, Llanbadrig, Rhosneigr, Amlwch, Llanfaethlu, Newborough, Beaumaris, Dwyran.

For the wider travel overview: Isle Of Anglesey.