A Birthday in Wales, the Celtic Gateway: Holyhead and Beaumaris Castle

We enjoyed a morning visit to the town, first walking across the Millennium Bridge (designed to represent a mammoth tusk), then strolling around quaint Holyhead on Holy Island -- including a stop at a local jewelry store for birthday shopping! Holyhead Old Town is built around medieval 6th century St. Cybi's Church, which was built inside one of Europe's few three-walled Roman forts (the 4th boundary being the sea, built around 300 AD). We were able to enter beautiful St. Cybi's, a medieval church organized around 540 AD! The present church of St Cybi's was built between the 13th and 16th centuries and stands near the walls of the Roman Caer Gybi. The chancel is one of the oldest parts of the church, dating to the 13th century. In 1897, the Stanley chapel was added to the south of the church and contains a life-size Carrera marble sculpture of the local politician. When we went back onboard for lunch, we found a wonderful little birthday cake and a bottle of bubbly in celebration of Leslie's birthday! Our steward was so excited to leave it for her. We enjoyed a piece of cake for lunch, then rushed back out for our tour. We began our trip around town. We passed the Skinner's house, the obelisk in memory of James McGregor Skinner, and an orange Royal National Lifeboat on display. Skinner, actually born in New Jersey in 1760, started the lifeboat system in response to so many men perishing at sea. Having previously lost an arm and an eye whilst fighting for the English during the American Revolution, he ironically drowned when he was washed overboard from the mail packet ship on which he served as Captain. Our afternoon excursion was a coach tour across Holy Island to the Isle of Anglesey, where we explored the ancient concentric castle named Beaumaris – which means "beautiful marsh," named by the Normans (Normandy means "land of the Norsemen, so the Normans were "French Vikings"). We encourage you to research Beaumaris Castle – ever unfinished. The history is fascinating and includes the Druids (and their chanted curses), the Romans, King Edward I, Vikings, invaders from all over England and even William the Conqueror. We enjoyed a quick half-pint at the George & Dragon and shared a chippy before heading back. On our drive back to Holyhead, we passed lot of sheep, including the distinctive Black Welsh Mountain sheep, and detoured through a village with the second-longest name in the world: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which has 58 letters. The name means "St. Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave." We actually (tried) to learn and sing a song about it, but all we got were the last two syllables – go goch. Fun Facts: Roger Moore had a home in Beaumaris and Prince William was based in Anglesey, where he flew helicopters and Kate and he immersed themselves in the community – much appreciated by the locals. We returned to the ship to enjoy some champagne and a farewell to Holyhead, past the very long sea wall and notable lighthouses. For dinner we had a British-inspired meal -- complete with Yorkshire Pudding, black pudding and even Haggis – and rounded out the evening with some Irish music and the Viking Band. All in all, it was a very lovely birthday! Viking Mira British Isles Explorer 2026