At a glance
South-east Anglesey headland combining Trwyn Du lighthouse, grey seals, Puffin Island views, and medieval Penmon Priory — all within 10 minutes' walk. Free coastal access, small car park charge. 4 miles from Beaumaris. LL58 8RR.
About Penmon Point
Penmon Point is the south-eastern extremity of Anglesey — a headland where the island narrows to a rocky promontory overlooking the northern entrance to the Menai Strait. Within a 10-minute walk of the car park at the end of the road, visitors find four distinct things worth seeing: the Trwyn Du lighthouse (a striking black-and-white banded Trinity House light built in 1838); a reliable colony of grey seals hauling out on rocks near the lighthouse; views across 800 metres of water to Puffin Island (Ynys Seiriol); and the medieval Penmon Priory.
Penmon Priory is one of the most complete early monastic sites in North Wales. Founded by the hermit St Seiriol in the 6th century, the surviving buildings date from the 12th century: a Norman church still used for regular worship, a large circular dovecote in remarkable condition, and St Seiriol's Well — a spring enclosed in a small stone chamber by the road. The priory is in Cadw's care and free to enter. Together with the lighthouse and seal-watching, it makes Penmon one of the most varied short excursions on the island.
Beaumaris is 4 miles to the west — a charming Georgian town with the finest example of a concentric castle in Britain and a seafront on the Menai Strait. Combining Penmon Point with Beaumaris Castle and a walk along the Beaumaris seafront makes a very full day on the south-east corner of Anglesey.
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Frequently asked questions
Penmon Point is the south-eastern tip of <span lang="cy">Anglesey</span>, where the island narrows to a headland overlooking the entrance to the Menai Strait and the waters between <span lang="cy">Anglesey</span> and the mainland. The point combines several distinct attractions within a few minutes' walk: the <span lang="cy">Trwyn Du</span> lighthouse (1838), views to Puffin Island (<span lang="cy">Ynys Seiriol</span>), a colony of grey seals, and the medieval Penmon Priory with its 12th-century church, monastic dovecote, and holy well. Together they make Penmon one of the most varied short excursions on <span lang="cy">Anglesey</span>.
Yes — grey seals are reliably present at Penmon Point throughout the year, hauling out on the rocks near the lighthouse and swimming in the narrow strait between the point and Puffin Island. Numbers peak in autumn as the pupping season approaches. Seals can be observed closely from the coastal path, but visitors should maintain a respectful distance and avoid approaching them on the rocks. The seals are wild animals, and disturbing them — especially during pupping — is harmful and illegal.
Penmon Priory is a medieval Augustinian monastery on the headland, in the care of Cadw and free to enter. The site has early Christian associations reaching back to the 6th-century hermit St Seiriol, though the surviving buildings date mainly from the 12th century. The priory church is still used for worship and has a fine Norman interior with carved decorative stonework. Adjacent to the church is a remarkable 12th-century dovecote — a large circular structure with a domed interior, one of the best preserved in Wales — and the spring known as St Seiriol's Well.
Puffin Island (<span lang="cy">Ynys Seiriol</span>) is a small uninhabited island lying 800 metres off Penmon Point, named for the puffin colonies that once nested there in large numbers. Puffin populations have declined significantly due to rat predation. The island is an SSSI and nature reserve, now managed to control rats and support its tern colony. Boat trips from Beaumaris in season circumnavigate the island. From Penmon Point you can see the island clearly and often observe cormorants, shags, and terns on the water between the two points.
Follow the B5109 east from Beaumaris (4 miles) then minor roads through Llangoed and Penmon village to the end of the road at the point. There is a pay-and-display car park at the end. From the car park, the lighthouse is 5 minutes' walk along the coastal path; the priory and dovecote are in the other direction, a similar distance. No regular bus serves the point — a car is the practical option, though cyclists from Beaumaris will find the road manageable. The round trip from Beaumaris by bike is around 10 miles.