£400,000 upgrade for Holyhead’s Breakwater Country Park

Dale Spridgeon, local democracy reporter

Holyhead’s Breakwater Country Park is getting a major £400,000 upgrade including a new visitor welcome centre.

The new building is set to become a hub for the 150,000 visitors – including cruise ship passengers – who drop by annually.

The park, which opened in 1990, is located on the site of an old quarry which supplied the stone for the 2.39km (1.5 miles) Holyhead Breakwater – the longest in Europe.

The impressive maritime feature was built between 1846 and 1873.

An area of the park is also situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Situated within a couple of miles of Holyhead town centre, the park is flanked by Holyhead mountain and offers stunning views of the Irish Sea.

The area is a popular spot for walkers, with its network of paths and bird and wildlife spotters.

European Regional Development Fund

The new upgrade of facilities is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Holy Island Visitor Gateway and Landscape Partnership schemes.

Anglesey’s Deputy Leader and Economy Portfolio Holder, Cllr Carwyn Jones, said the park had developed over the past few years.

The investment he said would “encourage more visitors as well as local children and families to the area at enjoy all the country park and Holy Island has to offer.”

RLD Construction and architects Wood will carry out the work, expected to be finished by November 2022.

The North Wales Wildlife Trust kiosk and toilet facilities will also be improved by building contractor Huw Saer.

Ynys Cybi Landscape Partnership Programme Manager, Efan Milner said “The funding will modernise and improve the County Park to be a high quality attraction and hub for people to explore the wider area.”

Endorsing the scheme, Welsh Government Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething MS said he was pleased to support investment designed to enhance “this wonderful Holyhead visitor attraction.”

“First impressions count, and the new welcome centre and interpretation will give our visitors a positive impression of Anglesey and of Wales right from the off.”