The Hidden Strait Between Two North Wales Islands That A55 Drivers Miss
Drivers on the A55 often overlook the stunning Cymyran Strait between Anglesey and Holy Island
Anglesey, Holy Island, Cymyran Strait, A55, North Wales
Holyhead: When you drive from Gwynedd to Anglesey, you can’t help but notice the water. The Britannia and Menai Suspension bridges give you amazing views of the strait that separates the two areas.
But if you head to another island off Anglesey, called Ynys Cybi or Holy Island, things change. It’s separated from Anglesey by the Cymyran Strait.
The first road link between these islands was at Four Mile Bridge, which has been around for centuries. It connects the village to Holyhead, about four miles away, hence the name.
That old stone bridge just couldn’t handle the traffic for the A5 route to Holyhead. So, Thomas Telford, who designed the Menai Suspension Bridge, stepped in to create a new crossing over the Cymyran.
Construction kicked off in 1822, and by the next year, they had built a nearly mile-long embankment using materials from the Anglesey side.
This new link was named after the Stanley family, local landowners, but folks also call it ‘the Cob’ or Pont Lasinwen in Welsh.
Fast forward two decades, and they decided to use the embankment for the North Wales Coast Line instead of building a new crossing. This meant widening ‘the Cob,’ which was finished in 1848.
There were worries that trains might scare the horse-drawn carriages, so they built a tall stone wall to separate the road from the railway, and that wall is still there today.
For over 175 years, this embankment was the main way to cross between Holy Island and Anglesey. But then the A55 expanded westward.
In 2001, they built a new embankment for the A55 expressway, which runs alongside the Stanley Embankment, following the same north-south path.
Unfortunately, the walls block views of the strait. Unless you’re in a bus or HGV, you can’t see the water you’re crossing, even though there’s a canal-like strip separating the A55 from the rail line.
This week, Liam Potter shared a stunning drone shot showing the two crossings, giving people a glimpse of what they miss. It was posted in the West of Anglesey: Ynys Cybi – Holy Island Facebook group.
People described it as “An Island, Off an Island,” and some joked that if you include Great Britain, it’s “an island, off an island, off an island.”
Others were curious about what’s on either side of the A55. Mike Thompson wondered what was beyond the left wall of the embankment.
Joseph Kelly mentioned that many, including his grandsons, don’t even realize what they’re driving over on the way to Holyhead.
Yvonne Taylor expressed her disappointment that the view is blocked while driving. She had always been curious about what’s on the other side of the walls.
Many praised Liam’s fantastic photo, while some questioned why the tidal power potential in the area isn’t being tapped into. Don’t forget to sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter for updates!
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