South Stack RSPB Reserve & Holyhead Mountain, Anglesey

From car park, take Wales Coast Path towards the sea. At junction above cliffs, go R and stay on the cliff path to Ellin's Tower. Pass L of tower, to go R around it to reach corner. Take path half-L up steps. Follow rising path beyond to pass through wall gap to road. Go L descending to arch at road end. Ellin's Tower was built as a summer house between 1820 and 1850 for the Stanley family from Penrhos. Today it is a bird watching station for the RSPB The cliff top path passes above unfenced cliffs where children and dogs should be carefully supervised

Go half R taking the Wales Coast Path to rise to old watchtower. Follow Coast path beyond this to rise past a marker post with a tarn over R. Continue on the path to descend, curve R and rise up to stay R at a fork to reach a surfaced track. Go L and just before gates to a mast/buildings go R to drop to a track and go L on it. Stay L at the next junction to stay ahead (Coast Path) at junction R and almost immediately leave the Coast Path (as it bends L) to go R signposted for 'summit'. Rise to stay L at junction and at next path crossroads go R (yellow marker). Rise up steps to go R at next junction (steps). At a small junction stay ahead climbing a low buttress. Stay ahead on the narrow path as it improves and climbs through rocks to pass a marker post and reach the summit of Holyhead Mountain. Holyhead Mountain is the highest point on Holy Island, Anglesey. It rises to 722 ft/220 metres. It is a magnificent viewpoint Most of this section is rough going but care should be taken on the ascent of Holyhead Mountain as it is especially rugged

Walk back towards the marker post you passed on the ascent going R before it to pass another post. Go L at next junction following descending stepped path towards the sea. Descend the wide white path to go R at marker post and junction. At low marker, stay L joining a better path and staying ahead. Follow the path to rise up rocky slope/gully and continue to path junction by marker post/wall. Go ahead, rising to ruins on summit area above North Stack. Most of this section is rough going and requires care as the path is rocky

Retrace your steps to marker post/wall at junction. Take L fork soon descending to join your outbound route. Follow it L to stay L at a junction (leaving outbound route). In a short distance go L at path crossroads and stay ahead at another junction shortly. Continue to go R at next path junction. Rise past an outcrop L and follow path to descend and rise again. At path junction (near wall) go L and continue to go R at minor fork (the wall should now be above you R). Rise on the path soon descending down a rocky gully. After this, stay ahead passing through a broken wall. Continue to a path junction and marker post. The instructions need careful following on this section and the descent of the rocky gully before the broken wall and path junction is particularly rough

Go R to stay ahead past a further two marker posts. Continue ahead passing odd markers and start to rise. At a marker post (with upside down arrow) go L. Stay ahead rising to a path junction and marker post. Take the second track L, rising towards buildings/mast to reach a surfaced track. Go L, past buildings/mast. Follow the track to eventually descend past a barrier to a road. Go L following road past RSPB South Stack buildings to walk back to the car park. The RSPB nature reserve at South Stack is set in a spectacular location and is home to the rare chough. In spring, puffins congregate on the cliffs above the seaFacing the car park at the start/finish you will find the Ty Mawr hut circles which are worth looking at