Holyhead Breakwater

What is it?

Holyhead Breakwater is the longest breakwater in the U.K (1.7 miles) A breakwater is a coastal defence structure

Where is it?

It is part of the Holyhead Breakwater Park.

What’s there?

The breakwater is accessible by foot and bike along its promenade and has a lighthouse at the end.

Facts -

Holyhead Breakwater is the longest breakwater in the U.K + Europe (1.7 miles)
Construction of the breakwater began in 1845 and was completed in 1873
The breakwater was built to improve transport between Ireland and London, and to improve accessibility to Holyhead from the Irish Sea.
More than 7 million tonnes of stone were brought from the quarries on Holyhead Mountain to the site by rail. The remains of the railway line that was used to transport the stone can still be seen today
The quarry where the stone was taken from has been made into Holyhead Breakwater Country Park, and is a 6-minute drive from the Breakwater
The construction employed up to 1,300 men; 40 of which died
The Breakwater was officially opened on August 19th, 1873, by Albert Edwards, Prince of Wales (who later became King in 1901)
A variety of fish and crustaceans can be caught off the Breakwater, making it a popular fishing spot

North Wales artist JB Evans painted Windy at the Holyhead Breakwater (2020).