Things To Do - Discover North Wales

One of Anglesey's many hidden gems is the Giant's Stepping Stones (or Rhuddgaer Stepping Stones as they are more commonly referred to), located between the villages of Dwyran and Newborough. These enormous stepping stones straddle the Afon Braint tidal river, allowing walkers to continue their way along the Anglesey Coastal Path. While there's no doubt that these stones and the nearby riverbanks make an excellent pitstop as part of a longer walk, these giant rocks are well worth a visit in their own right, especially if you bring a picnic. The Giant's Stepping Stones: A Brief History Despite their size, relatively little is known about the Rhuddgaer Stepping Stones. The Angelsey Stepping Stones have appeared on maps dating as far back as the mid-19th century. However, it is thought that those stones were a great deal smaller than the stepping stones you see today. The stepping stones at low tide Some sources claim that the giant stepping stones replaced the originals as recently as twenty years ago in a bid to prevent this impromptu river crossing from being continually submerged at high tide. But those in the know have stayed ominously quiet on the subject, merely adding to the intrigue around these enormous rocks. If you do happen to be into your ancient stones, then it may be well worth visiting the Neolithic burial chambers of Bryn Celli Ddu or Barclodiad y Gawres (which are both nearby) after you've finished up at the stepping stones. Why Visit the Anglesey Stepping Stones? While you may come across these stones as part of a planned walk along the Anglesey Coastal Path, these stones and the immediate surrounding area are a beautiful spot in their own right. Plus, a natural phenomenon that occurs here a few times a day makes these stones even more appealing. Since the Afon Braint river is tidal, you can watch as the water flows upstream if you time it right. As the tide rises, the depth increases, and the river starts to "flow backwards." If you happen to be within earshot, you can even hear the change. Otherwise, the river recedes to shallow levels at low tides, and you can easily dip your toes in and have a paddle if you fancy it. The stepping stones (and gaps between them) are deceptively large The stones themselves are somewhat of a challenge. Don't let the pictures fool you. These stones are deceptively large, and they are a fair stride from one to the other. The odd stone even requires a small hop or jump to get across. If you have small children or elderly relatives, they might well struggle to get across. Another aspect worth noting is not only are these stepping stones bigger than they look and further apart than they appear, but they are also notoriously slippy when wet. Even with walking boots on, these stepping stones are tricky to navigate (especially when damp), so exercise caution when attempting to cross. Are you brave enough to take the stones on? How to Get to the Rhuddgaer Stepping Stones, Anglesey Unlike many other island hidden gems, there isn't a car park nearby. However, a couple of parking options are just a short walking distance away. The nearest free car park is at Llyn Rhos Ddu. From here, you walk back the way you came in (towards Dwyran), straight over the roundabout and then continue along the A4080 until you see a sign for the Anglesey Coastal Path pointing down a lane that turns into a gravel track. The track down to the stepping stones (please note: sightings of cute dogs are not guaranteed) Follow the track all the way to the bottom until you reach a gate flanked by two houses. Proceed through the gate and follow the grass path through one more gate before it opens up and reveals the river and the stepping stones. You can also park at the Anglesey Model Village, which offers a much easier walk. From here, you can stroll a mere 100m down the A4080 (towards Newborough) and then take a left onto the lane that takes you down to the stepping stones. Plus, the Anglesey Model Village has undergone recent refurbishments under the new owners and now boasts an excellent cafe at which you can enjoy a lovely slice of cake and coffee upon your return. If you're after something more substantial after your walk, you cod try The Codmother fish and chip shop, which is just up the road in Newborough (only open 4pm - 8pm). What is the Postcode for Anglesey Stepping Stones? Since the road heading to the stepping stones is private and has no parking facilities, you will have to park at one of the two nearby car park locations and make the rest of your journey (around 1.5 miles) on foot. You can park at the Model Village & Cafe or venture further down the road to the Llyn Rhos Ddu car park. Both locations are served by the same postcode: LL61 6RS. Anglesey Stepping Stones Walk The one drawback of the stepping stones (if there is one) is that they aren't particularly conducive to a circular walking route. If you're merely looking for a walk lasting 30 minutes to an hour, then you are best served with an out-and-back route from either of the car parks mentioned above. However, if you want to make the stepping stones a pit-stop rather than the focus of your walk, you can tie them into a circular route that takes in the villages of Dwyran and Newborough. Below is the OS map of a circular walk that avoids many of the busy roads (the Model Village is on a high-speed stretch of the A4080, meaning it's not the most pleasant of pavement walks). It starts and ends at the model village, taking in the stepping stones at the beginning or end of the walk, depending on which way round you walk. A circular walk that takes in the stepping stones We would recommend taking in the stepping stones towards the end of your walk (when you will have earned your sandwiches), as they make an excellent picnic spot. In total, the walk laid out on the map above should take you 2-3 hours.