Welsh wonders with your dog: Playing, eating, & sleeping with a Welsh accent

An island sojourn: sand, sea and bracing (healthy) iodine-filled breezes — With a twist. It’s all in Welsh.

Kiah and I are off to Sir Fôn (there’s the Welsh already), ready to sniff out the best places for a solo traveler – and her dog! Anglesey (the English name) is the largest of the Welsh islands (accessible by rail, road or ship). It’s also the place with the long place name (starts with Llanfairpwllgwyngyll…) and has standing stones, copper mines and friendly, welcoming locals.

Allow me to introduce you to Anglesey

I speak fluent Welsh, so my inside track will help you find the top places on Sir Fôn where you’ll experience Welsh hospitality at its best. And, although you’ll find the locals speak Welsh in the pub (it is their native tongue, after all), my simple Welsh phrases will help you make some new friends on your solo island adventure.

So, let’s start by choosing a friendly place to spend the night (or two, or three): how about a wee little cottage, surrounded by rolling fields (sheep and cows), a step away from the Anglesey coastal path? Anglesey Cottages are owned by Sue and Godfrey. They’ll provide local knowledge, logs for the fireplace, and welcome chocolates.

Fancy eating out? Just a mile or so walk along the country lanes is the White Eagle pub, dog-friendly local with scrumptious local-sourced food, or further afield, but well worth the trip is The Old Boathouse restaurant in Red Wharf Bay.

If B&B is more your style, Chris and Bob at Pandy, near Cemaes, know all the local spots, and give you a Welsh breakfast that’ll set you up for the day. And yes, dog friendly, too.

Spend the day walking the coast, or perhaps visiting a 14th century castle in Beaumaris, where you’ll also find craft shops, cafes and the dog-friendly Bulkeley Hotel.
Or, follow the example of cruise-ship visitors to Holyhead port, and explore Holyhead breakwater county park (walk, eat, swim) or the explore The Dingle (it’s like a step back in time – local children speaking Welsh, and ancient trees in the steep-sided ‘dingle’), or buy wonderful local art (and have local food) at Oriel Môn. Locals are always ready to share the place’s history, or recommend great walks, or places to eat.

And those Welsh words?

• Begin a conversation with a simple: “helo” – (Hello), or “Bore da” (Boree dah) which means Good Morning.
• Fancy buying something? Try out “Faint ydi o?” (Vint udee o?), which means How Much?
• And, once you’ve bought your Welsh fancy, then simply say “Diolch” (Dee-olch) – thanks!

Solo Welsh travel: you’ll be part of the local scene in no time!

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