Anglesey Geopark - Unesco

Plans are currently underway to turn a footpath between Wylfa Head and Llanbadrig Church into a treasure trail of geology, culture, history and learning. Dr. Margaret Wood, who is a geologist and managing director of the geopark said, "our long term aim along the stretch from Wylfa to the west side of Cemaes Bay is to lay out large boulders of each of the main rock types in Anglesey with small information plaques at each telling its age, rock type and a short explanation of its formation. These would be arranged from the oldest to the youngest rocks and the space given between them would give an indication of the geological period."

Dr. Wood who discovered Britains oldest fossils at nearby Gladys Quarry said, "Anglesey is the first place in the world where melange was first recognised and named. Thus they are very special and one of the most important features of Anglesey" "the tectonic island". The plans also include rock tables with stone seats and information boards. The path will finish by Llanbadrig Church. Visitors will be able to learn about the history of the church established by St Patrick in the 5th century after he was ship wrecked nearby while on route to Ireland. There will be a short diversion created from the coastal path to a view point overlooking the cave and well where he lived when wrecked on the coast. The church at Llanbadrig was a primitive affair built by him in 440AD and has been built over twice since then but still contains the Icthus stone- an ancient carved stone with Christian symbols on it and a stone behind the altar with carvings of 2 serpents on it that would have had a statue of St Patrick above it when it was a place of pilgrimage during the time from his departure to Ireland and during the Middle ages. It is also the spot where the Dalai Lama proclaimed it as "the most peaceful place in the world".

Historic Footpath