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With increasing numbers of people wanting to cruise Wales along with other UK ports, there is a strong possibility that Wales will before long emulate major European cruise ports as a destination for the big leisure cruise market. This is how the Welsh Affairs Select Committee of legislators in the House of Commons, the British Parliament, concluded their report. It points to strong growth in the UK cruise market over the last ten years or so, and urges the need to secure some growth in cruise ship visits to bolster the economies of Welsh port communities.

Any keen cruise travellers should note that before they make advanced bookings to cruise Wales there is currently a slight difficulty with providing adequate facilities for berthing and Welsh ports infrastructure to service the fast growing fleet of big ships cruising European waters needs to be upgraded. Meanwhile there is a campaign called the “Celtic Wave” led by Anglesey, which has a budget of around $2m and covers ports in Ireland and Wales, with the aim of attracting more cruise visitors to these ports and their wider regional economies.

In Cardiff the Welsh Assembly Government is urging the UK government to offer extra infrastructure investment to get ports like Holyhead on Anglesey, Swansea and Milford Haven up to a quality threshold demanded by the cruise line operators. There is a mega potential boost for local port economies, according to the conclusions of the House of Commons Welsh Affairs Committee, and their regional economies would benefit by making it easier for people to cruise Wales as part of the UK cruising vacation.

Over the longer term the prospects of Welsh ports catching up with Baltic ports is encouraging, an area where a popular cruise market already thrives. From Holyhead in the North West of Wales to Newport via Swansea and Milford Haven, ports in Wales can act as catalysts for economic regeneration when they attract visitors to cruise Wales. In 2009 the first cruise ship visited Newport, close to Celtic Manor which will host the Ryder Cup in 2010. The cruise visitors arriving in Newport had the opportunity to visit Cardiff sites such as the Millennium Centre and the castle.

Similarly, there are many attractions for cruise visitors when their ship arrives at Holyhead, Anglesey, including World Heritage Castles of Wales at Beaumaris and Caernarfon, South Stack Lighthouse and Llynnon Mill, along with the excellent island coastal path, as well as the Oriel Art Gallery and Seawatch centre at Moelfre.

The Welsh Assembly Government is offering financial support to strengthen the facilities for the expected rise in cruise ship visits to Holyhead, most notably to strengthen the jetty used by Anglesey Aluminium Metals (AAM), which offers an ideal anchorage and a perfect disembarkation berth for cruise ship passengers. When finished this improvement will mean this Holyhead Port outer harbour pier will be strong enough to take huge ships like the Westerdam, a 2,000 passengers carrying, 285 metre liner.

The future looks bright and exciting for visitors to the UK looking to cruise Wales as part of their overall experience, and Holyhead port will be ready to welcome them as they look to explore the many island attractions.

The author, David Phillips, comes from the magical island of Anglesey off North Wales, UK and runs an informative website focusing on local news and information. Find out more about preparing to cruise Wales here to help make your holiday more enjoyable.

A Holyhead cruise destination is gaining currency as more established cruise operators include the Anglesey port in their UK itinerary. Holyhead is a major ferry port linking Britain to Dublin, and so it already has high standard facilities and local attractions ideal for large cruise ships looking to offer their passengers a quality experience.

Holyhead Breakwater is a famous attraction and the longest sea wall in the UK, and cruise liners anchor in a sheltered spot north east of the breakwater and Anglesey Aluminium jetty in the outer harbour. The local boatyard can provide a suitable tug if the cruise ship requires assistance.

This location is ideal for cruise liners over 250 metres in length as the prevailing winds are from the south west, and it is in the lee of the town and harbour. By ships tender it is less than a mile from this anchorage to the Fish Dock landing on the east side of the inner harbour, where coaches can take guests to the various attractions across the island and further afield.

If you sailed up north from Milford Haven or Swansea in South West Wales, chances are you may have glimpsed some amazingly beautiful Cambrian coastal settings. Approaching Anglesey island you may have caught eye of some fine sandy beaches stretching from the south near Llanddwyn, where shots from Demi Moore’s Half Light movie were taken, to Trearddur Bay in the west. And don’t forget world renown South Stack Lighthouse, well worth a visit after arrival in Holyhead.

Ferries sail to Dublin, the Irish capital, and to Dun Laoghaire from Holyhead. In fact the port of Holyhead now welcomes some of the top cruise ships in Northern Europe. Cruise lines such as Holland America, Noble Caledonia, Oceana Cruises and Hapag Lloyd will increase their visits, drawn no doubt by the variety of historical and natural attractions for their passengers. Holyhead has already hosted a cruise ship carrying 750 passengers, the 48,000 tonne Seven Seas Voyager.

Plans are advanced for using the Anglesey Aluminium jetty as a more convenient embarkation facility, which will attract ever larger cruise ships otherwise bound for the larger ports at Dublin and Liverpool. The aim is for Holyhead to accommodate ships of around 85,000 tonnes and so using this pier would be a great plus. It is likely that for an upgrade of Holyhead port facilities an investment of around 7 million is needed, and around 500,000 of this would help upgrade the jetty.

Looking ahead, the extra investment in port infrastructure at Holyhead, especially when as many as 70 cruise liners sail in North European waters, increases the chance of this Holyhead cruise destination becoming a real possibility for many keen cruise passengers. And now Anglesey council is leading the “Celtic Wave” initiative to encourage co-operation between key ports in Wales and Ireland, namely Holyhead, Swansea, Milford Haven, Cork, Waterford and Dublin. The strategy is supported by 1.2 million, aiming to draw bigger cruise ships and visitors to these ports.

There are so many attractions rich in history to visit it may be hard to choose. You may want to visit the nearby historic castles of Wales, at Beaumaris on Anglesey and Caernarfon and Conwy on the mainland, all UN World Heritage sites. Or perhaps seeing the last working mill in Wales at Llynnon appeals to you, or appreciating the Rex Whistler canvas at Plas Newydd, near Llanfairpwll. Or you may be keen to stretch your legs on the Anglesey coastal path. These and more will draw more visitors to choose a Holyhead cruise destination in future.

Yachtsmen and women across the Irish Sea will probably have sailed past Skerries Lighthouse in Holyhead Bay, off North West Anglesey, Wales at some time or other in their sailing career. Whether they approach, from Dublin in the west, Port St Mary, Isle of Man to the north or nearby Pwllheli, Skerries rock and light soon comes into view. In fact the white flashing light of this modern automated 23 m high Trinity House lighthouse can be seen 22 miles away.

And Skerries rock is also home to one of the largest tern colonies in the world, which are monitored by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) who occasionally send a team out to the rock. But just go back over 200 years in history and there was barely any navigational help on this treacherous Anglesey coast. Then in 1713 Irishman William Trench took out a 99 year lease on the rock from local landowner William Robinson, and events soon took on a new dynamic.

Mr Trench was a determined man and his efforts paid off and when in 1716 the first Skerries Lighthouse started operating. Compared to todays modern lighthouse it was only a 35 foot high tower with an open grate, and a coal burning flame for a light. To make it worth his efforts, William Trench used his business skills and charged a fee on all passing ships except the British Navy based on their tonnage.

Levies charged in 1730 amounted to as much as $2,200 each year, a significant reward for the time. And over the following years the annual fees increased so that they were about $23,000 in 1828. During this time ownership of Skerries Lighthouse changed a few times and significantly in 1841, Trinity House paid $990,000 for the freehold, a very large figure for the 19th century.

Sailing through the gap between the Skerries Rock and Carmel Head on Anglesey, known as Langdon Ridge, can be a tough challenge for sailors even in fine conditions. In fact, some yachtsmen choose not to go through this channel at Langdon, especially at night because of the strong currents and closeness of the rocks. A full flood tide from Holyhead can push your boat along quickly towards Cemlyn Nature Reserve and Wylfa Power Station. These waters have now attracted the interest of tidal energy companies wanting to provide green, alternative energy.

It’s fantastic sailing around the Anglesey coast. Either from a boat or the coastal path you can appreciate rich and diverse marine wildlife – razorbills, porpoises, seals, and puffins. As you pass Skerries just imagine the efforts of young Trench, and the ships since saved by the reassuring presence of these Anglesey Lighthouses. A flotilla of kayaks can sometimes be seen leaving Church Bay on an expedition to Skerries lighthouse. They need to get the tide and wind right to avoid being carried way off course.

So over 250 years ago William Trench started the Skerries Lighthouse story and it has been a colourful one since. The rock witnessed the end of sail and advent of steam, and the lighthouse keepers would have admired famous ships like the Great Eastern and Royal Charter, as well as seen numerous wrecks. Yachts and kayaks sometimes visit the rock and this Anglesey Lighthouse, while a large tern colony exists on the rock.

When you’re searching for a holiday location in North Wales choosing somewhere with a great beach is very important and there’s no better place than Llandudno. The town has lots of Victorian charm with a long promenade lined with excellent hotels and guest houses and is close to the town centre. The promenade is framed beautifully between the two headlands called the Great Orme and Little Orme. The North Shore beach stretches for well over a mile as it follows the promenade and when the sea is out has acres of golden sand to explore.

Just a short walk from the North Shore takes you to the Great Orme, which is Llandudno’s most famous landmark. The Great Orme is a wonderful place to explore with great attractions like Happy Valley and The Great Orme Visitor Centre as well as adventure locations like Ski Llandudno. There are plenty of ways to walk to the summit if you’re feeling energetic and there are some great views to enjoy where you can see as far away as Anglesey and Rhyl.

If you prefer reaching to the summit in style then two of the nicest ways are the Great Orme Tramway and the Great Orme cable car. The Great Orme Tramway has been operating for over 100 years and takes you on a steep journey towards the summit and is located just five minutes from the beach. Alternatively for stunning views take a ride on the Great Orme cable car and see Llandudno from a truly unique perspective. A great option is to get the best of both rides by taking one to the summit and the other to descend.

If you want to stay closer to the beach then Llandudno Pier will surely tempt you as it stretches out towards the Irish Sea. The Victorian pier was constructed over 100 years ago and still retains much of its original charm. There are a range of small shops and kiosks that line the pier as you walk along it and make sure you turn around and have a camera ready for some great photographs of the beach and promenade. The pier has a large play area with bouncy castles and amusement arcades to keep the children entertained when you fancy a break and a Punch and Judy show will entertain younger children by the pier entrance.

After a fun day on Llandudno beach you’ll be looking for quality refreshments and there’s plenty of places to entertain you and grab something to eat. Mostyn Street, Llandudno’s main shopping street, is only two minutes from the North Shore and is lined with cafes and coffee houses. If you’re looking for something a little more formal there are plenty of local restaurants to choose from catering for all tastes from British Cuisine to Italian and Indian or why not clean up and have a night at the North Wales Theatre which is located on the promenade.

Whatever you’re requirements if a beautiful beach is essential then Llandudno fits the bill perfectly. The beach is never far from your accommodation and there’s more than enough to keep the children entertained. After a fun day on the beach it’s just a short walk back to your hotel and then onwards to enjoy Llandudno’s nightlife.

Llandudno is North Wales premier tourist resort and the largest coastal resort in the whole of Wales. The town attracts thousands of visitors each year and has a large number of quality hotels available for your stay. When combined with Llandudno’s wonderful attractions and the hotels quality of service it’s no wonder visitors are willing to return year after year.

Most of Llandudno’s hotels are located on the beautifully curved promenade. The promenade was built during Victorian times and still retains much of its character today curving from the Little Orme in the east to the Great Orme to the north. The distance between the two Ormes is over a mile in length and most of it is lined with hotels. The hotels on Llandudno’s promenade tend to be the most expensive in the town but many choose this location due to the wonderful sea views available.

Llandudno promenade has hotels to suit all tastes. Many of the larger hotels such as The Imperial Hotel and St George’s Hotel are run by national chains. The larger hotels often have multiple entertainment facilities such as swimming pools, saunas, and games rooms and many have one or more ballrooms with evening entertainment.

Away from the larger hotels are many of the smaller privately owned hotels. These smaller hotels tend to be situated either towards the north end of the promenade and close to the pier or towards the Little Orme away from the main areas of the town. These smaller hotels often have a reputation for quality service that attracts a high number of repeat visitors. The St Tudno Hotel is one example of a smaller hotel being located opposite the pier entrance and has a long history of great service and an award winning restaurant.

Located almost on the pier itself is The Grand Hotel, one of Llandudno’s largest. The Grand Hotel enjoys a wonderful location looking across Llandudno’s bay and promenade. Immediately behind The Grand Hotel is the North Parade which is lined which many less expensive hotels. This is a good location as you can still enjoy the sea views and are close to the town centre.

Away from the promenade are a small number of other hotels worth mentioning one of which is The Empire Hotel. The Empire Hotel is a modern hotel located approximately five minutes away from Llandudno’s promenade and is located at the top of Mostyn Street in the shadow of the Great Orme. The Empire Hotel has a reputation as being one of Llandudno’s finest hotels.

Another hotel located away from the promenade is Llandudno’s Risboro Hotel. The Risboro Hotel is approximately 10 minutes walk from the town centre and promenade. While not as large as some other hotels the Risboro offers and excellent choice for a quality hotel away from the hustle and bustle.

Llandudno’s West Shore is a location often overlooked but provides an ideal location if you want to be close to the beach but away from the town centre. The West Shore is located approximately 20 minutes walk away from the main shopping areas and is home to a number of smaller hotels. Here you can enjoy inspiring views of the Snowdonia Mountains and Isle of Anglesey and play on the sands of the quieter beach.

The Deganwy Quay Hotel and Bodysgallen Hall and Spa Hotel are two hotels located within a couple of miles of Llandudno town centre that are worth mentioning. The Deganwy Quay Hotel is located on Deganwy Marina and is one of the regions top rated hotels. You can enjoy views of Conwy Castle and the Conwy Estuary in this exclusive modern hotel. The Bodysgallen Hall and Spa Hotel is located in its own grounds and is one of Wales finest country house hotels. The Bodysgallen Hall and Spa Hotel is ideal if you’re looking for seclusion and are willing to pay a little bit more for it.