Holyhead, Wales

[Karanja]

Has anyone been aboard a cruise ship that called at Holyhead in the last year or so? If so, where did the ship berth and was the berth convenient to the town and railway station or bus stations to be able to tour independently. If the ship anchored off the ports, where was landing ashore? Thanks.

[Ray66]

I haven't but there's plenty of information on the internet to read until someone comes along who has

 

http://www.holyheadport.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19&Itemid=27

 

http://www.holyheadport.com/

 

"Holyhead Station, located within the Port, has direct links to London and Cardiff."

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holyhead_railway_station

 

http://www.irishseashipping.com/photofeatures/ports/holyheadct110811/holyheadct110811.htm

[Karanja]

I haven't but there's plenty of information on the internet to read until someone comes along who has

 

Thank you. I have those sights. Apparently, the cruise terminal is now a disused industrial pier.

[John Bull]

Has anyone been aboard a cruise ship that called at Holyhead in the last year or so? If so, where did the ship berth and was the berth convenient to the town and railway station or bus stations to be able to tour independently. If the ship anchored off the ports, where was landing ashore? Thanks.

 

 

Don't know precisely where cruise ships berth (used to be a tender port but now has berthing) but the rail station is in the harbour area , so an easy walk.

 

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

train timetables only go 3 months out, for planning purposes pick a random date on the same day-of-the-week as your date.

 

Hourly train service to Conwy (castle etc) about £13 day-return, journey time about 60 mins.

nb on some services, the train doesn't stop at Conwy, you go a couple of miles further to Llandudo Junction & catch another train back (or a taxi if connection times are poor)

In either direction, Conwy is a request stop which is quite unusual, see the "info" icon against the train details.

 

From Llandudno Junction you also have the options of up the Conwy valley to Betws-y-Coed (about 30 mins) or to the victorian seaside resort of Llandudno (10 mins)

 

Google these places, see what you think.

 

Alternatively, http://www.busybus.co.uk/sightseeing-tours/cruise-excursions offer pre-booked seat-in-van excursions specifically for cruise ship passengers from Holyhead. I don't know them, but they get good reviews on CC.

 

JB :)

[Karanja]

Don't know precisely where cruise ships berth (used to be a tender port but now has berthing) but the rail station is in the harbour area , so an easy walk.

 

http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/planjourney/search

train timetables only go 3 months out, for planning purposes pick a random date on the same day-of-the-week as your date.

 

Hourly train service to Conwy (castle etc) about £13 day-return, journey time about 60 mins.

nb on some services, the train doesn't stop at Conwy, you go a couple of miles further to Llandudo Junction & catch another train back (or a taxi if connection times are poor)

In either direction, Conwy is a request stop which is quite unusual, see the "info" icon against the train details.

 

From Llandudno Junction you also have the options of up the Conwy valley to Betws-y-Coed (about 30 mins) or to the victorian seaside resort of Llandudno (10 mins)

 

Google these places, see what you think.

 

Alternatively, http://www.busybus.co.uk/sightseeing-tours/cruise-excursions offer pre-booked seat-in-van excursions specifically for cruise ship passengers from Holyhead. I don't know them, but they get good reviews on CC.

 

JB

All very good advice. We just spent four days in a rented cottage in Conwy and did many of the things you mentioned. We also flagged the train at 5:59am at Conwy for a long journey to Southampton and Queen Mary 2.

 

Apparently the docking facility in Holyhead is a former aluminum company pier that shut down in 2009, and cruise pax hve access to a shuttle bus to the railway station, town center and maritime museum.

TWS

[chubby67]

Dear GTAgal,

 

Who did you arrange the car rental in Holyhead with?

Do you remember the cost? If you have no objections,

please kindly respond to my email snee67@aol.com.

Thank you

 

Steve

[Yorkiebargirl]

Karanja We docked there last July

Ship berthed at a very dingy deep water tidal dock, know this as we saw dock, 4 to 6ft dock wall and then dock again:eek: the weather that day was awful so we did not get off.

We have been to North Wales a few times before so I can tell you there are LOTS of things to do there. If you rent a car, I would recommend Plas Newydd http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/plas-newydd National Trust Place along the road to the mainland. Conway is great, many places just follow the previous links.

One thing you should not miss is, if you hear over the ship system that a local folk group, singers and dancers are to perform dash and get a seat. On our cruise they only announced it about 15 mins before so many were getting ready for dinner and missed it. It made the stop there really special. Real welsh harps, clogs and costumes.