A £400,000 project to improve and modernise facilities at Holyhead Breakwater Country Park is underway.

The project aims to create a better visitor experience, with new and exciting features planned for the site - including a new visitor welcome centre.

The new welcome centre will act a hub for visitors for the 150,000 yearly visitors (including international visitors arriving at Holyhead on cruise ships) to the park and aim to increase overall visitor number.

Staff will be on hand to provide information relating to the Country Park, the wider area of Holy Island and other key heritage sites across Anglesey.

This investment has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government and the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Holy Island Visitor Gateway and Landscape Partnership schemes.

Anglesey’s Deputy Leader and Economy Portfolio Holder, Cllr Carwyn Jones, said, “The Country Park has developed a lot over the last couple of years. It is a place where individuals and families can come to enjoy - whether they are walking, observing nature, enjoying a bite to eat or playing in the newly installed children’s play area.”

He added, “This new development will encourage more visitors, local children and families to the area and I’m sure they will enjoy all the Country Park and Holy Island has to offer”

RLD Construction and architects Wood have been appointed to carry out works on the new project. The works will see an extension added to the existing building and new exhibition materials installed inside. Work is expected to be completed by November 2022.

Holy Island Landscape Partnership Programme Manager, Efan Milner explained, “We are grateful to Visit Wales and the National Lottery Heritage Fund for their support in funding this project. The funding will modernise and improve the County Park to be a high quality attraction and hub for people to explore the wider area.”

He added, “The improvement works will complement the excellent new children’s play area that was recently installed with funding from the Welsh Government, which is proving to be very popular with families”.

Improvement works to the North Wales Wildlife Trust kiosk and toilet facilities at the park will be carried out. These works will be undertaken by building contractor, Huw Saer.

During a visit to Anglesey this week, Welsh Government Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething MS said:

“I’m pleased to support investment designed to enhance this wonderful Holyhead visitor attraction. First impressions count, and the new welcome centre and interpretation will give our visitors a positive impression of Anglesey and of Wales right from the off.”

He added, “Holyhead plays an important role as a port of call for cruise ships and gateway for international visitors and I hope this work encourages more people to explore everything the area has to offer. The range of developments supported reflect the Welsh Government’s focus on developing high quality destinations with all year round activity.”

The Holyhead Breakwater Country Park was opened in 1990 and is situated on the site of an old quarry which supplied stone for the 2.39km (1.5 miles) Holyhead Breakwater, the longest in Europe, which was built between 1846 and 1873. Part of the park is situated within Anglesey’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Ends 17 August 2022