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For a tiny seaside resort on a small Welsh island, Moelfre is remarkably well known around the world. Much of that is due to the heroism of its lifeboat crews who have had to cope with many a sea-bourn tragedy in their history.
The lifeboat operators have been awarded numerous medals for their bravery and Moelfre lifeboat station is now known as one of the finest in the world, featuring on picture postcard scenes which are sent home to destinations around the globe by travelers to this pretty coastal village.
The Moelfre Seawatch Centre (tel: 01248 410277), open from Easter to September, relates some of those tales, including that of the steam clipper Royal Charter which foundered off the coast in 1859, with the loss of 450 lives.
With glorious beaches and rocky coastlines, Moelfre is a mix of windswept adventure and sun-soaked relaxation.
It attracts walkers and sunbathers, families, couples and enthusiastic watersports and camping groups. Nature lovers also flock to the countryside around here to catch a glimpse of the indigenous wildlife.
From commorants and gulls to oystercatchers and curlews, Moelfre is a dream for ornithologists and anyone who just loves to see Britain's birdlife in full flight. It is a destination for many migratory birds which flock in over summer, while native kestrels and barn owls can be seen roosting in trees and on overhead cables, looking out for prey or simply enjoying the stunning view.
And there are some stunning views to be seen in Moelfre , the horizon from the sea shore and the countryside landscape changing from season to season, sometimes from day to day or day to evening in accordance with the weather and vagaries of natural light.
Visitors can enjoy a bird's eye view of the scenery themselves from the summit of Mynydd Bodafon which overlooks this corner of Anglesey.
Evenings are a special time in Moelfre as the sun sets, and there are numerous waterside bars and restaurants or quiet and romantic picnic spots from which to enjoy the 'show'. In the height of summer when the weather is still warm, interrupted only by a gentle breeze drifting in off the water, visitors can be found strolling along the shoreline enjoying a relaxing walk in what can only be described as one of the world's loveliest of holiday spots.
Here it is possible to catch sight of the treasured bottle-nosed dolphin diving in the sea nearby, an increasingly common sight off the North Wales coast, while in the day a colourful array of butterflies flutter through local hedgerows, gardens and open country fields.
The coastal path at Swnt features a type of stone-walling rare in North Wales listed as being of historic significance by Gwynedd Archaelogical Trust and recently restored with the support of local authorities.
A native Celtic settlement , Din Lligwy, a short distance from Moelfre, is also much researched by archaeologists, who consider it one of the most impressive ancient sites in Britain, dating from AD400.
Moelfre itself offers a handful of small shops and craft and gift centres, while further afield on Anglesey there is lots to see and do for anyone spending a longer period on the island.
There are campsites a plenty within easy distance of the small, uncrowded beaches along the coast, with bed and breakfast facilities, holiday cottages and larger hotels also dotted about the surrounding area.
