Large Holiday Cottages in Anglesey

Large holiday cottages Anglesey: which coast suits your group?

Anglesey, off the north-west corner of Wales, is small enough to drive across in about 45 minutes, yet each coast has its own feel. Holy Island and the west are surf beaches, sea cliffs and huge skies. The east coast has views over the Menai Strait to the mountains of Eryri, with Georgian streets in Beaumaris and sheltered sandy bays further north, while the north coast is quieter still, with old copper country and little coves.

So pick your coast first, then the holiday cottage.

At least 40 of our holiday cottages in Anglesey sleep eight or more. Only two take 18, so a large group of 16 or more should book early. Planning a celebration weekend or a family reunion? The spacious country properties inland often beat the seafront for dining space, outdoor room and parking.

Trearddur Bay and Holy Island

This is the coast for a beach crowd who also want proper coastal walks. The curved sandy bay has rock pools at both ends and calm water for paddleboards, and the Anglesey Coastal Path heads south to Porth Dafarch and on to the cliffs and sea views at South Stack. Holyhead, the nearest town, is three miles away with the station, the big supermarkets and the ferry to Dublin.

• Bryniau: a holiday cottage for 12 in six bedrooms with sea views and an accessible annexe
• Bryn Dale: 10 guests in five bedrooms, a short walk from the beach
• The Gables: room for 12 in five bedrooms

See all our group holiday cottages in Trearddur Bay, or the bigger holiday cottages around Holyhead.

Rhosneigr and the west coast

Rhosneigr is the watersports village. On a breezy day its wide sands fill with kitesurfers and windsurfers, and the cafes, pubs and surf shops are all a short walk from the sand. It's lively in summer, so it suits friends more than toddlers.

Inland it's farmland and countryside, which is where the bigger Anglesey holiday cottages are.

• Rhiwlas: sleeps 10, about two minutes' walk from the beach, with a fire pit and outdoor shower
• Glanrhyd Isaf: a farmhouse for 14 in seven bedrooms, a short drive away

Browse our Rhosneigr holiday cottages.

Aberffraw, Newborough and the south-west

The south-west corner is dunes, pine forest and the best sunsets on Anglesey. Newborough Forest is great to explore on foot or by bike, and leads down to Llanddwyn, a tidal islet with two lighthouses, a ruined church and views of the Llyn Peninsula and Snowdonia. Aberffraw has its own wide beach and a coastal walk along the estuary.

• Large Cottage for 18 in Trefdraeth: joint biggest on our list, nine bedrooms and six bathrooms near Bodorgan
• Clynnog House at Dwyran: a Georgian holiday home for 12 in six bedrooms
• Tal Gwynedd: a manor-style cottage for 10 with a games room

Two attractions, Anglesey Circuit and Anglesey Sea Zoo, are within about 20 minutes, which helps when half the group wants speed and the other half wants seahorses.

Beaumaris and the Menai Strait

Beaumaris is the prettiest town on Anglesey and the one for three generations of a family together. You'll get Edward I's moated castle, a pier where the crabbing lines come out at high tide, boat trips and good restaurants along the main street. Along the shore, Menai Bridge is a little town beside Telford's 1826 suspension bridge, with waterside walks and independent shops.

• Tan Y Coed: sleeps 13 in six bedrooms on the Menai Strait, with its own jetty and views of Snowdonia
• Gwelfor Barn: a barn conversion for 10 with sea views and an indoor heated swimming pool
• Ynys Faelog Cottage: 10 guests on a tiny tidal islet in the Strait

Compare our large holiday homes in Beaumaris, the holiday cottages in Menai Bridge and those around Llanfairpwll, home of the long railway sign.

Benllech, Moelfre and Red Wharf Bay

The east coast has the gentlest beaches for families on Anglesey. Benllech is a long sandy beach with cafes right behind it, and Moelfre is a fishing village with a lifeboat station and a cliff walk north to Lligwy. At low tide Red Wharf Bay turns into a vast stretch of sand where birdwatching beats sunbathing.

• Neuadd Wen: sleeps 11 in five bedrooms, with a games room
• Willoway: nine guests, five bedrooms and a sauna
• Llys y Graig near Pentraeth: 12 guests in a quiet rural spot

Have a look at our Benllech holiday cottages, plus Moelfre and the holiday cottages near Red Wharf.

Cemaes, Amlwch and the north coast

Pick the north for peace and space. Cemaes is the most northerly village in Wales, with a small harbour and two beaches, and Bull Bay has rocky coves on the coastal path. Near Amlwch, Parys Mountain was once the biggest copper mine in the world, and its orange and purple spoil heaps look like nowhere else in Britain.

• The Old Coal Yard: 14 guests in six bedrooms, close to the beach
• Monfa: a holiday cottage for 10 in five bedrooms in Cemaes

There are more holiday cottages in Amlwch and Cemaes.

The biggest holiday cottages in Anglesey compared

These are the largest holiday cottages on the Isle of Anglesey that we list. Sleeps and bedrooms come from each property's own details.

None of our Anglesey holiday cottages has a hot tub at the moment, so if a hot tub is a must, try our group cottages with hot tubs or the big houses in Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula just over the bridge.

Want luxury cottages? Tan Y Coed has its own jetty, Gwelfor Barn an indoor pool and Clynnog House its Georgian rooms, the closest things here to a luxury holiday cottage for 10 to 13. All three luxury cottages are dog friendly too.

What is there to do on Anglesey with a big group?

These attractions and things to do on Anglesey all work for 10 to 20 people.

Days out worth the drive

South Stack and Holyhead Mountain

The RSPB reserve at South Stack has puffins, guillemots and razorbills on the cliffs from April to July. Around 400 steps lead down to the lighthouse! Climb Holyhead Mountain behind it, the highest point on Anglesey, for views to Ireland on a clear day.

A boat trip to Puffin Island

Starida runs cruises from Beaumaris pier from Easter to October. The trip takes about 70 minutes and passes Penmon lighthouse and a seal colony.

Beaumaris Castle

Run by Cadw, it was never finished, but the walls, moat and wall walks keep children busy for a good hour.

Plas Newydd

The National Trust's Plas Newydd sits on the Menai Strait with a famous Rex Whistler mural, gardens running down to the water and a cafe for lunch.

Conwy and Llandudno

Both are under an hour east along the A55. They make an easy North Wales holiday trip when the wind's up on Ynys Mon, with Conwy's town walls and Llandudno's pier and Great Orme to explore.

Rainy days

• Anglesey Sea Zoo at Brynsiencyn
• Pili Palas butterfly house, near the bridges
• Copper Kingdom in Amlwch

Getting there, dogs and tips for 10 to 20

A few small things make group accommodation on Anglesey far easier.

• Roads: the A55 runs along the North Wales coast and crosses on the Britannia Bridge. Summer Saturday changeovers queue, so arrive mid-afternoon or use the old suspension bridge.
• Rail: Avanti runs direct from London Euston to Holyhead in about 3 hours 45 minutes, stopping at Bangor, just across the Strait.
• Food shop: the big supermarkets are in Holyhead, Llangefni and Bangor. Village shops are small, so book a delivery for arrival day and check the kitchen and dining table fit everyone.
• Taxis: thin on the ground in the villages. Book the ride home from the pub before you go out.
• Parking: check how many cars fit at the holiday cottage. Four is common, six isn't.
• Stairs: need a ground floor bedroom for a grandparent? Check the property listing before you book, as many older cottages have steep stairs.

Bringing the dogs

51 of our 68 cottages take dogs, and 42 have an enclosed garden. From 1 May to 30 September the council restricts dogs on parts of seven beaches:

• Beaumaris and Llanddona
• Benllech and Cemaes
• Llanddwyn, Newborough
• Porth Dafarch and Trearddur

Rhosneigr isn't on the list, so it's the easy pick for a summer week with the dog, and our dog friendly group cottages page covers the rest of the UK.

When to go and what it costs

July and August are busiest, and the beaches earn it. May, June and September are quieter, the sea's warmest in early autumn and the boat trips still run.

Winter is wild and cheap.

• Summer: watersports, a barbecue on long light nights, every cottage booked early
• Autumn: warm sea, empty sands, lower prices
• Winter: storms over South Stack and seven holiday cottages with a wood burner

Prices start from around £62 a night for the whole cottage. Split between ten people, the large holiday cottages Anglesey offers often cost less a head than a single hotel room on the North Wales coast.

Our UK destinations guide compares North Wales with every other region if you're still deciding, or browse all our big group cottages across Britain.