Afon Menai

Sea, Estuary, Creek in Anglesey

Wales

Afon Menai

Afon Menai is a picturesque sea inlet located in the county of Anglesey, Wales. It separates the island of Anglesey from the mainland of Wales and is an important waterway connecting the Irish Sea to the larger Menai Strait. The name "Afon Menai" translates to "River Menai" in English.

This estuary stretches approximately 25 kilometers in length, with its mouth opening into the Irish Sea near the town of Beaumaris. The waterway is characterized by its strong tidal currents, which can reach speeds of up to 8 knots during peak times. These currents make Afon Menai a popular destination for watersport enthusiasts, such as sailors, kayakers, and windsurfers, who enjoy challenging themselves in its dynamic environment.

The estuary is also home to a diverse range of wildlife. Its shores are lined with saltmarshes, mudflats, and sandbanks that provide important habitats for various bird species, including oystercatchers, curlews, and herons. Seal sightings are not uncommon in the area, as they are known to frequent the estuary's waters.

Afon Menai has played a significant role in the history of the region. It has served as a strategic waterway for trade and transportation, allowing ships to access the important port of Caernarfon. The iconic Menai Suspension Bridge, built in 1826 by Thomas Telford, spans the estuary, connecting the Isle of Anglesey to the mainland. This architectural marvel is a popular tourist attraction, offering stunning views of the surrounding area.

Overall, Afon Menai is a beautiful and dynamic waterway that combines natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and historical significance, making it a significant part of the Welsh landscape.

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Afon Menai Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 53.155979/-4.2824745 or Grid Reference SH4764. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Illuminated castle

Row17

Pivot benchmark on quay wall, Caernarfon

This pivot benchmark is on the water facing wall of Caernarfon quay just in front of the white bollard. As it is water facing it can only be safely observed from the opposite bank of Afon Seiont. The mark is not shown in the current Ordnance Survey database but is shown on a 1901 map of the area at a height of 9.8ft above the Liverpool datum.

Meirion

Rivet benchmark on wall at base of the black tower of Caernarfon Castle, Caernarfon

This rivet benchmark is located on a low wall at the base of the black tower of Caernarfon castle & it is shown in the current Ordnance Survey database at a height of 5.2300m above the Newlyn datum.

Meirion

Victoria Dock

Row17

Walking route beside the Menai Straits

Row17

Tide out at Barras

Row17

Inner Walls of Caernarfon Castle

Anthony Parkes

An old concrete 6 mile railway milepost besides cycle track, Caernarfon

A relic of the old railway line which once ran along what is now a cycle track.

Meirion

Harbour Offices, Caernarfon

Offices of the Caernarfon Harbour Trust, which was established in 1793. From the Trust's web site, "Caernarfon Harbour Trust is the authority responsible for the control of navigation and the provision and maintenance of navigational aids in the area from Britannia Bridge to Caernarfon Bay. It is also the competent Harbour Authority responsible for the provision of pilotage throughout the Menai Strait. The Trust provides and maintains a number of moorings in the River Seiont and Port Dinorwic. Additionally, it also serves as manager for Victoria Dock Marina, Caernarfon."

David Tyers

The TARDIS lands at the Castle, Caernarfon

Meirion

The TARDIS materialises on the Queen's Gate at the Castle, Caernarfon

Meirion

Bicycles are not allowed on the promenade, Caernarfon

This sign is located within the arch of Porth-yr-aur in Caernarfon. As this sign is not bi-lingual and has the defunct spelling of Caernarfon it is quite likely a very old sign.

Meirion