When you approach Anglesey in North Wales you will see the enigmatic Menai Straits Bridge, designed and constructed by Thomas Telford, the famous 19th century engineer. The strong tidal waters crossing to Anglesey from the mainland has been a challenge for centuries and finally Telford and his team managed to come up with an innovative design which was up to the task. You will enjoy the coastal views from this bridge as you cross to the island for your vacation.

Turn back the history pages and you may see that what is the busy little town of Menai Bridge today, may have been a Roman village, which people reached by crossing in a small ferry across the Menai Straits where the gap between island and mainland is narrowest. To the north are the Lavan sands where Augustinian monks heading for Penmon Priory would struggle across at low tide, heading for Llanfaes, near Beaumaris.

So what events led to Telford being commissioned with the task of constructing such this impressive Menai Straits Bridge, an innovative example of civil engineering for the early nineteenth century? Following the Act of Union between Britain and Ireland in 1800 pressure grew for a far more efficient transport link between London and the Irish capital, Dublin.

When you think how the famous composer George Frederick Handel struggled to reach Dublin from Holyhead in 1742, it shows you how difficult it was travelling between England and Ireland. After getting through the challenging Snowdon Mountain range, there was still the Menai Straits crossing and then the voyage to Dublin itself.

A bridge crossing to Anglesey island was the key improvement in the London Dublin transport link, with a ferry from the port of Holyhead already in service. Building work began across the Menai Straits in 1819 after much political negotiation and pressure. The two huge towers which you see are a key feature of the bridge and they are made from limestone from the nearby island quarry. Sixteen wrought iron chain cables supported the bridge across the 175 metre gap, but they were replaced with steel cables before World War Two.

Just stop to think how travel has changed enormously since the times before this bridge was built. Prior to 1826 a journey from London to Holyhead would take around 36 hours, and the opening of the Menai Suspension Bridge reduced that to a mere 27 hours. Today you can get from London to Holyhead by road in about 6 hours or so, thanks to a combination of motorway, internal combustion engine and Thomas Telford’s Menai Straits Bridge.

Arriving on Anglesey witness some beautiful coastal and woodland scenes from this iconic bridge across Menai Straits, and nearby some well signposted coastal paths with fairly easy access. Cast your eyes northwards from the bridge and you will see Menai Bridge harbour with small yachts and motor craft moored nearby. These are strong tidal waters and you may see a yacht passing below the bridge, making its way for Beaumaris and then Puffin Island.

As you stand on the bridge looking south west, see how the strong Menai Straits currents flow towards the dual rail and road Britannia Bridge and on past Caernarfon Castle to the open sea. Off the Anglesey Coastline to the south is a small island, Ynys Gorad Goch, while on the shoreline a Statue of Admiral Nelson stands, and nearby is the former Indefatigable Sailing School. You can indulge your senses in all these experiences from the high vantage point of this enigmatic Menai Straits Bridge.

The author, David Phillips, writes from beautiful Anglesey, North Wales, and runs a helpful website focusing on local news and articles about the island. Discover more about Menai Straits Bridge, a remarkable attraction and example of 19th century civil engineering achievement.