Church Bay, Anglesey


Church Bay is a settlement on the north-west coast of Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom about a mile and a half north-west of the village of Llanfaethlu. The bay shores are rocky but there is also a sandy beach which is popular with visitors. There are a handful of houses near the beach. The Anglesey Coastal Path runs along the cliff tops.
Most of the properties are holiday homes for rent. Amenities include a cafe and a small museum based in a preserved 17th century thatched cottage. The nearby sandy beach is named Porth Swtan . The 61 bus route from Holyhead to Amlwch stops infrequently in the area.

Etymology

The Welsh name, Porth Swtan, is named after the River Swtan, a small stream which reaches the sea below Church Bay. Swtan may be the name of the 'swtan' fish.
The English name, Church Bay, is the name used by sailors in the 19th Century, the Church forming a visible landmark. The name is given to the larger bay but that has caused the loss of the names of many of the smaller coves dotted around the bay.