The Menai Strait is the tidal channel separating Anglesey from the Welsh mainland, sixteen miles long and at its narrowest only 250 metres wide. Beaumaris sits on its eastern entrance, where the strait opens to the Irish Sea, and the seafront offers a continuous view across the water to the foothills of Snowdonia.
The strait is a sailing and kayaking area of national importance — the sheltered waters and fast tides make it both safe and interesting. The Royal Anglesey Yacht Club, founded in 1802, is one of the oldest in Britain and based on the Beaumaris seafront. Walks along the green run for an easy mile in either direction, with telescopes at the bandstand for picking out Puffin Island and the Penmon Lighthouse.