AN Anglesey council chief is making strides to help keep the island tidy whilst raising hospice funds.

Councillor Dylan Rees, who is Anglesey County Council’s chairman, is walking the island's 130-mile coastal path.

The circular route will see him starting out from St Cybi's Church, Holyhead, at 9am, on Monday April 15, then, walking about eleven miles a day, finishing in Holyhead, on Saturday, April 27.

During the hike, Cllr Rees will also take in six island beach cleans en route and is calling on people to get involved with helping to keep the island tidy.

Cllr Rees's walk will raise money for the new four bed St David's Hospice unit at Ysbyty Penrhos Stanley, Holyhead, which will provide in-patient hospice care for residents of Anglesey.

Councillor Rees said: “I’m excited to start this challenge and I’m very grateful to the corporate sponsors Eaton Electrical Ltd in Holyhead, the authority’s coastal path staff, Keep Wales Tidy and the volunteers who will give their time to help me complete my challenge.

“It would be wonderful if members of the public could support this most worthy cause by either making a donation or by joining me at a beach clean as we seek to preserve our precious environment here on Anglesey.”

The event also forms part of the Keep Wales Tidy’s annual Spring Clean campaign.

Lesley Jones Keep Wales Tidy chief executive said: “Spring Clean Cymru brings together individuals, community groups, businesses and councils to make a difference to the environment on our doorstep.

"We are delighted that Cllr Dylan Rees is supporting this year’s campaign and would like to thank him for his efforts beach cleaning during his sponsored walk.

"Without councils across the country giving the campaign their backing, our volunteers would not be able to do the incredible job they do.”

Anglesey Council’s AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) team said:

“The coastal path is a vital part of Anglesey’s tourism, it falls within a designated AONB which covers 95% of the coast.

"It passes through the landscape including a mixture of farmland, coastal heath, dunes, salt-marsh, foreshore, cliffs and a few small pockets of woodland. This includes a National Nature Reserve (NNR).

To donate see the ‘Just Giving’ page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Dylan-Rees1.

Details of the walk are:

Stage one - Monday April 15. Start 9am at St. Cybi’s Church, Holyhead. Stop at Penrhos Beach at 10am, to carry out a ‘beach clean’. Continues walking afterwards to Porth Swtan (14 miles).

Stage two - Tuesday April 16. Start 9am, in Porth Swtan and walk to Cemaes (10 miles).

Stage three - Wednesday April 17. Start 10am, in Cemaes and walk to Amlwch (eight miles).

Stage four - Thursday April 18. Start 9am, in Amlwch and walk to Lligwy. Carry out ‘beach clean’ at Lligwy Beach for 2pm. Continues walking afterwards to Benllech (15 miles).

Stage five - Saturday April 20. Start 9am, in Benllech and walk to Penmon Point (12.5 miles).

Stage six - Sunday, April 21. Start 2pm, at Penmon Point and walk to Beaumaris (nine miles).

Stage seven - Monday, April 22. Start 9am in Beaumaris and walk to Moel y Don (10 miles).

Stage eight - Tuesday, April 23. Start 10am in Moel y Don with a ‘beach clean’. Continues afterwards to Llyn Rhos Du (9miles).

Stage nine - Wednesday, April 24. Start 9am in Llyn Rhos Du and walk to Llanddwyn for ‘beach clean’ at 10am. Continue walking afterwards to Malltraeth (8miles).

Stage 10 –-Thursday April 25th. Start 9.00am in Malltraeth and walk to Rhosneigr (12 miles).

Stage 11 – Friday April 26. Start 10am in Rhosneigr with a ‘beach clean’. Continues walking afterwards to Rhoscolyn (12 miles).

Stage 12 - Saturday April 27. Start 9am in Rhoscolyn and walk to Trearddur Bay. Carry out a ‘beach clean’ at 10.30am. Continues walking afterwards to finish in Holyhead (15 miles).