Pull on those boots and head out for a walk in the Welsh countryside
The idyllic Llŷn Peninsula is truly an area of outstanding natural beauty, and there's no better way to appreciate it than by getting out there on foot. The immediate area has many delightful walks, here are some of our favourites (click here if you'd like to follow the trail of the Weatherman Walking through Wales!)
WALK ONE: NEFYN CIRCULAR
The Llŷn Peninsula coastline is an area of outstanding natural beauty and this walk, which is almost flat, gives you the opportunity to appreciate the extensive views in both directions and across the coastline.
- START/FINISH: Car park, Nefyn
- DISTANCE/GRADE: 6.2 miles, easy
- TERRAIN: Gently undulating, steep sections
- CIRCULAR WALK: Yes
- OBSTACLES/GRADIENTS: Yes
1. Turn right out of Together Travel, towards Nefyn. At Nefyn turn right at the mini roundabout sign posted to Aberdaron. The car park is on the left immediately after the police station. Leave the car park, turn right and walk to a lane on the left named Lon Y Traeth.
2. Turn down the lane, heading towards the coast. After a short walk, take the tarmaced path on the left, following the top of the cliffs. The path soon becomes un-surfaced but continues on until it joins a narrow tarmaced lane.
3. Turn right along the lane, then take a path on the right across the bracken covered headland. Follow the path and keep heading round to the left until a stone track is reached.
4. Here you continue along the track, passing close by a house to a lane then turn right and walk along the lane to a sharp lefthand bend.
5. Continue straight ahead, following the public footpath sign. Take the footpath to the left of the gatepost, which rejoins the seashore cliffs. Eventually you will descend some steps Turn right and walk the short distance to the beach.
6. Turn left and walk along the beach. At high water, we recommend using the concrete ramp.
7. Pass the few properties to your right via a path at the rear then rejoin the beach to Porth Dinllaen.
8. Continue through a gap in the wall at the far end past the pub. Take the stone path adjacent to the white building ahead. This path meanders around the base of some low cliffs.
9. Take the steps and continue up the concrete path onto the golf course. Now from the 15th tee follow the headland round to the now deserted lookout post.
10. You can return to your starting point by following points 1 – 6 in reverse order or by walking down the main road.
WALK TWO: NANT GRWTHEYRN TO GALLT Y BWLCH
The walk begins from the highest point, so it’s easy to start and the hardest climb is left till the end. On a positive note the climbing is much more gradual than the descent and the views are wonderful.
- START/FINISH: Car park, Nant Gwrtheyrn
- DISTANCE/GRADE: 3.7 miles, moderate
- TERRAIN: Noticeable climbs, unmade paths
- CIRCULAR WALK: Yes
- OBSTACLES/GRADIENTS: Yes
1. Turn left out of Together Travel Llŷn Peninsula and continue 2 miles to Llithfaen. At Llithfaen turn left at the crossroads which is signposted for Nant Gwrtheyrn. Continue up this road to the forestry car park for Nant Gwrtheyrn. From the car park continue along the metal track down through the trees. The track drops to the first bend then zigzags steeply down to Port y Nant, the welsh language centre. The views from here across to the disused quarry and down to the sea are absolutely spectacular.
2. Follow the track past the buildings and continue through a small gate with a warning notice, ‘old quarry workings ahead’. The track is well-used and leads down to the sea near some old buildings. Where the track becomes stony, follow it down. Do not be tempted by a green track which contours towards old quarry buildings, these buildings are dangerous. Continue until you reach sea level near the bottom of the old incline.
3. Following the yellow arrows, continue on the coast path, gradually gaining height. Take time to look around for the local wildlife. Look out for choughs (red-billed birds), wild goats and seals. Continue for just over half a mile, passing through a site of special interest, Gallt y Bwlch. This is special because of the stunted sessile oaks growing there.
4. Continue to the small gate on top of the stone steps. Go through the gate and bear right to pass between the buildings and continue up the drive, you will fi nd a marker-post halfway up. The drive swings right before reaching another drive.
5. Just before reaching the other drive, you will find a stile on the left. Cross over the stile with the wall on your right, bearing left near the top to a gate set in the wall about fifty metres from the corner.
6. The distance to the car park from here is about 0.7 miles and is not well signposted. Continue through the gate and go up over the rise in front of you. Pass through a gate and onto another gateway. Walk ahead with Bwlch to the right. Bear right to go through another gate. Turn left and then continue with the fence or wall on your left, then head through another gate to the road and the car park.
WALK THREE: THE THREE PEAKS OF YR EIFL
This is a short walk by some standards, up a hill of modest height, but you will need more time than you might imagine. Garn Ganol has magnificent views stretching from Pembroke to the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland and to the Isle of Man and in season there are bilberries to search for.
- START/FINISH: Together Travel
- DISTANCE/GRADE: 3.7 miles, moderate
- TERRAIN: 2 to 2.5 hours
- CIRCULAR WALK: Yes
1. Turn left out of Together Travel Llŷn Peninsula and continue 2 miles to Llithfaen, at Llithfaen turn left at the cross roads which is signposted for Nant Gwrtheyrn. Continue up the road to the forestry car park and this is your start point. Standing with your back to the standing stone sculpture and looking towards Garn Ganol, an obvious wide track starts near the car park and rises to the left. The walk starts by following this wide track until it reaches a col (Bwlch yr Eifl) between Garn Ganol and the quarried summit of Garn For.
2. From Bwlch yr Eifl, an obvious path rises south south-east up the flank of Garn Ganol.
3. From the summit take the path heading between east and south-east. The descent is looser under foot, care should be taken. As the level ground gets nearer, the path crosses the wall before following it down on the left side. If you miss this crossing, a wire fence soon bars the way, but the wall can be climbed. Head towards the level ground with a gate and stile.
4. From the gate turn left and follow the path heading for the hill-fort of Tre’r Ceiri. The path leads you through the south-west entrance to the fort.
5. Cross the wall by the stile and continue in the same direction as the descent from Tre’r Ceiri. The path is easy to follow. At the fence the path comes to a metal kissing-gate.
6. From the gate, continue on the path in the same direction. In a little over 300 meters the path comes to a wooden post with several footpath marker-arrows.
7. Just beyond the post the track makes a left turn, heading down towards a wood and buildings. Don’t take the left turn and instead go straight on. If in doubt, head for a prominent stone wall running from south-east to north-west with a group of three standing stone sculptures on the broad crest.
WALK FOUR: NATURE'S POINT TO NEFYN BEACH