Porthdinllaen walk, Llŷn Peninsula
This walk will reward you with stunning views in all directions as you follow it along a splinter of land that's an outstanding wildlife haven.
Map
Start:
Car park at Morfa Nefyn, grid ref: SH281406
1
Head to the far end of the car park, from where you'll have great views across the bay towards Pistyll and Trefor. A brick works stood on this site for 40 years; it closed in 1906. Carry on down to the beach. At low tide you can see the remains of the brick works' jetty.
2
Turn left onto the sand and follow the beach for about half a mile (0.8km) until you reach some unfinished sea defences. These were built by the Matthews family, owners of the Cefn Amlwch Estate. The project came to a halt when war was declared in 1914.
3
Continue along the sand until you reach a spit of land in the shoreline. This site was used for ship building in the 1830s and 40s, when the slate industry in Caernarfon was at its height.
Sand martins
Along section 3 of the walk, sand martins nest in holes in the cliff face between April and mid September.
4
Carry on around the headland towards the hamlet of Porthdinllaen and the distinctive Ty Coch Inn ('Red House' in English). Porthdinllaen was originally intended to be a major port, with Whitehall (the big building before the Ty Coch) as a hotel. The Ty Coch itself has been a popular inn for almost two centuries.
Ty Coch Inn
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the Ty Coch Inn was run by a landlady known as Mrs Jones. She used it as a small private school for girls. She also worked as the harbour master at Porthdinllaen and still had time to raise six children.
5
As you walk in front of the Ty Coch look along the tide-line for eel grass washed up onto the beach.
Eel grass
The marine eel grass - you can spot it in section 5 of the walk - has become much less common in the North Atlantic over the last 70 years. Eel grass is very useful in providing habitats and food for numerous fish, crabs and scallops.
6
Carry on past Caban Griff (a small information point) along the footpath leading across the rocks. Check out the rock pools as you go, and keep an eye out for grey seals, which fish along this stretch of coastline.
7
Go up the steep slope past the lifeboat station onto the golf course. There's a fantastic view across the bay at this point.
8
Follow the track back over the golf course towards the mainland. When you reach the club house, carry on through the golf course car park back towards Morfa Nefyn. Turn left into the National Trust car park where you started the walk.
End:
Car park at Morfa Nefyn, grid ref: SH281406
