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Sarn y Plas cottage
Sarn y Plas cottage | © National Trust / Lily Usher
Wales

Sarn y Plas walk

A moderately challenging circular walk around lower Rhiw, taking in Sarn y Plas, once the home of poet R.S. Thomas and artist ME (Elsi) Eldridge, whose works were deeply inspired by the landscape and nature in Llŷn. You'll head along the Wales Coast Path, through dense woodland and winding paths before making your way down to Plas yn Rhiw along country lanes.

Total steps: 12

Total steps: 12

Start point

Plas yn Rhiw car park - grid ref: SH237282

Step 1

Turn right out of the car park and follow the road. Once you have passed the cottage on your right, look out for the blue Coast Path sign. Leave the road at this point and follow the old Rhiw road to your right.

The turning to Sarn y Plas
The turning to Sarn y Plas | © Lily Usher

Step 2

Stop at the steps to Sarn y Plas cottage, where R.S. Thomas lived with his wife Elsi Eldridge from 1978 to 1996.

Illustration of Sarn y Plas by ME Eldridge
Illustration of Sarn y Plas by ME Eldridge | © ME Eldridge

Step 3

Continue along the old road through Treheli caravan site until you reach the road. Head straight across and follow the track to Ty’n y Parc.

Excerpt from an R.S. Thomas poem
Excerpt from the poem 'Pen Llŷn' by R.S. Thomas | © YG Llŷn

Step 4

Follow the track past the National Trust holiday cottages at Ty’n y Parc, keeping right at the fork until you reach a wooden gate. Head through the gate and carry on along the track.

Ty'n y Parc
View of Ty'n y Parc | © Lily Usher

Step 5

You will reach a clearing at the end of the track. In front of you, you will see a white cottage. Follow the path behind this cottage, keeping left at the fork.

Step 6

Towards the end of this section of track, you will see a sharp turn to the left with a path through the woodland. Follow this path through the trees until you come to the end of the tree-lined path.

Step 7

At the yellow waymarker, follow the path to the right, heading over a small stone stile.

Excerpt from R.S Thomas' poem, Alive
Excerpt from 'Alive' by R.S. Thomas | © YG Llŷn

Step 8

After a short while, you will come to another fork in the path. Take the path on the right and follow it behind the house until you reach a small metal gate.

Fron Deg cottage
Fron Deg cottage | © National Trust / Lily Usher

Step 9

Head through the gate and follow the track until you reach the road.

Step 10

Turn left and follow the road until you reach Saint Aelrhiw’s Church.

Saint Aelrhiw church
Saint Aelrhiw church, Rhiw | © National Trust / Lily Usher

Step 11

Turn left at the post box and follow the road down to Plas yn Rhiw. Here you can visit Plas yn Rhiw and stop for refreshments at the tearoom.

Plas yn Rhiw garden in bloom
Plas yn Rhiw garden in bloom | © National Trust Images / Annapurna Mellor

Step 12

Follow the path from Plas yn Rhiw back to the car park.

End point

Plas yn Rhiw car park.

Trail map

Sarn y Plas walk map
Sarn y Plas walking map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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Plas yn Rhiw, Rhiw, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, LL53 8AB