Where
is it? The walk starts close to the marina behind the medieval
walled town of Conwy. Crossing Conwy Mountain to Dwygyfylchi and returning
via the beach at Penmaenmawr, Conwy Golf Course and Conwy Morfa .
How long will it take ? : 7.6 miles. Approximately 4 hr.
What's the attraction? : Views of Creuddyn Peninsula, Vardre,
Conwy Castle and estuary, remains
of an ancient hill fort, pleasant grassy tracks, beach walk.
Essentials : Stout footwear required. Hill paths, some
steep, some muddy. Carry hill-walking gear; take OS map and compass.
Check the tide times for the return walk from Penmaenmawr beach. Should
it be high tide then return around the Penmaenbach headland using the
footpath that runs alongside the busy A55 expressway.
Rating : Medium
Car Parking : Park the car in the cul-de-sac opposite
Aberconwy School or alternatively park in the car park at the Conwy
Marina, next to the Mulberry Pub. Click below for location of the cul-de-sac..
Facilities : Refreshments and meals available at the Mulberry
Pub / Restaurant at Conwy Marina.
Lets Go !
Exit the cul-de-sac and turn right along the school road. Cross
the footbridge that passes over both the road and the North Wales
railway line. Continue along the path, which becomes a walled lane, to
a T-junction. Bear right following the North Wales Path sign (NWP).
In 100 yards bear right at another NWP sign and cross the ladder stile.
Climb the wooded hillside up to Conwy Mountain. Take time to look back
towards Conwy for unusual views of Conwy Castle and estuary. In 400 yards,
at a flat boulder, the waymark arrow points ahead but bear right off
NWP for 20 yards, then left on the green track climbing the spine of
Conwy Mountain. In 200 yards, by a sloping rock face, bear right up grassy
path. In 500 yards fork right up slope towards the rocky crag. The path
skirts the seaward side of the crag and in 150 yards bear left up to
the ridge. Bear right along the ridge to the Castell Caer Seion hill
fort at the summit. There is an information board about the ancient hill
fort at the summit, but I was a bit disappointed with the ruins. However
when considering their age......
Continue on
the path to descend (keeping sharp crag on your left after 100 yards).
Several tracks converge in the high fields of Pen-pyra. Having previously
only viewed the hill from the coast road I imagined Conwy Mountain to
be a barren place with rock strewn paths but the verdant
pasture land and grassy tracks were a pleasant surprise.
Follow the path until a fork and bear to the right. Our track takes
us on the seaward side of Alltwen and 
heads toward the farmstead. The
path cuts between the farmstead and a small lake or pond. Follow the
narrowing track through the overgrown heather and bracken heading toward
the pine forest on the brow of the hill. The track widens out and descends
the hill toward the seaside. This section could be tricky after rain
as it is quite steep. Cross the ladder stile at the bottom of the hill
and continue through the woodland. The village of Capelulo can be seen
across the valley as you exit the trees. Follow the track down to the
village of Dwygyfylchi. Bear right along the lane after crossing the
stream. Follow the lane,
with the Penmaenmawr Golf Course
on your left, to the church of St Gwynan in the village.
At the crossroads by the church bear to the left and cross the road.
Look for the bridle way sign and bear right following the narrow path
between the houses. Cross the road and railway via the footbridge. Beware
here as the local residents of Penmaenmawr and Dwygyfylchi use the bridge
as a dog toilet. A few prosecutions would not go amiss!
At this point, Penmaenmawr beach, you need to decide whether you
have judged your trip to coincide with the correct tide times. If the
tide is in you will have to follow the A55 back to Conwy. (Follow the
A55 road round the headland until the slip road at the junction with
the A547, approx. 4km. Bear left at the top of the slip road and follow
the A547 to the Conwy Marina. Bear right at the Marina for the school.)
If the tide is out then walk round the Penmaen-bach point on the wide
sandy beach. If there is a stiff westerly wind blowing you will
understand where all the Llandudno West Shore and Conwy Morfa
sand dunes come from!
On turning around the headland there are grand views of the Great Orme
and Llandudno on the Creuddyn Peninsula. Across the river above the village
of Deganwy is the huge rock outcrop known as the Vardre once the site
of the fortress of Maelgwn (Maelgwyn) King of Gwynedd and the most
powerful of the five Kings of Britain in the 6th Century.
After approximately 4 km exit the sands
and cut through the sand dunes on Conwy Morfa. There is a right of way
skirting the Conwy Golf Course, follow this round the shoreline at the
mouth of the Afon Conwy until you reach the Conwy Marina. Close to the
Marina you will find a memorial to the builders of the Mulberry Harbours
(including my late uncle Jack Pragnell). The Mulberry Harbours were
Winston Churchill's secret weapon in the second world war fight to invade
Normandy and regain Europe from Nazi Germany.
Bear right and skirt the marina dock exiting the marina complex at
the south east corner, close to The Mulberry Pub, restaurant and
car park. If you left the car near Aberconwy school follow the road south
for a few hundred yards to return to the school and your car.
Buy the Ordnance Survey Map:
Outdoor Leisure OL17 (1:25,000) or the Landranger Sheet 115 (1:50,000)
