Always take a map and compass with you.©Crown copyright 2019 Ordnance Survey. Media 051/190km^5101520300
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1 Start/Finish
Morfa Bach car park
S of Conwy train station
on the B5106
GR: SH781774
(Toilets and small refreshment
booth at car park.) From car
park head N through the tunnel
under the railway to Conwy
Station and walk along Rose Hill
Street, through the archway in
the wall and along the Bangor
Road for 400m to Cadnant Park, a
residential road on the L.
2
Keep R along Cadant Park
then after 200m turn R
again onto Mountain Road.
After a further 200m a sign
on the R indicates access to
Conwy Mountain and the North
Wales Path (NWP). Follow the
NWP W for 1.4km to the Castell
Caer Seion fort.
Penmaenmawr
Conwy NORTH WALES
24.6km/15 miles/6 hours
Ascent 670m/2220ft^6
THE GREAT rocky
promontory of
Penmaenmawr on the
North Wales coast, literally
translated from the Welsh
as the Great Head of Stone,
has long been an inspiration
for artists and poets.
Robert Southey, disciple
of the early 19th Century
Romantic movement and
Poet Laureate, witnessed
the evening light falling on
the 400m rock edifice and
described it thus:
The sun goes down
Far off his light is on the
naked crags
Of Penmanmawr, and
Arvon’s ancient hills;
And the last glory lingers
yet awhile,
Crowning old
3
Continue along NWP
westwards for a further
1.5km, keeping the elevated fort of
Allt Wen on your R, to reach the
head of the Sychnant Pass.
4
Cross minor road and enter
Pensychnant Nature
Reserve, keeping to the NWP
SW for 2.2km, passing Maen
Esgob and Waen Gyrach, until
a ruined settlement and enclosure
is reached.
5
Head NW to a gate in a wall,
then turn SW to continue
along NWP for a further 1.5km,
passing the standing stone of
Maen Crwn, to reach the stone
circles of Cefn Coch.
6
Continue W to the N of
Moelfre to a notable
separating of the paths. Take the
Wales Coast Path to the R (N),
descending past the quarries of
Penmaenmawr to reach the A55.
7
Cross the A55 by a
footbridge and follow the
coast path NE for 6km, taking in
the promenade at Penmaenmawr,
to reach the tunnels at
Penmaenbach.
8
Continue through the
footpath/cycle tunnel
beneath Penmaenbach, then
divert from the road along the
coastal path to the car park at
Conwy Morfa.
9
Head E along the minor
road for 1.3km then turn
sharply S onto Morfa Road to
cross the A55 by a road bridge,
continuing S for 0.5km. Turn L (SE)
onto Bangor Road to re-enter
Conwy and so return to the
Morfa Bach car park.
Gradient profile Metres above sea level
Andrew
Galloway
visits a proud
headland
The Great OutdoorsAugust 2019 97