Abersoch to Porth Ceiriad.

Start. Abersoch.

Route. Abersoch (Beach Car Park) - Machroes Beach - Machroes - Old Lifeboat House - Pistyll Cim (waterfall) - Trwyn yr Wylfa - Porth Ceiriad - Pant Farm - Penrhyn - Bwlchtocyn - Abersoch Golf Course - Abersoch (Beach Car Park).

Notes. This stunning walk starts on the edge of Abersoch, a former fishing port sitting at the mouth of the Afon Soch River, now a picturesque seaside resort with a large sheltered sandy beach, a magnet for sun worshippers and water sport enthusiasts. Cliff top walking guided us above dizzy drops into stunning views to Porth Ceiriad, a pretty sandy cove situated on a remote stretch of coast. Despite being one of the most alluring beaches in the area few seem to find it.

We parked on the Abersoch Beach car park as near as dammit on the edge of town, we had a choice to make, follow the beach or the golf road, it had to be the beach. South we walked along the edge of lapping wavelets, the sound was bewitching, the sand compact, firm enough to make walking easy. After crossing a number of groins we arrived at Machroes, a tiny village, a scattering of houses that owe their existence to the lead mining industry. In the 18th century Cornish miners arrived to build engine houses and use their skills to extract lead from deep underground, a number of cottages nearby are still called Cornish Row.

Our route now followed the coast, a rough track under foot, on reaching the entrance to the Old Lifeboat House we turned uphill. The short climb that followed deposited us at Nyth y Mor cottage near which a kissing gate allowed access to a fenced path ascending to the cliff top. Keep your eyes open, in the trees to the left are the remains of one of the aforementioned engine houses. The path then passed some more ruins before rising to the right gifting us with stunning views over Tremadot Bay and St Tudwal’s Islands, one containing a lighthouse built in 1877, the other home to the remains of a 12th century priory.

After a steep descent to a wide footbridge where a stream plunges into the sea as Pistyll Cim we climbed to the headland to be gifted with yet more stunning views, the vast expanse of Cardigan Bay over Porth Ceiriad and the Hynydd Cilan headland. Our route could now be traced descending slowly to a gate at the east end of the beach, with storm clouds bubbling up inland and thunder rumbling in the distance we ignored the beach for today.

Directly opposite the gate accessing the beach a wide path ascends through a grass and bracken covered rake, this we climbed to access Pant Farm and a small car park, we let the narrow access lane guide us back. Between colourful hedgerows alive with insects we walked, on reaching a crossroads we turned left to wander into Bwlchtocyn, opposite the village bus stop a narrow lane descends next to a chapel, this we followed it deposited us on the Abersoch Golf Course, we then let the golf road guide us between the fairways, passed the club house then back to the car park.

view route map.

home.

It's humid, hazy and that's St Tudwal's Island East, home to a the remains of a 12century priory.

Wandering along the tide line of the whispering sea, looking back to Abersoch and the cliffs of Mynydd Tir-y-cwmwd.

Machroes Beach.

A little height gained and the views got clearer, St Tudwal's Island East.

The haze of earlier has lifted, there's a storm brewing over the mountains of Wales and that's a stunning view across Tremadoc Bay to the granite cliffs of Mynydd Tir-y-cwmwd.

The light was terrible today forcing me to take photos close in, here we have St Tudwal's Islands, East and West.

The great sweep of Tremadoc Bay, squint you can just make out Pwllheli.

Sea caves passed en route to the headland of Trwyn yr Wylfa..

Dominating many of the views today, St Tudwal's Islands.

Pistyll Cim, the waterfall was dry today due to the lack of the wet stuff, but there's a shot of some more sea caves.

Storm clouds over Snowdonia.

Our first view of Porth Ceiriad.

Porth Ceiriad backed by the cliffs of Mynydd Cilan, for some strange reason that was the last photo of the day.

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