Porth Wen Brickworks from Camaes.

Start. Camaes.

Route. Camaes - Llanbadrig - Porth Wen Brickworks - Torllwyn - Hell's Mouth - Dinas Gynfor - Porth Llanlleiana Porcelain Works - Coronation Tower - Llanbadrig Church - Porth Padrig - Trwyn y Parc - Camaes.

Notes. This exhilarating coastal walk features some of Anglesey’s best sections of high jagged sea cliffs, plus a slice or two of history. The outward route passes through some attractive countryside following narrow quiet country lanes before cutting back along an undulating path above crashing waves, with the wind in our faces, salt on the breeze and some steep ups and downs to keep the lungs and legs pumping this was an exciting outing.

We started out from the beach car park at Camaes, slowly walking east along the sea front before narrow tarmac lanes guided us through pleasant countryside, after around two miles of tarmac walking two paths greeted us, one passed through a kissing gate the other between red brick gate stoops, it was the latter we followed. After a short walk through fields and scrub we found ourselves descending a steep path to an industrial relic, Porth Wen Brickworks.

The site was substantial comprising of quarries, inclined tramway, crushing house and molding sheds, drying sheds and kilns, rusting machinery including boilers, some fine chimneys and a quay. The works opened in the mid 19th century producing fire bricks from quartzite (silica) to support the growing Victorian steel industry, it sadly closed sometime between 1924-49.

After a good look round we reluctantly re-traced our steps up the steep path, visited the summit of Torllwyn with it’s radio transmitter before continuing west over cliff top paths. I’d be lying if I said this was an easy walk, the steep ups and downs sapped the strength, but every time we stopped to rest the scenery just blew us away.

Over precipitous ground we walked, a steep descend deposited us in Hells Mouth, a small cove, the ascent that followed was also hell. We traversed Dinas Gynfor with it’s Iron Age Hillfort, another steep descend followed and we found ourselves at the ruins of Porth Llanlleiana Porcelain Works. Originally the site of a former convent it opened in the 19th century producing porcelain from deposits of clay found on Dinas Gynfor, the works closed in 1920 after a devastating fire.

More ups and downs followed before reaching Llanbadrig Church, from the church the going got easier, a short stretch of road walking lead to another path that in turn guided us through fields, above Porth Padrig followed by Camaes Bay, a final short sharp descent deposited us on the sea front, leaving us with a short stroll back to the car.

view route map.

home.

Cameas Harbour seen over Traeth Mawr (The Big Beach).

The Time and Tide Bell a public artwork, part of a project to celebrate the importance of the sea to the history and present of the United Kingdom.

Views over Camaes Bay.

Porth Wen seen from the coastal path above the Brickworks.

Porth Wen Brickworks boiler plant, a hundred years of salt air is taking its toll

To the left the crushing house, straight ahead a two story storage building for finished bricks and to the right one of the kilns. This site is a scheduled monument which is supposed to protect it against unauthorised change, I've avoided all the abandoned camping equipment, cans, bottles, other rubbish but worst of all the graffiti.

From the summit of Torllwyn views to Trwynbychan over Porth Wen.

Porth Wen including the Shoreline Brickworks.

Looking west along the coast from Torllwyn, taking in Dinas Gynfor with it's Iron Age Hill Fort and the tiny island of Middle Mouse.

The brickworks were supplied from two quarries to the north-west of the works, a tram road from one of the quarries lead to a winding house and incline plane.

Hell's Mouth with the steep slopes and cliffs of Dinas Gynfor plunging into the sea.

Ascending Dinas Gynfor looking back over Hell's Mouth.

Another steep descent, on the edge of Porth Llanlleiana Beach the sad remains of the Porth Llanlleiana Porcelain Works.

Llanlleiana Porcelain Works opened in the 19th century on the site of a former convent, leading up to the first world war the site was known as Llanlleiana Camp and was used by Boy Scouts, the works closed in 1920 after being gutted by fire.

Porth Padrig a secluded cove, the large crescent shaped bay is backed by cliffs but it is the large white quartzite sea stack mid-beach that draws the eye.
The “White Lady” is named after after Ladi Wen, a ghost from Celtic mythology.

Lime Kiln above the cliffs at Porth Padrig.

Camaes as seen across Traeth Mawr (The Big Beach).

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