Top 10 Llyn Peninsula walks

When it comes to unspoilt walking areas in the UK, we are blessed with countless options. The Llŷn Peninsula is regularly named in and amongst Britain’s most remote locations, so why not pack your walking boots and plan your route to this incredible coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty?

It’s not just its mesmerising coastline, jutting out into the Irish Sea, that it has going for it though. Discover craggy landscapes that morph into mountains, before sloping down towards rolling countryside where castles and hillforts can be explored. With plenty of places to eat on the Llŷn Peninsula, too, you can be certain your walk will be well-fuelled.

Brush up on your Welsh language (incredibly, three-quarters of residents speak the native tongue) and stay in one of our cottages on your next Llŷn Peninsula walking holiday.

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Yr Eifl, Mynydd Gwaith and Tre’r Ceiri

Whilst they may not reach the grand heights of the mighty Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa, Yr Eifl, Mynydd Gwaith and Tre’r Ceiri form the highest mountain range on the headland and make for some of the best walks on the Llŷn Peninsula.

They don’t quite make it past the 600-metre mark with Yr Eifl, the tallest, scaping the sky at 564m. However, their location, so close to the coastline, heightens the experience and gives the walk a loftier feel.

There is plenty of steep ground on these mini mountains but the hillfort on Tre’r Ceiri makes up for that, and the panoramas from Mynydd Gwaith will make you forget any burning in your quads.

Nant Gwrtheyrn

This circular walk on the Llŷn Peninsula just so happens to be one of the best dog walks on the Llŷn Peninsula too, so grab your harness, pack some doggy treats and set out together on four legs and two.

Starting in the car park, you’ll head along a quiet road until Porth y Nant Beach comes into view. Your pup will no doubt smell the salty air before you see the shoreline, and their tail-wagging will propel you along the path until you reach the beach.

This rocky cove is perfect for four-pawed adventures; so much so that you may have trouble convincing your furry friend to follow you on the grassy path heading upwards. This will take you through some pleasant trees, across some farmland and then along another grassy path before leading you back to the car park.

Porthdinllaen

Walking on the Llŷn Peninsula is an attractive proposition on its own, but when you throw in one of the best-situated pubs on the headland, it becomes one of the best things to do in the area, full stop. The marine walk in Porthdinllaen has just that in the form of the Ty Coch Inn which is right on the beach.

Treat yourself to a pint of Brains or a North Wales craft beer either before or after your walk. This really is one of the most scenic parts of the peninsula so be aware that the pub will get quite full during the busier times of the year.

That shouldn’t put you off though as this coastal walk will reward you with stunning views all around, in an area that’s become a haven for wildlife. Hug the shoreline and take in the views across the bay towards Pistyll and Trefor, before heading further inland to follow the track over the golf course back to your starting point. This, undoubtedly, is one of the best coastal walks on the Llŷn Peninsula.

Porth Oer/Porthor (Whistling Sands)

As with many of these walks, this is another one that’s perfect for those who love walking the Llŷn Peninsula coastal path. As it starts in the nature reserve car park in Porthor, this is also one of the best National Trust walks on the Llŷn Peninsula.

This fabulous circular walk gives you the opportunity to witness the phenomenon of Whistling Sands, a beach with sand that, when crunched underfoot, gives off a squeaky sound akin to whistling. However, the majority of this walk will steer you away from the beach towards the coastal path above the rocky cliffs.

Keep your eyes peeled for seals and porpoises as you pass the islands of Dinas Bach and Dinas Fawr. Follow the gently sloping waymarked path that leads you inland and see if you can spot any jasper, the distinctive red rock once quarried at Carreg. Follow the path back to the car park.

Aberdaron

The Llŷn Peninsula is one of the top places to stay in North Wales if you’re looking for immaculate beach walks along the Wales Coast Path. There are a number of routes available to you if you’re calling Aberdaron your base. Known as the Land’s End of Wales, from here, you can reach Porth Oer, the bird-watching area of Mynydd Mawr (not to be confused with Mynydd Mawr Woodland Park in Carmarthenshire) and even the tiny hamlet of Uwchmynydd further along Aberdaron Bay.

However, we’ve chosen to go circular rather than linear with a walk that showcases a lot of the peninsula’s best attributes. You can follow the coastal path south and stop by the coves of Porth Meudwy, Porth y Pistyll and Pen y Cil to catch views of Bardsey Island (from Porth Meudwy, you can even take boat trips to see the island up close).

After this, swing around and tackle the near-200-metre summit of Mynydd Anelog. The panoramic views are certainly worth the ascent. After this, move east and enter the valley of Afon Daron before heading back to the car.

Rhiw Circular Walk

Located north of Porth Ysgo (which is a small, secluded cove with a waterfall – a spot worthy of your time), the Rhiw Circular Walk is an unchallenging stroll on the south-easterly side of Mynydd Rhiw.

This mountain towers over the terrain and, of course, you could test yourself and scale the 300 metres to the summit but the views of Porth Neigwl (also known as Hell’s Mouth) are stunning enough from the hillside.

Look one way and you have an aerial view of the gently shelving beach of Porth Neigwl and possibly Bardsey Island if you crane your neck a little further. Look the other way and you’ll be able to glimpse the distant mountains of Snowdonia on a clear day. This walk takes you through pleasant fields and even the woods of Plas yn Rhiw, an old manor house now owned by the National Trust.

Foryd Bay from Dinas Dinlle

Moving a little further north than some of the other walks we’ve mentioned so far, this circular Gwynedd coastal walk starts in Dinas Dinlle and takes in historical structures, mountain views, sandy paths and an island or two.

Start in a car park that’s adjacent to an Iron Age fort, which offers a fine view, before moving down to Dinas Dinlle Beach to walk along the sands when the tide is out. As you stroll, look north to catch a glimpse of imposing Anglesey and the smaller Ynys Llanddwyn as it extends into the Irish Sea. Follow the Wales Coast Path and eventually, you’ll come to Foryd Bay Nature Reserve which has a wealth of wildlife on land and in the skies.

From here, you have a beautiful view of Snowdonia. Follow Afon Carrog back, keeping the river on your left until you reach a caravan park. You’ll then be a short distance from the car park you departed from.

Trwyn-y-tal from Trefor

The unassuming village of Trefor is hidden away from the main road, making this a Llŷn Peninsula walk full of peace and quiet. The area around the beach and quay is a historical site linked to fishing and granite quarrying and from here, you have sight of Gyrn Goch and up along Yr Eifl.

Walk along the coastal path until you see the signs for Morfa, a National Trust property, and then ascend to the top of a grassy hill. From here on, you’ll be on the cliff edge so watch your step.

The views from this section rival those from further south on the peninsula as you walk initially past Ynys Bach and onto Ynys Fawr before arriving at Trefor Sea Stacks, which is the perfect opportunity for a photo if you haven’t yet taken one. Retrace your steps for more of the same or head inland along farm tracks and tarmacked roads and see if you can find the elusive pub, Tafarn y Twr, for a well-earned drink.

Gyrn Goch and Gyrn Ddu

A walk for those who are patient or who have plenty of time on their hands, this Llŷn Peninsula hike will take you along bracken-infested heathland, steep hills and bouldery terrain. We say you need to be patient, as the paths are not always well marked and are often obscured by the aforementioned bracken.

Notwithstanding this, you shouldn’t be discouraged, as the lowly coastal hills of Gyrn Goch and Gyrn Ddu offer promise by way of their elevated outlooks.

At just over 500 metres, neither of these summits should be too demanding on your calves and if you’re lucky, you might spot some bilberries to munch on to bring those energy levels back up. The views are wide enough to encompass Anglesey, Ynys Enlli and the Rhinogydd.

Y Lon Goed

Meaning ‘tree lane’ in Welsh, Y Lon Goed is an inland walk and the last one on our list. Originally built to transport lime to inland farms, the lane is tarmacked and almost entirely free of traffic – bikes aren’t even allowed, so you can saunter along, only moving aside for the occasional runner.

Parking near the start of Y Lon Goed can be tricky, so it’s a good idea to choose somewhere not too far away to park the car, such as Bryncir to the north or the car parks closer to the south coast (or our cottage suggestion below which is less than 1 mile from Y Lon Goed).

Oak and beech trees line this picturesque walk and getting lost shouldn’t be an issue – just remember, if there are no trees, you’re on the wrong lane. If you do start in the north and head south, you’ll reach the hamlet of Afon Wen, where you can either turn around or continue your walk and join the Llŷn Coastal Path.

Map of the Llŷn Peninsula’s top walks

Choose your self-catering cottage on the Llŷn Peninsula

After all these breathtaking views, you’ll need a cosy bolthole you can retreat to – one with comfortable sofas, inviting bedrooms and fully equipped kitchens for creating hearty breakfasts prior to another day out galivanting. Luckily, we have this and more in our fantastic collection of self-catering holiday homes on the Llŷn Peninsula.

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