Moel-y-Gest from Borth-y-Gest

Llyn Peninsula Walk

Maps

Walk Route Description

Starting from Borth-y-Gest (Pen Llŷn) this energetic walk explores the twin summits of Moel-y-Gest a rocky hill lying northwest of Porthmadog. The hill offers some scrambling which can easily be avoided if desired. Once on the hill the view includes the Llyn Peninsula Coast, the coast south to Harlech and some of the major mountains in Eryri (Snowdonia).

The walk starts from the car park in Borth-y-Gest opposite the shop and café (grid ref. SH565375). After parking walk along Borth Road with the sea on your right. Continue to reach a footpath sign on a lamp post just before a house name "Issalt" on the left-hand side of the road. Turn left between houses and join a path which leads up to a lane (grid ref. SH562380). Turn right along the lane to reach a main road. Turn right and then first left (with adjacent fingerpost). Continue along the road and pass Tyddyn Llwyn Hotel (on your right). Walk through the car park to reach a marker post which indicates the onward path.

The waymarked path starts to climb, quite steeply in places, soon offering a retrospective view to the coast. Ahead lie the slopes of Moel-y-Gest (Pen Llŷn) with a choice of paths. If in doubt keep heading uphill. A steady climb leads to the east top (231 m.) from where a much better view can be enjoyed. Descend west into a col and start the final climb up to the summit of the west top (263 m.) which was once the site of a hillfort. A concrete OS trig column marks the highest spot. The 360-degree panorama is superb with coast, countryside, and mountains all in view.

To start the descent, take a grassy path on the south side of the ridge. The path leads down to pass through a wall (grid ref. SH551388). Reaching a path junction, keep right and descend to another wall. Pass through the wall and continue half-right across a field, pass through to gaps in walls and then turn right along a path. A steady descent leads down to a more distinct track (grid ref. SH553380) which is followed down to the main road. Cross the road to the pavement opposite and turn left. After 250 metres turn right by a fingerpost and follow the path back to Borth-y-Gest. Reaching the seafront turn right to return to the car park.

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