Walking BritainLlyn Peninsula Walk
Porth y Nant & Nant Gwrtheryn Circular
Maps 
| Ordnance Survey Explorer 253 | Sheet Map | 1:25k | BUY |
| Anquet OS Explorer 253 | Digital Map | 1:25k | BUY |
Walk Route Description
Click image to see photo description.
This walk on the northern coast of the Llŷn Peninsula offers excellent views and passes through an area rich in industrial heritage. The route initially crosses pleasant farmland before joining the Wales Coast Path for a descent to the sea. The walk then visits the secluded valley of Nant Gwrtheryn before a steep climb back to the start.
The start is the car park (grid ref. SH353440) reached by turning north in the village of Llithfaen on the B4417 Trefor to Nefyn road. After parking turn right back to Llithfaen and after a few metres turn right on the signed bridleway. Cross a grassy area under power cables to entre fields by a gate. Keep the field boundary on your right and continue to a gate. Keep straight ahead to reach a small gate in the wall on your right. Go through the gate and head across the middle of the filed with two farms below on your left. Go through a gap in a wall and descend to a gate in the filed corner. Head through the gate to follow an earth bank and turn right through a small gate in the wall. Turn left beside the wall to the corner and then turn right (ignore stile/gate ahead). Follow the path beside the wall down to a track (grid ref. SH343432).
Turn right along the track and immediately fork left. Pass Cilia-uchaf on your right and another house on your left. Take the next footpath on the right through a metal kissing gate. You have now joined the Wales Coast Path which runs parallel to a wall on your left with views ahead along the coast. Continue through a gate and follow the path ahead. The path veers slightly left to a wall corner from where the path follows a fence on your right. Reaching a way marker post below a house, bear left downhill across the bracken covered hillside. The quarry wharf at Porth Howel can be seen down to your left.
A steady descent, with a few short stretches of ascent, provides a grandstand view the beach at Porth Y Nant. Nearing the sea, you pass the remains of the old incline that brought Granite down to ships. Today it is hard to imagine that this was once a busy area of quarrying. The path improves and you start to climb crossing several waste tips as you head uphill. You briefly join a concrete track before the path bears right up some steps to a gate. Pass through the grounds of Caffi Meinir (refreshments in season), pass the former quarrymens' cottages on the left and continue ahead to join the road.
The road climbs steeply up the valley of Nant Gwrtheryn with two hairpin bends to gain height. After the first hairpin you have a fine view to the old workings of Yr Eifl Quarry across the valley on your right. Reaching the second hairpin bend you have a fine view down to the sea from a viewpoint just off the right-hand side of the road. From here you have another 60 metres of ascent to reach the start in about half a kilometre!
Other walks nearby
| Walk 3044 | The Rivals - Yr Eifl | moderate | 4.5 miles |
| Walk 3378 | Gyrn Goch, Gyrn Ddu & Bwlch Mawr | mod/hard | 6.5 miles |
| Walk 3376 | Porth Dinllaen from Morfa Nefyn | easy | 4.5 miles |
| Walk 1762 | Pwllheli, Llanbedrog & Abersoch | easy/mod | 9.0 miles |
| Walk 3381 | Carn Fadryn Hillfort from Garnfadryn | easy | 1.5 miles |
Recommended Books & eBooks
Snowdonia: 30 Low-level and easy walks - North
Guidebook describing 30 walks in Snowdonia, Wales. Routes are mostly low level and on clear paths and showcase the region's beautiful scenery and rich history and culture. Part of a 2-volume set, this northern volume includes the Snowdon area, the Ogwen and Conwy Valleys, Betws-y-Coed, Beddgelert, Ffestiniog and the coast.
More information
The Wales Coast Path
A single guidebook to walking the whole Wales Coast Path - 1400km (870 miles) the length of Wales from Chester to Chepstow, including Anglesey, described in 57 stages. The route passes through the Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire National Parks and many AONBs and can be linked with the Offa's Dyke Path for a complete circuit of Wales.
More information
The National Trails
This inspirational guidebook looks at each of the UK's 19 National Trails, with information that allows ease of comparison and contrast, inspiring you to find out more and to take up a long-distance challenge. Some Trails are short and easy, others much longer, many have strong themes - they may follow a coastline, or traverse ranges of hills.
More information
Further Information
Walk Location Map
Llyn Peninsula Walking
In 1956, a large part of the Llŷn Peninsula was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. It is one of only five such areas in Wales. The logo for the AONB shows a Chough as this bird favours the peninsula's rocky coastline where there are around 60 nesting pairs. The Llŷn Peninsula AONB covers 155 square kilometres with approximately 70% of the area's population speaking Welsh. More Information
Walk grading - Learn how each walk is assessed and select a walk to suit your ability and experience by going to Walk Grading Details.
Accommodation Nearby
Self Catering & Cottage Holidays - Properties throughout the UK & Europe
Follow Walking Britain for the latest news. 
Mountain Weather
Stay safe on the mountains with detailed weather forecasts - for iOS devices or for Android devices.