Day 1 Porthmadog to Maentwrog
Day 2 Maentwrog to Harlech
Day 3 Harlech to Tal-y-bont
Day 4 Tal-y-bont to Barmouth
Day 5 Barmouth to Llwyngwril
Day 6 Llwyngwril to Aberdyfi
Day 7 Aberdyfi to Machynlleth
Day 8 Machynlleth to Borth or Ynyslas
The Ceredigion Coast Path/Llwybr Arfordir Ceredigion
Day 9 Borth or Ynyslas to Aberystwyth
Day 10 Aberystwyth to Llanrhystud
Day 11 Llanrhystud to Aberaeron
Day 12 Aberaeron to New Quay
Day 13 New Quay to Llangrannog
Day 14 Llangrannog to Aberporth
Day 15 Aberporth to Cardigan
Day 16 Cardigan to St Dogmaels
Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Facilities
Appendix C Useful contacts
The view up the coast north of Llanrhystud (Day 10)
The long sweep of sands at Traeth Penbryn (Day 14)
INTRODUCTION
By turns rugged and gently contoured, sweeping and intimate, exciting and atmospheric, the coast of Wales down Cardigan Bay, from the end of the Lleyn Peninsula Coastal Path to the start of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, makes for an inspiring walk. This guide covers the splendid and varied section of the Wales Coast Path along the Snowdonia coast, around the Dyfi Estuary and down the Ceredigion coast – a distance of 233km (145 miles).
A breezy day in the dunes of Morfa Harlech (Day 3)
The route follows long sandy beaches, high rugged cliffs and steep-sided cwms; you walk beside saltmarshes, stride over coastal plains, wander through the margins of Snowdonia’s coastal hills and crunch along pebble storm beaches. And there are great views: on clear days, especially from the central parts of Cardigan Bay, you can see the whole sweep of the coast from Bardsey Island to Strumble Head, backed by the mountains of Snowdonia in the north and rolling green hills in the south.
There are beautiful inland routes around the estuaries of Traeth Bach and the Dyfi, many attractive settlements to pass through and much of historic interest. A fascinating geology is laid bare in the different rock strata and landforms, and there is a rich and immensely varied natural history. While here and there the walk passes stark caravan sites, your abiding memories will be of a superb coast.
The Wales Coast Path/Llwybr Arfordir Cymru
On 5 May 2012 the Wales Coast Path was officially opened: a full 1400km (870 miles), from the outskirts of Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south, making it the first long-distance trail in the world to follow an entire national coastline. While the path incorporates existing coastal routes (including the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, the Lleyn Peninsula Coastal Path, the Anglesey Coastal Path and the more recent Ceredigion Coast Path), many new sections were needed. For the whole Wales Coast Path to have been created in such a remarkably short timescale is a magnificent achievement. Visit www.walescoastpath.gov.uk for more information.
Cnicht and the Moelwyns, as seen from the Cob at Porthmadog (Day 1)
The Llŷn to Pembrokeshire: the route in summary
The Snowdonia Coast Path: Porthmadog to Aberdyfi
This is not an official title but a name of convenience; since most of the route is within Snowdonia National Park it seems appropriate. The truly coastal sections tend to be along huge sandy beaches, while the remainder is through nearby hill country or across the coastal plains. Until you get to Harlech you would be forgiven for thinking you were not on a coast path, as the route takes you well inland via Maentwrog (although the new road and cycleway between Penrhyndeudraeth and Llandecwyn, replacing the unsuitable toll road, could be used as a shortcut). However, the Maentwrog loop is a fine wooded section, with great views of a number of the Snowdonia peaks. The path then – following the coastal plain of Ardudwy, via saltmarshes and fields to Harlech – reaches the sea proper. Alternating between sandy beach and inland routes, it arrives at Tal-y-bont. Rather than taking the official main road route to Barmouth, consider either an enjoyable beach walk (low tide only) or a fine hill alternative on part of the Ardudwy Way. South of the Mawddach Estuary the path lies back from the sea through hill country, a splendid section. It ends along the vast beach from Tywyn to Aberdyfi.
The Dyfi Estuary: Aberdyfi to Borth
A long inland loop through the countryside on either side of the Dyfi Estuary via Machynlleth (the lowest road crossing point) takes the coast path through beautiful hill country, with lovely views, returning to the coast at Borth.
The Dyfi, seen from the ridge road (Day 7)
The Ceredigion Coast Path: Ynyslas to Cardigan
Promoted by Ceredigion County Council, particularly in association with the Ramblers and Aberystwyth Conservation Volunteers (who assisted with much of the physical improvement work), the Ceredigion Coast Path (www.ceredigioncoastpath.org.uk) was funded under the EU’s Objective 1 programme for West Wales and the Valleys and was officially opened on 3 July 2008 by Jane Davidson AM, the Welsh Assembly Government Environment, Sustainability and Housing Minister.
The path starts at the flat lands at Ynyslas and joins the Wales Coast Path at Borth. Over a distance of just short of 100km (60 miles), it links Ynyslas with Cardigan (Aberteifi) on the Teifi Estuary, following some of Wales’ finest and most varied coast. It is quite different in character from the Snowdonia section: for the first time on the route there are extensive cliffs and the walking becomes much more truly coastal. The path runs magnificently over the cliffs to Aberystwyth and Llanrhystud, then an easy section along a narrow coastal plain
