Walk the Wales Coast Path from Llandudno to Llanfairfechan
By Dave Roberts
Walk the Wales Coast Path from Llandudno to Llanfairfechan
Further Details
Route Summary:
This section takes you across the estuary of the Afon Conwy and through the walled town of Conwy.
Start and Finish: Llandudno to Llanfairfechan
Distance: 19.8 km
Ascent: 246 m
Time: 5 hours or so
Timings are approximate and depend on the individual. Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Facilities:
Plenty on route – Conwy has shops and pubs, as well as shops and cafes in Penmaenmawr and Llanfairfechan, with a pub at the walk’s end.
Public Transport:
Plenty of buses between Llandudno and the end, but local service needed to reach walk start. The Train is also an option, but usually requires changing at Llandudno Junction
Traveline for UK Public Transport
Hazards:
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Keeping Safe on the Wales Coast Path, Navigation and the Gear and Equipment you’ll need.
Walk the Wales Coast Path from Llandudno to Llanfairfechan Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download
Download file for GPS
Walk the Wales Coast Path from Llandudno to Llanfairfechan
This section of the Wales Coast Path from Llandudno to Llanfairfechan can hardly be called wild, but at least has plenty of seaside interest to keep you going. With the mediaeval walled town of Conwy and a few good pubs en route, this is one leg that you should take your time over. It may well be worth timing it in with something like the Conwy Food Festival, or some other event.
This section joins from the Great Orme Route from Llandudno.
1 The route starts from Llandudno Pen Morfa (West Shore) and while the beach and views here are pleasant, we’d advise against walking this section in the peak season at a weekend, on a sunny day like we did! Follow the seafront, with no signage visible, until there’s a path through the dunes after around 1km. This path continues onward until Deganwy Quays, and is more sand than path. You also cross within a few 100m of Morfa Conwy across the estuary, which is still a good couple of hours walking away.
2 At Deganwy Quays, cross the road and continue on the tarmac path, with the going easy, crossing eventually towards Conwy and offering views across the estuary.
3 Cross the quay at Conwy, which has plenty of facilities, but on a busy day like this we gave up on getting served at the Liverpool Arms (once there’s a ‘queue’ at a bar, you know it’s time to get out). Continue to the far end, through the town walls and take the first right to join a good wide path. This Is easy to follow until you reach a school and an urban road.
4 At the road, turn right – which also has red Wales Coast Path markers, denoting the upland route, but turn right and follow the road which crosses the busy A55. Pass the Mulberry pub towards the marina (the second pub we tried, and didn’t bother waiting to get served!) and cross along the front of the marina houses towards Morfa Conwy.
5 Tip toeing past sunbathing tourists in the dunes, who are making the most of the estuary views, follow the path past the golf course. It’s narrow in places and a bit overgrown if you’re in shorts with a few brambles across the path here and there. You can also drop to the beach if the tide’s out for a better walk.
6 After 1km, the path passes through a car park (there may be an ice cream van here if you’re in luck!) and continues along a good track to climb to join the A55. After crossing the railway on a new footbridge, you’re right on the busiest road in North Wales. Yet this is still the most coastal section, as well as being the only section where we saw nobody. Clearly people tend to avoid this part. The tunnels are fascinating to see close up after passing through them countless times over the years, as well as the sheer height of Penmaen-bach high above. It’s the original track that you follow around the headland, which was superseded by the tunnels in 1932.
7 The next section is still along the A55, and is a more tedious section that the main road dominates. You can cross onto the beach if the tide is out, a much more coastal option! Failing that, just put your head down and get the next 3.5km out of the way.
There’s a cafe and toilets at the Penmaenmawr seafront, but the village is a good uphill detour and is way-marked under the A55 if you want to get some supplies or to catch a bus back to the start of the route.
8 Continue to the prom, with the path easy to follow, until the path crosses underneath the A55 and zig-zags gently to gain some height. Follow the NCN Cycling signposts if in any doubt. You’ll need to cross the road at the top, before the path disappears behind some road maintenance buildings to gain the footbridge over the A55.
9 The A55 is soon left behind, and the old coach road makes a pleasant walk around the Pen y Clip headland with views back towards the Great Orme and onward to Ynys Mon (Anglesey).
10 The coach road brings you down into the outskirts of Llanfairfechan, and you need to continue onwards along the street for 300m before the road heads right downhill and then turn left to bring you into the village of Llanfairfechan.
You can catch a bus from here, or head on right towards the prom and the railway station. Shops can be found by following the road left at the walk’s end, with a Co-op and a spar not far up the road.
There’s also the Village Inn to quench your thirst, and there’s a good cafe on the prom – worth a detour.
Definitely lots to see on this under-rated section of the path. Even a few good pubs if you get thirsty.