Penmaenmawr & the Druid's Circle - Saturday 14 September 2024
Route
Penmaenmawr - Graiglwyd - Stone Circle - Cefn Coch - Moelfre - Cefn Coch - Ffridd Wanc - Bryn Derwydd - Mountain Lane - Graig-lwyd Hall - Penmaenmawr
Parking
Fernbrook Road Car Park in Penmaenmawr (free for 3 hours then charges after that). The Grid Reference is SH 71939 76253 and the nearest postcode is LL34 6DJ.
Mileage
5.25 miles
Terrain
Mainly open moorland paths with some road walking on quiet lanes.
Weather
Overcast to begin with turning to sunshine & light breezes.
Time Taken
3hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
1627ft (496m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Sharon O'Malley
Penmaenmawr - Graiglwyd - Stone Circle - Cefn Coch - Moelfre - Cefn Coch - Ffridd Wanc - Bryn Derwydd - Mountain Lane - Graig-lwyd Hall - Penmaenmawr
Parking
Fernbrook Road Car Park in Penmaenmawr (free for 3 hours then charges after that). The Grid Reference is SH 71939 76253 and the nearest postcode is LL34 6DJ.
Mileage
5.25 miles
Terrain
Mainly open moorland paths with some road walking on quiet lanes.
Weather
Overcast to begin with turning to sunshine & light breezes.
Time Taken
3hrs 40mins
Total Ascent
1627ft (496m)
Map
OL17 - Snowdon & Conwy Valley
Walkers
Dave, Angie & Sharon O'Malley
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Route Map
Fernbrook Road Car Park in Penmaenmawr - the start of today's walk
Penmaenmawr is hemmed in by the steep headlands either side of the village. It was once difficult to reach, involving a hazardous journey over the headlands. In the 19th Century, the Victorians quarried away part of the headland and tunnelled both a railway and road through between nearby Conwy & Bangor. Having a fine sandy beach, Penmaenmawr subsequently became a popular seaside resort however its heyday ended with changing tastes and the growth of foreign travel.
Penmaenmawr is hemmed in by the steep headlands either side of the village. It was once difficult to reach, involving a hazardous journey over the headlands. In the 19th Century, the Victorians quarried away part of the headland and tunnelled both a railway and road through between nearby Conwy & Bangor. Having a fine sandy beach, Penmaenmawr subsequently became a popular seaside resort however its heyday ended with changing tastes and the growth of foreign travel.
From the Car Park the walk heads through housing to reach a footpath along an enclosed hedge lined track.
After 350 yards the track reaches the road at the entrance to a Caravan Park where Angie & Sharon are. We turned immediately right to head along the road for 200 yards where a track to the left leads to Graiglwyd Farm.
The track to Graiglwyd Farm
Looking across to Anglesey from the farm track
The route passes to the left of the farm buildings to reach a wall corner where a path leads uphill
It's a lovely day therefore the washing is out as we look back over Conwy Bay to Llandudno & Great Orme
Continuing steeply uphill now as we pass what is more than likely an old kiln
Penmaenmawr below with the hill of Penmaen-bach centre right.
To gain the ridge, the route heads along a steep grassy path
Thankfully there was a small concrete bridge over this boggy section (I am stood on it)
At the top of the ridge the route joins the North Wales Coast Path - the Druid's Circle is reached by turning left
A couple of Druids were in residence at the Stone Circle
The Druid's Circle (or in Welsh Meini Hirion) is much older than the Druids and probably dates back to the Bronze Age
Just when you have seen one Stone Circle another one comes along - this one is quite near the Druid's Circle
As it was a lovely day we decided to do a quick out and back over to Moelfre which is right of centre
Penmaenmawr from near Moelfre
Looking to the Carneddau from the summit of Moelfre
Anglesey and the Menai Strait from Moelfre
A distant Moel Eilio from Moelfre
Looking back to the Stone Circles from Moelfre
A distant Puffin Island on Anglesey
The route continues along a track to reach a fingerpost where we would be turning to the right - ahead is the hill of Craig Hafodwen
A short distance from the fingerpost the route reaches a metal gate where we turned left to handrail the wall. As can be seen, the Druids were following me and try as I might I could not shake them off.
Heading through fields towards the farm buildings at Bryn Derwydd
Passing through a delightful tunnel of trees at Bryn Derwydd
Battered and bruised, this sign could do with a bit of tlc
The Huw Tom Walk Stone. We had just come from Meini Hirion and would be heading towards Moel (or Foel) Lus. The other destinations are the small village of Capelulo (and its pub), Llangelynin Old Church and the Huw Tom Trail.
The Huw Tom Trail is a linear Quarryman's walk from the Graiglwyd Quarry at Penmaenmawr to the village of Rowen and covers a distance of 6 miles (9.6km).
The Huw Tom Trail is a linear Quarryman's walk from the Graiglwyd Quarry at Penmaenmawr to the village of Rowen and covers a distance of 6 miles (9.6km).
Penmaenmawr from the foot of Foel Lus
A little further along the track below Foel Lus and the Graiglwyd Quarry comes into view
The route passes to the left of two large stone pillars which were built to mark the start of the Jubilee Path around Foel Lus. The path was opened in 1888 to celebrate the 1887 Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
This graffiti looked a bit fishy to me
The quiet lane back to Penmaenmawr near Graig-lwyd Hall. Arriving back in Penmaenmawr, we availed ourselves of a debrief at the town museum - and very nice it was too.