Autumn Adventure Day 1 - North Wales Coastal Path Abergele to Llandudno

Now and again it’s good to have an adventure and lay down some fantastic memories. I’ve had a hankering to run through North Wales for a while. Back at the end of August I had a run down the coast from Prestatyn to Abergele which got me to thinking, why not run right through North Wales? So today I’m running the stretch from Abergele to Llandudno. In future instalments over the winter / spring I’ll be running all the way down to Aberdaron and then back up to Porthmadog and finally inland and through Snowdonia.

The Route

Very simple route, we are following cycle route 5 / the Welsh Coast Path along the North Wales Coast. Starting from the Shoppers car park on Water Street, Abergele take the path through the grounds of St. Michael’s Church to Church Street then turn right into Market Street. Go straight on at the roundabout by Tesco and then turn right into Sea Road over the A55 and down to the shore by Abergele train station. Turn left and follow the cycle trail which runs all the way to Rhos-on-sea. 

Continue along the promenade to Penrhyn Bay ahead you will see The Little Orme. At the end of the prom head along Glan-y-Mor Road a short distance then turn right into Beach Drive then right into Penrhyn Beach East follow this to the end then up the steps onto the Orme. Turn right and follow the path until you see a steep path to the left take this and at the top turn left. Where the path splits go right and follow the path up to the trig point at the top of the Little Orme. Go straight on down the other side and through the gate. Follow the path down (there is a short steep section to scramble down) the path brings you out on Colwyn Road at the edge of Llandudno.

Turn right and head down the promenade. At the far end at the roundabout turn left into Church Walks and then right up Ty Gwyn Road which winds up the steep hill to the Great Orme. Follow the road beyond the Half Way Station until the lighthouse is in sight. If you look to your right you will see a path that crosses the train track take this it heads up to the trig point.

Now turn around and back down the hill to the road and turn left and then immediately right on a track that heads across the top of the Orme. At the far side where you have a fantastic view of west shore turn right this takes you down hill you then come back on yourself further down the hill, follow the path until you eventually see the main zig zag path on your right, follow this down the hill. At the bottom turn right on the track which comes out on Marine Drive. Turn left and head down west shore. You can then either stay in Llandudno for the night like I did or catch the rain back to Abergele from Llandudno.