CONWY WALK & RUN
Paths up and around Conwy Mountain
Mynydd y Dref ('Conwy Mountain') is on Conwy's doorstep. It has an abundance of routes all over and beyond that can be explored to create routes as long or as short as you like. Enjoy the glorious views across to Anglesey, along the coast and down the Conwy valley. Here we give you a guide to the different routes onto Conwy mountain and a selection of my personal favourite routes.
There are three main 'mountains' in this area to explore: Conwy Mountain, Alltwen, and Penmaenbach. The paths on Penmaenbach tend to get very overgrown with spikey gorse/heather in Summer so I'd recommend sticking to Conwy Mountain and Alltwen (both have stunning yet different vistas). I'd avoid Penmaenbach in summer unless you're 'hill bagging' or scouting the Conwy Fell Race route or just fancy doing something more wild.
Routes onto Conwy Mountain and beyond
(routes below numbered on map above)
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The Track: the easiest route up onto the higher ground beyond Conwy Mountain. Simply follow mountain road uphill and continue through the gate up the track. Once further up you have endless options of paths to loop back over the summit, or continue to Allt-wen and Sychnant Pass. Great route up in bad weather as sheltered by wall and trees for large portions.
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The Traverse: Relatively easy with great views down the Conwy Valley. Head up Mountain Road and turn diagonally right up a signposted track (NW Coastal Path) 30m or so after the white houses on the right. Go over the style then follow this track which traverses half way up the mountain. Paths joining the ridge route to the summit and down to the track are available en-route.
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The Ridge: Stunning but steepish (in places) ridge route with views across the bay, over town, and down the valley. Head up Mountain Road and then take the small narrow path through the shrubs on the right after the white houses on the right. Go over the style then follow this path onto the ridgeline. Keep following this uphill along the ridge. Near the top you have a choice of routes to the summit. You can either scramble up the rocks straight ahead (most fun) or traverse to the right of the summit and cut up onto the summit.
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The steep way: Very steep, unpleaseantly overgrown in summer, a good test in Spring and late Autumn. Approach the mountain from Bangor Road and climb over the style on your left before the woods. Head directly up a calf-busting steep climb onto the ridgeline. You can then turn right to join the Ridge route to the summit.
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The old quarry way: Overgrown in summer and wet in winter but fun exploring the old quarries. A bit of a wild route, head down Bangor road and continue straight on where the road turns right. Follow the road down this strange industrial estate bit to the style at the end. Follow this path which slowly works its way up to the old quarry works (careful of drops) and across scree slopes. Work your way up to a large pond with trees. From this point beat your way up to the main tracks beyond Conwy mountain. This route is probably best left to locals and those who know the area well as there's a lot of different unmarked paths and it's easy to go wrong.
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The soggy field: The quickest route to the 'the track' (Route 1) from the YHA. Good way of getting to the track in good weather. Becomes a bog 75% of the year though so good waterproof shoes required outside of Summer. Leave the YHA uphill on Sychnant Pass. Shortly after Rhodfa Sychnant, turn right through the kissing gate. Follow the field edge downhill and through the style and up the narrow passage to join onto 'the track' (Route 1) onto the mountain. You can continue up over the style directly ahead to climb steeply up onto the traverse route Route 2).
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Leisure route: An easy way onto the mountain track, good all year round. Follow the Oakwood Loop via the new Oakwood estate and Oakwood fields, turn right at the road and go straight across Sychnant Pass Road, follow the track down, across the stream and up to join on to 'the track' (Route 1).
Conwy Mountain Walks and Runs
Exploring the North Wales Coastal path
The glorious North Wales Coastal path runs the length of the North Welsh Coast from Chester to Menai Bridge. The section closest to Conwy can be seen highlighted in yellow. This takes in the beautiful beaches of Conwy, Penmaenmawr, Llanfairfechan, Llandudno and more, the seals of Little Orme, and stunning views across to Anglesey, Puffin Island, the Isle of Man (on a clear day) throughout.
Walk as far as you like, have a picnic, cool down in the sea and then head back. Alternatively, why not catch the morning train to Llanfairfechan and walk back? Treat yourself to a well deserved drink and dinner at the Marina as a reward!
Accessing the Coastal path from Conwy
Coastal Path towards Llandudno and Great Orme
Getting onto the Coastal Path Eastbound from the Conwy is very straightforward. Simply head downhill until you reach the seafront/quay. From there, turn right and follow the footpath as it works its way across the bridge and then round to Deganwy and across the sand dunes to LLandudno West Shore beach. From here you can follow it up round the Orme
Coastal Path towards LLanfairfechan
Head downhill, when you get to the seafront turn left and follow the footpath around Bodlondeb until you emerge on the road by the school (Morfa Drive). Turn right and head towards the marina, turn right and immediately left and head past the Mulberry Pub (great place to stop for a drink!) onto the Marina sea front. Follow this round Northwards and then into the boat launching carpark. Head through this and along the footpath that runs along the top of the top of the dunes along the seafront. From here the path is easy to follow.
