Mountain and Coast Adventure

What better than a coastal walk or a mountain run/hike? One that takes in both! This is a stunning loop that takes you across the fields out of Conwy before climbing up towards Maen Escob with glorious views across to Tal Y Fan, Foel Lus and across to Anglesey. We then drop down to the impressively rugged Sychnant pass descending the gorge down to Dwygylchi. From this point we follow the coastal path to Conwy beach and along the dunes to the marina (stop for a deserved drink/meal at the Mulberry) and back up to the YHA.

Directions:

1. Head up Sychnant pass from the YHA. Turn left onto the new Oakwood Estate (Lon Caer Seion) and follow the road uphill to the right alongside the fields. Look for the young bulls on your right (time of year dependent).

2. At the top of the estate go through the kissing gate onto the fields above Oakwood. Follow the path across the fields to the gate/road at the far side. Here you may see sheep.

3. Turn right onto the road and then immediately left up past the grand Tudor houses. Off to the right across the fields you may see the pig sties and pigs. As you continue up the road past the old golf course clubhouse you may encounter the Shetland pony in their technicolour coat and his big horse friend.

4. Opposite the house on the right, go through the kissing gate to the left and head across the fields bending to the right towards Llechwedd. Lambs and sheep abound here. 

5. Go through the kissing gate, on your right here there are often alpacas and donkeys. Continue across the filed and over the style. Go straight ahead here across the track heading towards the corner of the field where a kissing gate and narrow passage awaits. Go down this passage to the road.

6. Turn left and after about 50m turn right up the hairpin bends. Follow this up, take the right turn when it forks, and then keep following it uphill. At the top of this tough two-stage climb turn left then almost immediately branch left towards a little mountain llyn. Continue past the llyn onto a track and down to a gate. Go through the gate and follow the track. This will drop you down, turn left at the very bottom to arrive at Sychnant Pass.

7. Cross the road onto Sychnant Pass and head down the little path down the gorge. When this turns to road, follow the road down into Dwygyfylchi. When you reach a junction, bear left. Then look out for a signed passageway leading you down and up some steps over the trainline/A55 onto the coastal cycle path. Turn right to head towards 'Giants thumb' and Conwy.

8. Follow the cycle path round giants thumb towards Conwy. If the tide is out as you approach Conwy beach car park you can head onto the beach and follow this all the way round to the Marina. If the tide is in, continue to the car park and then head directly ahead on the footpath which takes you along the dunes. Follow this until you get to the marina. The pub here (Mulberry) is a lovely place to stop. From the marina work your way back towards town over the A55 bridge and the past the school. Cross the road ahead and go over the trainline bridge to mountain road, turn left and then right up Cadnant Park road to the youth hostel. 

Shorter version:

Head up Conwy Mountain track to Sychnant Pass to cut off 1 mile and 70m of climbing.

NB. Please do not attempt to feed the animals! Some of the animals have special dietary requirements, recently two Shetland ponies died as a result of people thinking they were being kind feeding them.