Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts from the car park beside Penmon Priory at the eastern tip of Anglesey, close to the dovecote, built about 1600, and St Seiriol's Well. It follows the road from the priory to Penmon Point, the first kilometre on tarmac, where the Trwyn Du lighthouse stands on its rock off the shore with Ynys Seiriol, Puffin Island, beyond it. The Anglesey Coastal Path then leads back west along the low cliffs above the shore, and paths across the fields bring you back to the priory.
It is 4.3 km with 95 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy.
The road to the point is a toll road for vehicles and is shared with traffic on the way out. The lighthouse stands off the point: the walk looks at it from the shore and does not go out to it. The coast path runs along low cliffs.
OpenStreetMap shows no charge at the priory parking, and Wikipedia says there is free parking about a mile from the lighthouse; the car park at the point is charged in OpenStreetMap. The Pilot House café, in the former pilots' cottages at Penmon Point, is shown in OpenStreetMap; its opening hours are not given.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Saint Seiriol is said to have founded a monastery at Penmon in the early 6th century, and the priory church is still in use
- The dovecote was probably built around 1600 by Sir Richard Bulkeley and held about 1,000 nesting boxes
- Trwyn Du Lighthouse was built between 1835 and 1838, after the steamer Rothsay Castle broke up on Lavan Sands in 1831 with the loss of 130 lives
- In 1922 Trwyn Du became the first Trinity House lighthouse to be automated
Getting there
Start: Penmon Priory car park. 53.30567, -4.05622
Directions to the start
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Llanfairfechan: Booking.com → Expedia → Hotels.com →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line is drawn along OpenStreetMap paths and the figures are worked out from it; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
