Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), drawn by Global Adventurer.
The walk
The walk starts from the car park by the lifeboat station on Criccieth's seafront. It goes round the foot of the castle hill, past the gatehouse towers of Criccieth Castle on their headland, and along the front to the path on the shore west of the town. A track and field paths lead inland to the A497, and a cycle path beside the road takes you to Llanystumdwy, the village on the Dwyfor where David Lloyd George grew up. The way back climbs by paths and a quiet lane north of the main road and comes down into the top of Criccieth.
It is 7.4 km with 90 m of ascent; allow about 2 hours. The grade is Easy.
About half the walk is on roads and cycle paths, and part of it runs beside the A497, which is busy. Cadw looks after the castle and charges admission; it is open fewer days in winter (from 2 November it is closed Monday to Thursday), so check Cadw's page if you plan to go in.
No charge is shown in OpenStreetMap for the start car park; the larger car parks along the front are tagged as charged. Criccieth has a railway station about 450 m from the start.
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
- Llywelyn ab Iorwerth began Criccieth Castle in the 1230s, and his grandson Llywelyn ap Gruffudd probably added the outer ward between 1255 and 1282
- Owain Glyndŵr captured the castle in 1404 and it was probably burnt; it was ruinous by the 1450s
- David Lloyd George was brought up in Llanystumdwy and lived there until he was 16
- The A497 crosses the Dwyfor at Llanystumdwy on a three-arched bridge that is Grade II listed
Summits on the way
- Dinas 40 m · passed close by
Getting there
Start: Criccieth seafront car park · Free parking. 52.91847, -4.23048
Directions to the start
By train: Criccieth station is 0.5 km from the start.
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Criccieth: 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.