Distance: 9.4 kilometres / 5.8 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

A mostly level walk in a sparsely-populated corner of Holy Island which takes in some stunning and geologically interesting low cliffs, and glorious wide sandy beaches. Farmland features strongly, and there are a few stretches on quiet roads. The walk is steeped in local history centred on the fabled St Gwenfaen. 

Directions

Borthwen beach car park to Silver Bay

Walk back up the road for 50m and turn right at the Coastal Path sign following the path with a reedbed on your right.

Turn left at the next footpath sign. Go through the wooden kissing-gate and straight on past the white house named Cae Llyn, up the double-track drive, out through the gate, and then turn sharp right onto more double-track.

Keep left at a junction onto the Coastal Path gravel track. Go through the kissing-gate and follow the Coastal Path sign onto the headland following the yellow waymarkers across the heathland. Carry on along this path keeping to the sea edge.

Walk round the headland admiring the sea views and head towards the caravan site but keeping to the coast. Soon there is a kissing-gate and three footbridges. Turn inland to the Coastal Path sign.

Cross the field and go through another kissing-gate. Follow the path around the headland, cross the next footbridge and continue on the path to Traeth Llydan, following the signs down onto the beach.

Silver Bay to Tŷ Weryl

Look for a set of wooden steps about half­way along the beach on the left through the dunes. Follow the path alongside some private woodland on your left.

Go through the kissing-gate, across the boardwalk to an­other kissing-gate, and cross the field to the converted farm buildings. Exit the farmyard over a stone stile, and follow signs along the straight double-track out to the road.

Stay on the road ignoring a Coastal Path sign on the right (Please note: this is a permissive path which is closed for the winter months).

Bear right at the road junction. Shortly after passing Ty Lon take the footpath on the left up some steps, through a kissing-gate following it across the field and through a hedge-lined section.

Then cross two fields through kissing-gates, and emerge between two white houses at Ty Woods following their drive to the road.

Bear left onto the road at Llainsybylldir.

(At this point if you wish you can take a shortcut back to the car park by continuing down the road).

Turn right at the footpath sign where the road bends left.

Tŷ Weryl to Traeth Borthwen

Take the path to the right-hand-side of the garden at the white house called Ty Weryl. Pass through two fields and kissing-gates, then bear right heading for the corner of the wall.

Go over the ladder-stile and head for the kissing-gate to the left of the church and onto the path alongside the wall. Admire the commanding views St Gwenfaen’s has over most of Holy Island and Anglesey beyond.

Turn left and follow the road to the farm. Go through the kissing-gate and cross the field to the next kissing-gate. Here the footpath forks: keep to the left-hand side of the field following the wall, effectively walking anticlockwise around the farm. (Please note: if you want to detour and see the rock arches, fork right instead).

Follow the field-edge path through two more kissing-gates which brings you onto the Coastal Path. Turn left across the footbridge and through the kissing-gate.

Follow the path, taking care as there are cliffs on your right and a high wall on your left. St Gwenfaen’s Well is on your right.

Go through the kissing-gate at the end of the wall, across the stepping-stones, then follow the path up towards the left of the Coastguard Station.

There is a trig point atop the hill to the left, and there are good views along the coast and across to the mainland from here.

Head downhill, passing through two fields and two kissing-gates. Follow the path between the houses, across the grass and gardens, and down to the beach. Cross the beach or use the footpath on the left back to the car park

Further information on this walk

History and interest

• Rhoscolyn was formerly known as Llanwenfaen (the church of St. Gwenfaen). The name is said to derive from ‘The Moor (Rhos) of the Column (colyn)’, referring to a pillar erected by the Romans to mark their boundaries.
• St Gwenfaen’s Church was founded in 630AD and has a medieval doorway and 15th century font.
• Legend says that St Gwenfaen was chased from her cell by druids, and that she escaped by climbing the rock stack off Rhoscolyn Head. The tide came in and she was carried away by angels. Saints Bay takes its name from this incident.
• Also at Rhoscolyn Head there are rock arches called Bwa Du the black arch, and Bwa Gwyn, the white arch.
• St Gwenfaen’s Well, surrounded by medieval stone steps and seating, was used by pilgrims during the Middle Ages who believed in the water’s healing powers.
• Porth-y-Corwgl is of regional importance as one of the best-exposed geological faults on Anglesey.

Wildlife

The areas of heathland and scrub on the clifftops support populations of stonechat, whitethroat and wheatear. Other notable birdlife includes chough, peregrine falcon, cormorant, raven and kestrel.

Seals may be seen basking on the group of low rocky islands off the coast known as Ynysoedd Gwylanod (Seagull’s Islands).

Wildflowers in the area include celandines, violets and scurvy grass.

Public transport

The No. 23 bus stops in Rhoscolyn twice a day, from Monday to Saturday.

Refreshments

• Silver Bay Holiday Park offers a seasonal restaurant and beachfront café.
  
  
• A pub The White Eagle is located in Rhoscolyn and serves food.
  
  
• Rhoscolyn Chapel is an events venue that often has food and drink available.