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The North Wales Path

By Dave Roberts   

on November 15, 2011    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – Denbighshire, Europe, Wales, Wales Coast Path

The North Wales Path

Route Essentials

Route Summary

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

96.21 km

Ascent

1940 m

Time

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Difficulty

LDP

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

The North Wales Path Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

The North Wales Path

This a long distance footpath that starts off in Prestatyn and ends in Bangor, crossing some diverse terrain on the way.

The Route

Download a leaflet with maps from the Conwy Council site – here.

The ‘official’ route goes in the opposite direction, but that seems a strange choice when you consider that the highlight of the route (doubtlessly Aber) is then passed on the first morning. Doing it this way keeps you interested as you complete the more, ahem, ‘flat’ sections in the middle. So starting off at Prestatyn Railway Station, you initially head inland towards Dyserth before heading back for the coast at Kinmael Bay. The next section to the Orme passes a lot of caravans and through urban areas, with the bimble over Mynydd Marian the only inland section. The coastal walking here is pleasant enough, but expect to be passing dog walkers and people out for a stroll as opposed to your usual long distance paths. The offshore windfarms are highly visible / intrusive – depending on your viewpoint.

Llandudno’s prom is quickly passed, unless you want to go shopping, and the Orme at least provides an interesting coastal walk, even if it is on tarmac. Past Deganwy and you cross the Conwy and into the walled town of the same name.

The terrain now changes in nature and takes you properly away from settlements and it does start to feel remote in places, even if you’re never more than a few Km from the busy A55 expressway. An unfortunate descent along a pleasant green path means you’ve got to reascend back to the Roman Road and again down to Aber and back up to the falls. From Conwy to the falls, you will have climbed the equivelent or more than any of the paths up Snowdon, so no wonder your legs hurt!

All that’s left is a half day stroll high above the coast on the flanks of Moel Wnion before descending to Bangor. With a bit of imagination, you could complete an equivlenent route on a mountain bike, with an easy path all the way to the Orme, and a bit of imagination can then see you across the moors above Penmaenmawr and over to Aber. You can’t cycle to the falls, but you can always lock up and walk up. This would also make a decent challenge walk – anyone for completing it as a 24 hour walk?

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
96.21 km 1940 m

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: LDP

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

none noted

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Met Office Snowdonia Mountain Weather

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Guidebooks:

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

2 thoughts on “The North Wales Path”

  1. Mark Smith

    Prestatyn via Gop to Holywell to Hawarden – keeping to the high ground then via Hope/Caergwrle through Minerva ish and finishing in Wrexham now THAT would be a ‘North Wales Path’ …..

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