Walk the Wales Coast Path Amlwch Port to Cemaes
By Dave Roberts 
Walk the Wales Coast Path Amlwch Port to Cemaes
Further Details
Route Summary:
A rugged route with plenty of natural and historical interest.
Start and Finish: Amlwch Port to Cemaes
Distance: 13.9 km
Ascent: 400 m
Time: Around 4 hours
Timings are approximate and depend on the individual. Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.
Facilities:
Most facilities in Amlwch, local store, pubs and cafes in Cemaes.
Public Transport:
Local bus services to Cemaes and Amlwch, and between.
Traveline for UK Public Transport
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 Keeping Safe on the Wales Coast Path, Navigation and the Gear and Equipment you’ll need.
Wales Coast Path Guidebooks:
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Recommended Wales Coast Path Maps:
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Walk the Wales Coast Path Amlwch Port to Cemaes Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download
Download file for GPS
Walk the Wales Coast Path Amlwch Port to Cemaes
The Wales Coast Path from Amlwch to Cemaes covers some interesting terrain as well as some man made features from the old bromine works outside Amlwch to the Porth Wen Brickworks. It’s a short section, but other than Porth Llechog / Bull Bay – you’ll see no towns or villages during the walk. Amlwch is the nothernmost town in Wales, and you’ll also pass the northernmost point of the Wales Coast Path at Llanlleiana Point, with nearby Llanlleiana being the northernmost settlement.
From Amlwch Port the coastal path heads on a short section from one end of Porth Llechog / Bull Bay to the other, including the village of the same name. The initial section is dominated by the area’s now derelict industry, including crossing the old railway and the old bromine works on Trwyn Costiog that looks like a set for a 1980s Dr Who episode. There’s some gentle coastal walking before you join the main road into Bull Bay.
From Porth Llechog / Bull Bay the next port of call is Porth Wen, a wide bay featuring a Victorian brickworks that closed in the first half of the 20th century (probably 1949). Unlike the former bromine works at Amlwch this one’s a scheduled monument and you can only wonder how long the chemical works will take to be seen in a different light and become listed. The remains of the kilns and chimneys as well as some substantial buildings are clearly visible from the coast path.
Once past Porth Wen, the path passes over another Hell’s Mouth, not to be confused with the one on the Llyn Peninsula. Of course, if using the welsh name of Porth Cynfor, no confusion arises! This leads on to the hill fort of Dinas Gynfor, though you’ll need to use your imagination as there’s little visible on the ground. There’s a lookout tower built in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of Edward VII as it’s deemed by some to be Wales’ most northerly point. The island of Middle Mouse / Ynys Badrig nearby is certainly the northernmost bit of Wales but Llanleiana Head is definitely the most northerly point on the Wales Coast Path and the one that’s easily accessible – so there’s one of the extreme points collected!
Descending from Dinas Gynfor brings you down to some more industrial ruins, those of the Porth Llanlleiana China and Brickworks. Continuing along the coast, the walk follows spectacular clifftop paths, before reaching the church at Llanbadrig which is linked to St Patrick (translates as Patrick’s Church) as he was reputedly shipwrecked at the nearby island of Ynys Badrig. This is a church and graveyard with a superb view, and those with an interest in history can pop in to see the early christian sculpted stone known as the Ichthus Stone. This was reputed to have been brought here by St Patrick from Rome, but was probably a standing stone re-purposed as a christian gravestone much later.
From Porth Padrig, the final section around Trwyn y Parc and into the fishing port of Cemaes, which is often erroneously credited as being Wales’ most northerly village (a quick look at the OS map shows that Porth Llechog / Bull Bay is clearly further north, and takes that title). The sandy beach makes it popular with tourists and it’s a perfect place to end a leisurely leg of the Wales Coast Path.
Dave Roberts
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