Anglesey
Aberffraw and the Church in the Sea
From the old capital of Gwynedd across the dunes to a tiny church on a tidal island, cut off by every high tide.
- Distance
- 3.7 mi / 6 km
- Time
- 2 hr 5
- Ascent
- 80 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Shape
- Circular
Where it is
The circle shows the general area, not the exact start. Use the directions link below to get to the car park itself. Contours and paths shown are OpenTopoMap, drawn from OpenStreetMap data.
The route
Follow the estuary and dunes from the village to the beach, then the coast path west to Porth Cwyfan and back inland.
Worth knowing
- St Cwyfan’s church sits on an island reached only at low tide. Check before crossing.
- Aberffraw was the principal court of the princes of Gwynedd, though nothing of the palace survives above ground.
- The dunes are a nature reserve with orchids in early summer.
What you’ll see
The church on its island, the Ffraw estuary and dunes, and the beach.
Background
Aberffraw was the chief llys of Gwynedd from the seventh century, and the princes styled themselves lords of Aberffraw.