Nant Gwrtheyrn
A quarrying village abandoned in the 1950s, rebuilt as a Welsh language centre, in a valley so steep it can only be reached down a hairpin road or on foot.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 2 hr
- Ascent
- 300 m
- Difficulty
- Demanding
- Shape
- There and back
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
The path drops steeply from Llithfaen into the valley, through the village and down to the beach, then back up the same way. The climb out is the walk.
Worth knowing
- The road down is single track with hairpins and a severe gradient. Walking down and back is the more satisfying option.
- The centre has a café, an exhibition and a heritage trail through the village.
- The beach is shingle and the swimming is cold and deep.
What you’ll see
The restored quarry village, granite workings, the beach and the sea cliffs of Yr Eifl.
Background
Three granite quarries worked here from the 1860s, shipping setts from the beach. The last families left in 1959 and the village was derelict until restoration began in 1978.