All walks › Eryri: Ffestiniog and the Moelwynion
Eryri: Ffestiniog and the MoelwynionThe Cob at Porthmadog
A mile-long embankment across the Glaslyn estuary, built to reclaim land and now carrying a road, a railway and a level path with mountains at the end of it.
- Distance
- 3.1 mi / 5 km
- Time
- 1 hr 35
- Ascent
- 30 m
- Difficulty
- Easy
- 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
Walk the Cob from the harbour to Boston Lodge and back. Flat and surfaced, with the estuary on one side and reclaimed land on the other.
Worth knowing
- One of the most accessible walks in north Wales with a genuinely spectacular view.
- The Ffestiniog Railway runs alongside; steam trains pass several times a day in season.
- Wading birds on the estuary side, especially on a falling tide.
What you’ll see
The Glaslyn estuary, Moel y Gest behind the town, and Snowdon at the head of the valley.
Background
William Madocks built the Cob in 1811 to reclaim the estuary. The scouring effect of the diverted river accidentally created the harbour that made the town.