D195: CAERNARFON to LLANFAIRLECHAN
Sunday 29th March 2026
Today miles: 19.5 Total miles: 3211.4
I’ve found myself with unlimited time off from work and I’ve come back to the coastal path a little earlier than normal. The weather in March can be unpredictable but the forecast for the next two weeks is unseasonably warm and dry. My objective for this year is to complete the Wales Coastal Path and then hopefully walk around Merseyside, the Lake District and then all the way into Scotland. I drove to Caernarfon and set off walking around 10am. The route quickly leaves the town behind and a farm track takes me alongside the Menia Strait. It’s misty across the strait and I didn’t get to see much of Anglesey. Sadly, I spotted a lamb which appeared trapped in a huge coil of barbed wire. I didn’t want to approached the animal in case it got scared and hurt itself even more. I couldn’t find any farm buildings nearby but a few minutes later I did manage to stop and inform a farm worker driving a tractor. Hope the poor thing got rescued.
After around two miles the farm track joins a minor road which leads to Felinheli. Beyond Felinheli the route and views steadily improved. There’s a great if slightly muddy track across farmland and several dozen wooden gates to negotiate through. There are two road bridges onto Anglesey and I reached the first around lunchtime and stopped nearby for a late breakfast. Despite the light drizzle of rain I enjoyed the walk through the woodlands and spotted the Peace Statue attempting to hide away in a clearing. The second bridge across the Strait is the Menia suspension bridge. There’s a sheltered spot under the bridge column and I was relieved to get out of the persistent rain for half an hour.
After leaving the shelter I continued along the pavement of the A5 towards Bangor for a further mile before returning to muddier walking. The coastal path returned to the shoreline just beyond several large University buildings and then it meandered towards Upper Bangor. The rain that had been falling for several hours finally stopped. The walk around Bangor town itself was uneventful and I only stopped briefly to take several photos of Bangor Pier. I’d liked to have walked along the pier but unfortunately it opens to the public on the 1st April each year, I’m two days too early.
After the pier the route joins the Snowdonia Slate Trail which is a pedestrian and cycle track for a further mile until reaching Porth Penrhyn and the boundary of Penrhyn Castle. There’s a well established and heavily potholed path around the Castle and the walking was enjoyable as I jumped over the huge puddles. Soon after crossing the Afon Ogwen I rejoined yet another minor road for a few hundred until reaching a small car park. There’s a narrow stone path along the coast all the way to Llanfairfechan. I alternated between the path and the stoney beach. I’m booked into an independent hostel in Llanfairfechan tonight and not for the first time got the entire hostel to myself. It caters for twelve but I’m on my own for the entire four night stay. There’s a small grocery store nearby and I dropped in and grabbed supplies for the next few days before heading to the hostel. A good, if very wet start to this trip. Still enjoyed the walking and excited about the next couple of weeks.
Werewolfandflump UK Coast Path 