Day 41: Talsarnau to Llanbedr

Our wanderings today took us from Talsarnau to Llanbedr, a distance of 16km. From Talsarnau we continued walking along the embankments around the marshland stemming from the Afon Dwyryd until we reached Afon-y-Glyn and the small village of Ynys. 

Bridge over the Afon-y-Glyn

From here we walked along a lovely walled footpath before sidling around some fields up to Llanfihangel-y-traethau Church, dedicated to St Michael of the Sands.  

Walled footpath

Old farm buildings along the walled footpath

From here we walked across a bracken covered common with views across the bay to Portmeirion and Porthmadog which we had passed on our travels yesterday.

View of Portmeirion across the bay

After walking through yet more fields and woodland, we made our way to the town of Harlech, famous for its castle. We spent an hour or so exploring the castle which was built by Edward I during his invasion of Wales between 1282 and 1289.

Harlech Castle gateway towers

Chapel Tower and bake-house ruins, Harlech Castle

Chapel Tower, Harlech Castle

View of Harlech from the top of the castle

Having explored the castle, we continued on our way via the road until we reached the beach and giant sand dunes at Traeth Harlech.  Along the way we made a number of finds including a giant jellyfish washed up on the beach.

Traeth Harlech

Making our way along the beach, we eventually reached the rocky headland where we climbed up some very steep steps back up to the road which we followed to the village of Llandanwg. Here we explored the tiny chapel of rest founded in the fifth century by Breton saint Tanwg, a medieval building and one of the oldest Christian foundations in the UK.

 Traeth Harlech as viewed from top of headland

St Tanwg's Chapel

We then followed a dyke alongside the Artro Estuary before crossing the wet flats leading across to Pensarn before following the river to our destination, Llanbedr.

Stone walls and old farm buildings

Banks of the Afon Artro