WALES
05. Gwynedd Plas Yn Rhiw
Distance: 2.5 miles/4km | Time: 1.5 hours | Grade: Moderate | Total ascent: 185m
Towards the end of the Llŷn Peninsula overlooking Porth Neigwl is a manor house enfolded by gardens, at the bosky edge of which is a meadow.
“Well it’s an orchard meadow really,” says ecologist Jo Porter. National Trust’s Robert Parkinson agrees. “It used to be grazed,” he says. “Till we planted fruit trees on it 11 years ago, the school children helped. And then we noticed without the sheep, the wildflowers were coming back.” The pupils collected yellow rattle seed from nearby Cwrt Farm. Everything else just appeared – eyebright, orchids and later in summer, knapweed, selfheal, sneezewort and more. See how many species you can spot on this 2.5-mile walk.
1. START
We will save Plas yn Rhiw’s orchard meadow till last. For now, begin at the car park. Walk up the road, take the gate left and follow Wales Coast Path signs down through fields – with sea views – into Garth Woods.
2. 0.2 MILES
Mature moss-clad trees crowd the path as if curious of walkers, while bluebells congregate on the slope. Continue to the gate. Turning right, follow Wales Coast Path signs uphill, keeping to the wall, admiring craggy Mynydd Rhiw ahead.
3. 0.6 MILES
Bear right where the track divides, joining the ‘circular walk’ to Pant cottage. Pass through a gate, in front of a row of cottages, another gate and more properties till reaching the road at Rhiw.
4. 0.9 MILES
Turn left, passing Nebo Chapel. Rhiw developed to house manganese-mining families – the mines stud these coastal hills.
At the crossroads, turn right passing the old school. At the next crossroads, turn left.
5. 1.3 MILES
Almost immediately. take the rough track behind the houses on your right and follow it towards the hills. The landscape character changes, becoming tussocky heathland and crags. Nearby are prehistoric settlements and a Neolithic axe factory. Keep watch for green woodpeckers. On reaching rough ground at a confluence of paths, keep right, sticking to the field wall. Follow the footpath sign over a stonewall stile into a field. Following the waymarks, climb the next stonewall stile and turn right down field to pass through a gate.
6. 2 MILES
On the road turn right, passing the Old Rectory and then St Aelrhiw’s Church, taking the road straight downhill in front of it. Keep on the steep road heading downhill to reach Plas yn Rhiw manor house gardens and tea room, and the wooded path leading to the orchard, which is redolent now, in blossom.
USEFUL INFO
Starting point
The 17B bus running between Pwllheli and Aberdaron stops at Plas yn Rhiw car park (Ll53 8AB).
Terrain
The three-mile walk is moderately steep in places and includes road, track and fields with drystone-wall stiles, which can be slippery.
Map
OS Explorer 253
Eat/drink
Sian’s delightful tea rooms at National Trust Plas yn Rhiw provides light lunches and teas. nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/plas-yn-rhiw
Stay
You can stay on the grounds of Plas Yn Rhiw in the rustic two-bedroom former gardener’s cottage, Bwthyn Yr Ardd. nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/wales/bwthyn-yr-ardd
In nearby Aberdaron, Gwesty Tŷ Newydd overlooks the bay. gwesty-tynewydd.co.uk