North Wales Pilgrims Way
Ned Spencer’s North Wales Pilgrims Way Review
History of the Route
Centuries ago people from all over the UK walked to Bardsey Island as a pilgrimage. The church decreed that three walks to Bardsey was equivalent to walking to Rome and thus guaranteed sainthood. Also, people believed that sainthood could be achieved by being buried on the island so went there “to die”. It is said that 20,000 saints are buried on Bardsey.
Recent Developments by the NWPW Committee
Over the last few years the NWPW committee have planned and promoted a route from Holywell to Aberdaron recreating the old custom of pilgrimage. The route takes in many historic churches, holy wells etc providing a walk that genuinely feels like the “Welsh Camino”!
See their website for lots of useful information - https://pilgrims-way-north-wales.org/
They also have a FB page for sharing “news” - https://www.facebook.com/northwalespilgrimsway
There is a Pilgrim’s Passport and there are places that will provide a stamp for you to give you another feeling of walking a Camino!
Planning your walk
The walk is approximately 140 miles – it is not a straight line from start to finish!
The guidebook suggests walking over 13 days with about 10 miles walking per day
The key thing with planning your walk is organising accommodation – I initially found this tricky and decided to put my start date back a week to make it easier. I also had the advantage of my wife who was willing to drive our motorhome to meet me on occasions! A very modern pilgrim!
If you are walking as a group, one location can be used for several nights and cars used to shuttle back and forth. In some areas local public transport can be used to assist with this.
The directions in the guidebook are generally very good and the NWPW signage is also good
Downloading the .gpx file for digital mapping is useful for 1 or 2 tricky places
(Yes – I did lose my way once or twice / could be directions or could be me?)
Overview of the paths and places of interest
The walk takes in a great variety of different terrain and lots of places of interest. I was surprised that when walking so close to the busy A55 you could be in such peaceful, quiet places.
The paths covered farmers’ fields, country lanes, coastal cliffs, woods and forests, hills and dales. Even a coffin trail! There is some uphill and the guide provides details of ascent.
There are many churches, chapels, holy wells, abbeys and a couple of cathedrals to visit. (Sadly, many closed on my walk) Plus waterfalls, old quarries, fabulous beaches, a mountain, a couple of castles and the Welsh Language School to visit.
I walked in good weather and there were still 1 or 2 muddy bits – be warned. Some paths were little used and overgrown in places. You might need to search for the signs!
The boat trip to Bardsey is an option I guess – but highly recommended!
My itinerary
Thursday September 10th
Drive motorhome to Pantasaph. Taxi to Basingwerk Abbey. Walk first 3 miles.
Friday September 11th
Walk from Pantasaph to Wern Ddu – 15 miles
Staying at The Farmers Arms. 01745 582190. Pete / Elaine
Saturday September 12th
Walk from Wern Ddu to Cleiriach – 17 miles
Staying in motorhome in farmyard. Katy also has camping pods.
Sunday September 13th
Walk from Cleiriach to Eglwybach – 18 miles
Staying in motorhome in pub car park – The Bee. Mark 01492 650291
Monday September 14th
Walk from Eglyswybach to Abergwybgregyn – 14 miles
Get No. 5 bus to Bangor
Stay in Bangor at Bay Tree B & B Stephanie - 01248 362230
Tuesday September 15th
Get bus from Bangor back to Abergwyn.
Walk from Abergwyn to Bangor – 12 miles. Stay at Bay Tree again.
Wednesday September 16th
Walk from Bangor to Lanberis – 11 miles
Get 88 bus to LLanrug – stay in motorhome. Get off bus at Seiont Manor Hotel
Last bus 16:45 (??). www.travelline.cymru
Thursday September 17th
Get 88 bus from Llanrug back to Llanberis. 08:29 CHECK
Walk from Llanberis to Penygroes – 12 miles
Get bus from Penygroes to Caernarfon – 1R. 16:39
Then 88 bus from Caernarfon to Llanrug – 17:15. Staying in motorhome.
Friday September 18th
Get 88 bus from Llanrug to Caernarfon – 08:24. / Get 1N bus from Caernarfon to Penygroes – 9:15.
Walk from Penygroes to Nantgwylthen – 13 miles
Stay at Welsh Language Centre B&B
Saturday September 19th
Walk from Nantgwylthen to Tudweiliog – 12 miles
Stay in motorhome – Towyn Camping.
Sunday September 20th
Walk from Tudweiliog to Aberdaron – 12 miles
Stay in motorhome
Monday September 21st
Last mile of walk and boat to Bardsey Island
Colin Evans 07971 769895
Further Information
I have posted a few more details for each day and a few photographs on Facebook.
On my page / Ultreia Mancunia / NWPW page / CSJ / British Pilgrimage
I am more than happy to answer any questions from people planning to walk
I need to do it another two times??
