Great Orme Circular Walk from West Shore Llandudno
Explore this limestone headland in Llandudno and enjoy spectacular views of the North Wales coast on this circular walk. From West Shore beach waymarked trails take you around the park where there are views of Liverpool Bay and the Irish Sea, the Carneddau mountains, the Menai Strait and Anglesey. You can also climb to the summit of the park or catch the Great Orme Victorian Tramway and Cable Car to get there.
The area is geologically significant with limestone and dolomite rock formations dating from between 339 and 326 million years old. It's also great for flora and fauna with lots of lovely wildlfowers such as pyramidal orchid, common rockrose and wild thyme carpeting the grassland. Also look out for the Kashmiri goats grazing on the slopes of the headland. The 200 strong herd, has roamed the Orme since the middle of the 19th century. They're descended from a pair of goats that were presented by the Shah of Persia to Queen Victoria shortly after her coronation in 1837.
The North Wales Path long distance trail runs around the park. You can extend your walk by picking up the trail and heading south east toward Llandudno and Little Orme. Great Orme's little brother is not as well known but is a another splendid coastal headland with fabulous views over Penrhyn Bay. It's also a great place for wildlife with bredding fulmars and seals in Angel Bay.
Heading south along the coast path takes you past the lovely Conwy Sands to Conwy.
Postcode
LL30 2XF - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsGreat Orme Country Park Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Great Orme Country Park Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Great Orme Country Park OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Great Orme Country Park Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
Near the northern tip of the headland there's the splendidly positioned Rest and be Thankful cafe. There's a good range of meals and snacks with great views from the cafe's cliff top location. You can find them at Marine Drive, LL30 2XD.
Dog Walking
The park is ideal for a bracing dog walk. You'll probably see other owners with their pets on a fine day. The cafe mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
If you follow the North Wales Path south from the park you could visit the interesting town of Deganwy. Here you'll find a south facing beach, a contemporary marina, an attractive quay and the ruins of the historic Deganwy Castle.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Llandudno, general view from Great Orme. Great Orme is a striking limestone headland rising above the town of Llandudno on the north coast of Wales. This dramatic promontory extends into the Irish Sea and offers panoramic views across the coastline, including Anglesey, the Isle of Man on clear days, and the distant peaks of Snowdonia. To the east, the headland overlooks Llandudno Bay and its sweeping Victorian promenade, while to the west, it drops steeply into the sea, with rugged cliffs providing a nesting site for seabirds. The summit, which reaches 207 metres (679 feet), can be accessed by car, on foot, via the historic Great Orme Tramway, or by the Great Orme Cable Car, offering a scenic journey to the top.
The Lighthouse. The Great Orme is home to a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna, shaped by its limestone geology and exposed coastal environment. The headland supports rare plant species, including the Great Orme berry, a plant found nowhere else in the world. Other notable species include wild thyme, rockrose, and hoary rockrose, all thriving in the thin soils and rocky outcrops. The area is also one of the last strongholds of the wild Kashmir goats, a feral population descended from a herd gifted to Lord Mostyn in the 19th century. These goats, with their distinctive long horns and shaggy coats, are often seen grazing on the slopes. The cliffs and grasslands provide a haven for birdlife, with species such as guillemots, razorbills, peregrine falcons, and choughs making their home on the steep rock faces. Butterflies, including the silver-studded blue and grayling, are commonly seen fluttering among the wildflowers in summer.
Great Orme Quarry. View of an old quarry, taken from the tram. The history of the Great Orme is equally fascinating, with evidence of human activity stretching back thousands of years. The headland is home to the Great Orme Copper Mines, one of the most significant prehistoric mining sites in Europe. Dating back over 4,000 years to the Bronze Age, these mines reveal the scale of early industrial activity, with an extensive network of tunnels excavated by ancient miners using stone tools. Visitors can explore a section of these tunnels, gaining insight into the lives of the people who worked here long before modern industry. The area is also rich in more recent history, with remnants of medieval settlements, Victorian-era developments, and wartime defences still visible. St Tudno’s Church, located on the northern slopes, dates back to the 12th century and marks the site where Llandudno’s patron saint is believed to have founded a religious community in the 6th century.
Goats on the headland. The Kashmiri goats kindly posed in front of the sign for the Great Orme Country Park and Nature Reserve, although I think they were more interested in eating grass.
Tramway Terminus. Looking up Old Road from Church Walks. Today, the Great Orme is a popular destination for walkers, nature enthusiasts, and history lovers, with a network of trails winding across the headland. The Marine Drive, a scenic toll road that encircles the Orme, offers spectacular coastal views and passes sites of geological and historical interest. The varied landscape, from limestone pavements to heathland and sheer cliffs, makes it a unique natural landmark. Whether exploring its ancient history, watching the wildlife, or simply taking in the sweeping views over the sea, the Great Orme remains one of North Wales’ most distinctive and memorable landscapes.
A grassy footpath at the site. Looking down a steep footpath from the top of the cliffs far above the remains of the Coastal Artillery School. A small section of the Marine Drive can be seen on the left, complete with car, and just to the right of that, and further down again is the tarmac area that is adjacent to the remains of the school.
This shows a car of the Tramway descending towards the lower terminal, Victoria station. This line is unique in Britain as a street-running funicular, (though there are examples in Portugal and elsewhere).
South west side of the headland with a sea view.