Porthmadog to Black Rock Sands Circular Walk
8.1 miles (13 km)This attractive coastal town in Gwynedd has some lovely coastal walking paths and beautiful beaches to explore.
This circular walk around the town takes you along waymarked coastal paths before heading inland to climb Moel y Gest for fine views over the Llyn Peninsula.
Walk Report October 3rd 2026 by Keith Williams:
I headed to Porthmadog for a full day of coastal walking, starting from the harbour and following the Wales Coast Path south towards Borth-Y-Gest.... The weather was pleasantly settled, which made a big difference once I reached the open coast, and I enjoyed the contrast between the busy harbour at the start and the much quieter scenery further along the route. The harbour itself is an interesting place to begin, with boats on the water, the old maritime buildings and the Ffestiniog Railway's Harbour Station adding plenty of character.
From the harbour I followed the coast towards Borth-Y-Gest, with the Glaslyn estuary and the mountains providing a great backdrop. The path soon felt much more rural, although Porthmadog remained visible behind me. Borth-y-Gest was a particularly nice section, with its small harbour and sheltered beaches, and I stopped for a while to take in the views before continuing towards Morfa Bychan.
One of the nicest surprises was how much wildlife there was around the estuary and coast. I was very pleased to see an oystercatcher feeding along the shoreline, and there were plenty of other birds around the wetland areas. The views across the water towards the mountains were excellent too, with the changing perspective making the scenery feel different as I continued along the coast.
The route eventually brought me to the wide expanse of Black Rock Sands at Morfa Bychan. Walking along the beach was a real change from the narrower coastal paths earlier in the day, with the sand stretching out towards the headland and the cliffs providing a dramatic backdrop. I took my time here rather than simply crossing the beach, as it was one of those sections where the landscape itself is the main attraction. The beach also has an interesting wartime connection, having been used as a practice area for the D-Day landings.
From the coast I turned inland towards Moel y Gest, and this was where the walk became noticeably more strenuous. The climb is well worth the effort, though, as the summit opens up some superb views across the surrounding landscape. From the top I could look back towards Porthmadog and the Glaslyn estuary, while the Llŷn Peninsula, Rhinogydd, Moelwynion and the higher mountains around Snowdonia filled the wider horizon. The remains of the hillfort on the summit added another interesting element to the walk.
After spending some time enjoying the views from Moel y Gest, I began the descent back towards the coast and eventually retraced the route towards Porthmadog. By this stage I was ready for a rest, but the return section gave me another opportunity to enjoy the scenery I had seen earlier from a different direction. I particularly liked looking back towards Moel y Gest and seeing the hill rising above the surrounding countryside.
The final approach into Porthmadog brought me back towards the harbour and the more historic side of the town. I finished the walk with another look around the quayside, where the maritime history, railway and estuary all come together. It had been a fairly long outing, but the variety made it feel like much more than simply a walk from one point to another, with harbour scenery, small coastal villages, beaches, wildlife, mountain views and the summit of Moel y Gest all packed into the same day.
For me, the appeal of this Porthmadog walk was that it gives you a real taste of the landscape around the town rather than keeping you on urban streets. The stretch through Borth-y-Gest and along Black Rock Sands is particularly enjoyable, while the climb to Moel y Gest provides the big finish with panoramic views across North Wales. It is a walk that combines the coast and mountains in a way that makes Porthmadog a particularly good base for exploring this part of Gwynedd.
To continue your walking in the area you can try the Porthmadog to Portmeirion Walk which takes you over the estuary of the Afon Glaslyn to the picturesque Italian style village of Portmeirion. Following the Llyn Coastal Path west will take you to Criccieth where you can enjoy another nice beach and visit the ruins of Criccieth Castle.
Postcode: LL49 9AT
Pubs and More Info
The Tafarn Pencei is a Grade II listed pub dating to the 1820s. They are located by the picturesque quayside and Maritime Museum at postcode LL49 9AT. The pub serves good food and is also dog friendly.
In Borth-y-Gest you could stop off at The Seaview Cafe Bistro & Coffee Lounge. The cafe occupies two premises adjacent to one another- one providing full dine in service & the other fully take away. They serve a good range of quality meals which you can enjoy with a lovely view of the village and the coast. They are dog friendly we even sell dog friendly ice cream. You can find them at postcode LL49 9TR for your sat navs.
The Ffestiniog Railway is one of the major attractions of the area and a must for train enthusiasts. The heritage railway runs from the harbour at Porthmadog to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, travelling through beautiful forested and mountainous scenery.
On the railway you could also stop off at Maentwrog. Here you'll find the beautiful Plas Tan y Bwlch Gardens at the Snowdonia National Park environmental studies centre. It's a fine place for a walk with the picturesque Llyn Mair to see as well.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Snowdonia Walks page.
OpenStreetMap
OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)
Interactive Map
Ordnance Survey Map Full Screen>>
OS Map (Mobile GPS)
Route Video
Nearby Routes
Porthmadog to Portmeirion Portmeirion Llyn Coastal Path Moel y Gest Criccieth Cnicht Llanystumdwy Penrhyndeudraeth Borth-Y-Gest Morfa Bychan Porthmadog to Criccieth
Photos
