Strenuous Leader : Paul Distance : 11 miles (ish)
It’s not a complicated one, and one many of us have done several times before. We are going up and around the Great Orme. Ascending from the N via the path besides the toboggan run up to some fantastic views. Heading NW to St Tudnos Church and then SW to the summit which we’ll walk around – taking in the cafe and the Neolithic mine. We have a number of options for the descent back into lovely Llandudno.
Leisurely / Moderate Leader: Joan Distance: 7.5 or up to 10 miles
The walk is mainly flat but longer than a moderate walk should be, hence the options. Please read carefully. If you decide this walk is for you, you must be ready to get off our coach on the Promenade by Eiras Park Colwyn Bay.
We start our walk on the Promenade which is the North Wales coastal path. The Promenade has been revamped and there are lots of interesting new items/ structures. We make our way to Rhos On Sea which is where we leave the Promenade to head up to the Nature Reserve. At this point, this is your 1st option. You can if you wish, continue on the Wales coastal path all the way to Llandudno or catch a bus to Llandudno.
As we make our way into the Nature Reserve we will come to the ruins of a old fort.
If our timing is right, this is where we can have lunch.
There is one part in the Nature reserve where a stick is needed.
At we leave the Nature reserve we cross fields/canal via Pen-y-bont and walk along country lanes to head our way to the bottom of the Little Orme. Our 2nd option is at this point. We are crossing the main road which heads straight into Llandudno, you could, if you wished catch a bus at this point into Llandudno.
We walk via the Little Orme and head into the main town for refreshments and the journey back.
Easy Leader: Peter Distance : 5 miles
This walk will take us along the Wales Coastal Path from Llandudno around the spectacular Great Orme. It is surfaced all the way around, there are benches at regular intervals around the whole walk, as well as a cafe half way, so we will take our time on this! The route starts at the very far end of the promenade near the pier – or North Parade. Follow the road past the Grand Hotel, and pass above the entrance the pier.
We’re soon onto the Marine Drive and the hustle and bustle of Llandudno is soon forgotten. The Marine Drive road is easy to follow, and ascends gently for the most part. There will be views towards the small coves and we may see people fishing in the sea, an array of seabirds or sometimes seals ae spotted.
Once we pass the Rest and Be Thankful cafe, the views start to open out even more. Even to a seasoned local, Ynys Mon is seen from an unusual angle with Ynys Seiriol seen end on. The road descends now, but the views still open out. It’s now the Carneddau and the Conwy Bay’s turn, with each new step revealing even more of the view. As you descend, pass above a row of expensive housing, and try and spot the old Bishop’s Palace ruins by the shore.
We will pass the gatehouse and soon after turn back to Llandudno and plenty of resting spots for those taking a more relaxed walk.
NOTES ON THE AREA
Llandudno is the largest seaside resort in Wales and lies on a curving bay, flanked to the west by the Great Orme, a massive limestone headland nearly 700 ft high which shelters the beach from westerly winds, and on the other side by the Little Orme, a smaller headland. It is a well-planned town with a wide promenade and main streets – the legacy of two men, Edward Mostyn and Owen Williams, who in 1849, set about transforming Llandudno from a mining and fishing village into a resort.
Llandudno is a relatively quiet resort, more genteel than other places and is a nice place for a quiet seaside holiday with its good beach, promenade, pier and pleasant surroundings. It is also a good spot to be based for a touring holiday being well situated for places further west along the coast such as Conway, Caernarvon and Anglesey, or to Snowdonia to the south.
The Great Orme provides views of Snowdonia, the Isle of Man and the Lake District. Near the summit stands St Tudno’s Church. The oldest part, the north wall of the nave, dates from the 12th and early 13th century. For those who do not mind going into confined spaces there is now a bronze age copper mine about half way up and easily accessible from the half way stop on the tram. At that time it was one of the most important copper mines in the world. It was also very important about 1840 but the workings were only rediscovered by accident in about 1988.
Happy Valley, one means of access to the Great Orme, is a garden lover’s delight, containing rare plants, shrubs and trees. Other ways of reaching the summit include the Great Orme tramway, nearly a mile long, and a cable-car lift. For the more energetic there is good old fashioned shank’s pony.
Until 2017, Llandudno was unique within the United Kingdom in that its lifeboat station was located inland, allowing it to launch with equal facility from either the West Shore or the North Shore as needed. In 2017, a new lifeboat station was completed, and new, high-speed, offshore and inshore lifeboats, and a modern launching system, were acquired. This station is close to the paddling pool on North Shore. Llandudno’s active volunteer crews are called out more than ever with the rapidly increasing numbers of small pleasure craft sailing in coastal waters. The Llandudno Lifeboat is normally on display on the promenade every Sunday and bank holiday Monday from May until October.