Llŷn Walks, Rhiw, Mynydd Graig. Rhiw.com

This short circular walk takes about an hour and a quarter to do. It takes you around the base of the stunning Mynydd Craig- the rock fortress that dominates the Rhiw skyline. It is one of our favourite walks and we do it at least once a week but we always see something different. It’s relatively easy with one very steep downhill section at the beginning and one short uphill pull in the middle. The views are spectacular – Snowdonia, Porth Neigwl, Cardigan Bay and if you’re lucky on a clear day, the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland. Wildlife is prolific, depending on the time of the year, so take your binoculars. If you wanted to do a longer walk, you could tack our ‘Trwyn walk’ on to it. We indicate in the directions where these two walks join. Our photographs were taken in January so there is no bracken. In the summer it looks quite different. This coastal path takes you through gorse (which perfumes the air with a lovely coconutty smell in spring and early summer) but it might not be a good idea to wear shorts as it is, of course, prickly!!

1. The walk begins at the crossroads in Rhiw. Take the road signed ‘Plas yn Rhiw’.

(Views to Snowdonia in the far distance)

2. Turn first right after the house ‘Berwyn’, following a signed footpath route. Pass ‘Pen y Groes’ then ‘Gorffwysfa’ on your right. Follow the track going through a metal gate after ‘Awelon’.

3. Take the path down the hill alongside the wall on your left. Pass the front of a terrace of houses, ‘Bay View’. Go through another gate and walk down the steep hill (Care!)

(Porth Neigwl – Hell’s Mouth’ is down below)

4. Near the bottom of the hill, pass a cottage on your right, the track then bends to the right and you pass a white cottage on your left. Follow the track, which is between two stone walls for a short distance.

5. Follow the track across some open ground then take the path keeping a stone wall on your right and the sea on your left. Pass a cottage 'Pen yr Ogof' on your right.

6. On your right before you reach Pen yr Ogof, and nestled under the rocky outcrop are the ruins of Bryn Gwynt, and in front of it there is an ancient roundhouse, which can be clearly seen.

7. Follow this coastal path, which takes you through gorse and in the summer, bracken. Eventually the path divides into two small paths. It does not matter which you follow as they eventually reunite. (The lower path is perhaps a little easier underfoot).

Views across Cardigan Bay as far as the Pembrokeshire Coast can be spectacular on a clear day.

8. The track eventually bears right taking you in front of a large rock face (on your right).

There is a good coffee/picnic spot to your left with some convenient large stones to sit on and contemplate the world and the view.

9. Walk to the gateway ahead and climb the stile (Take care it can be slippery when wet).

(*At this point you might want to add on the Trwyn Walk. If you wish to do this turn left and pick up your directions for that walk).

10. After climbing the stile, turn right along a track. Pass ‘Carreg Lefain Bach’ and ‘Carrig Lefain’. Go through gateway. The track becomes a narrow, tarmac road.

As you walk on this road, if the day is clear, you may be lucky enough to see the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland in the far west, ahead of you.

11.Stay on this road passing a few houses until you reach a junction with another road. Turn right.

In this area we have spotted large, beautiful hares several times.

You pass a house called ‘Cwt Gwn’ which was once the shed where vital lifesaving equipment was kept. This included a hand cart on which was mounted a kind of harpoon gun which was designed to be fired from the land to a ship in distress, thus enabling people to be winched ashore using a bosun’s chair. Men from Rhiw took part in regular practice drill with the equipment.

12. This road will bring you to Rhiw crossroads where you started your walk.