Porth Neigwl and Mynydd Cilan
"A dramatic coastal walk round Mynydd Cilan from Porth Neigwl (Hell’s Mouth)"
Walk directions
Follow a sandy path from the car park to the beach and turn left. Near the end of the beach, climb up to the grassy bank on your left and continue to a stile. Bear half left across a field to join an ascending track. Keep ahead at a right-hand bend and descend to a stile in a valley.
Cross the stile and turn left towards another. Climb this and keep ahead up a bank, passing through a gap in a fence at the top. Turn right and follow the fence up a field, bearing left near the top to locate a waymarked gate. Continue ahead on a grassy path, joining a track by a farm.
About 120yds (110m) after the farm, turn right through a small metal gate and bear left towards some old stone outbuildings. Keep ahead past these to a cottage and continue onto a track. Bear left and then immediately right to join a path through a series of small fields towards a chapel.
Go past the chapel and turn right on a lane. After about 660yds (604m), bear left onto a track towards Muriau farm (‘Wales Coast Path’). Just before the farm, bear right at a kissing gate and descend through a series of fields. Continue down to the sea along a rough track with a stream to the right.
With the sea ahead, bear right and join a clear coastal path. Ignore any gates and stiles to the right and follow the clifftop onto open common near Trwyn Cilan. Don’t be drawn by a clear grassy track to the right, but keep ahead to follow the cliff edge out to the headland and round to the right.
About three-quarters of a mile (1.2km) to the north of Trwyn Cilan, pass to the left of a trig point and covered reservoir. With Porth Neigwl now visible ahead, continue along the cliffs, following the waymarked Wales Coast Path. This will eventually return you to the beach at Porth Neigwl where you retrace your steps back to the car park.
Additional information
Terrain
- Well-marked coast path and field paths; some mud possible in winter
Landscape
- Sand and shingle beach, pastured fields, coastal heath
Dog friendliness
- Should be kept on a lead in fields where cattle are likely, but could run free on the beach
Parking
- Small car park behind Porth Neigwl (Hell’s Mouth)
Toilets en route
- Community toilet at The Sun in Llanengan
About the walk
Porth Neigwl and Hell’s Mouth are alternative names for the wide, open bay stretching between Rhiw and Llanengan on the Llyn’s south coast. Facing southwest, into the prevailing winds, the bay bears the brunt of the powerful Atlantic swells pushing up the Irish Sea. In the days of sail, the strong... winds made the bay lethal for shipping, and over 30 vessels are known to have been wrecked there within the last hundred years. It was doubtless this unenviable reputation as a ships’ graveyard that led rise to the name ‘Hell’s Mouth’. Today, these conditions attract surfers from all over the UK. The origins of the original Welsh name is less clear. The bay may have been named after Nigel de Loreyng, who landed here after serving in the Battle of Poitiers (1356), or come from an unknown Irish word. During the early medieval period, there was considerable Irish settlement along the Llyn coast, and the peninsula’s name is itself thought to be derived from an Irish tribe called the Laigin. Walking along the sand and shingle beach, you will witness one of the most striking examples of sea erosion in Wales. Unlike the hard, rocky headlands at either end of the bay, the soft, crumbly beach cliffs of boulder clay disintegrate easily when pounded by storm waves. As a result, the coastline at Porth Neigwl is retreating at an average rate of a foot (0.3m) a year – enough to turn Mynydd Cilan into an island within the next millennium. Both Porth Neigwl and the headland of Mynydd Cilan are important wildlife habitats. Summer visitors include the Arctic tern and the little tern, which feed on small fish in the bay, while porpoises may occasionally be seen out at sea. Along the beach cliffs, look out for clusters of small yellow flowers on little woolly cushions: these are kidney vetch. Mynydd Cilan’s coastal heathland provides a different but equally important habitat, dotted with small pools and criss-crossed with traditional earth banks or cloddiau. Species to look out for include stonechats, wheatears and breeding choughs, as well as reptiles like the common lizard and the adder. The heath is at its most beautiful in the summer, when the gorse and heather are both in flower and vibrant with colour.
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Been on this walk?
Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.
Walking in Safety
Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.
Get an AA guide
Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.
About the area
The county of Gwynedd is home to most of the Snowdonia National Park – including the wettest spot in Britain, an arête running up to Snowdon’s summit that receives an average annual rainfall of 4,473mm. With its mighty peaks, rivers and strong Welsh heritage (it has the highest proportion of Welsh-speakers in all of Wales), it’s always been an extremely popular place to visit and live.
Nearby places to stay
View all (8)
Caravan & Camping
Rhydolion
★★★
"A great farm site close to the coast...."
- Launderette
- Ice pack facility
- Battery Charging
Caravan & Camping
Deucoch Touring & Camping Park
★★★★
"Ideal base for exploring the Lleyn Peninsula...."
- Launderette
- Ice pack facility
- BBQ
- Wifi available
Caravan & Camping
Beach View Caravan Park
★★★★
"Superb clifftop location just minutes from the beach...."
- Launderette
- Ice pack facility
- Calor Gas
- Camping Gaz
Nearby places to stay
Rhydolion
A peaceful small site with good views on a working farm close to the long, dog-friendly sandy beach at Heals Mouth. The smart amenity block offers good privacy options for each gender a...
★★★ Rating
Deucoch Touring & Camping Park
This is a colourful, sheltered site with stunning views of Cardigan Bay and the mountains that is situated just a mile from Abersoch and a long sandy beach. The friendly, enthusiastic, ...
★★★★ Rating
Beach View Caravan Park
A long established clifftop park with stunning views of both the sea and the countryside. The grounds are immaculately maintained, and pitches are mainly hardstanding with good electric...
★★★★ Rating
Bryn Bach Caravan & Camping Site
Bryn Bach Caravan & Camping Site offers stunning views towards the beach and across the bay to the Snowdonia mountains, and a warm welcome is assured at this very well-maintained park o...
★★★★ Rating
Porth Tocyn Hotel
Located above Abersoch with fine views across Cardigan Bay, Porth Tocyn is set in its own attractive gardens. Several elegantly furnished sitting rooms are provided with space set aside...
★★★ Rating
Abererch Sands Holiday Centre
Glorious views of Snowdonia and Cardigan Bay can be enjoyed from Abererch Sands, a secure, family-run site adjacent to the railway station and four miles of sandy beach. The amenity blo...
★★★ Rating
Hafan y Môr Holiday Park
Located between Pwllheli and Criccieth, and surrounded by mature trees that attract wildlife, this popular holiday centre provides a wide range of all-weather attractions. Activities in...
★★★★★ Rating
Greenacres Holiday Park
A quality holiday park on level ground just a short walk from Black Rock Sands, and set against a backdrop of Snowdonia National Park. All touring pitches are on hardstandings surrounde...
★★★★★ Rating
Places to eat nearby View all

