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The Glaslyn Estuary – Black Rock Sands Beach loop from Porthmadog

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

The Glaslyn Estuary – Black Rock Sands Beach loop from Porthmadog

Moderate

4.7

(11)

156

hikers

The Glaslyn Estuary – Black Rock Sands Beach loop from Porthmadog

04:24

16.9km

120m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

292 m

The Glaslyn Estuary

Highlight • Beach

Stunning views across the estuary, up towards the mountains around Yr Wyddfa and towards the southern part of the national park. Borth-Y-Gest is cute too.

Tip by

2.80 km

Black Rock Sands Beach and Jellyfish

Highlight • Beach

Great place to go

Tip by

6.91 km

Ruins

8.45 km

Criccieth — Beach and Castle View

Highlight • Viewpoint

Stunning views and lovely costal walks, cafes and chippy too.

Tip by

8.48 km

This long beach gets vast when the tide goes out and looks completely different from low to high tide. The 'black rock' comes from the colour of its headland, while the beach itself is fine golden sand.

The sand dunes behind are a Site of Special Scientific Interest and there's plenty of life to spot in the rock pools too. If you follow the beach around to the east, you'll reach Porthmadog.

Tip by

14.7 km

Beach

15.4 km

View of the Afon Glaslyn Estuary from Borth-y-Gest

Highlight • Viewpoint

The Wales Coast Path is a long distance trail which follows the entire Welsh Coast. This section from Borth-y-Gest is fairly flat with wonderful views over the Afon Glaslyn estuary.

Tip by

16.7 km

St Cyngar's Church, Borth-y-Gest

Highlight • Religious Site

St Cyngar's Church is located in Borth-y-gest above the estuary shoreline. It was built in 1913 to designs of Harold Hughes.

Described as 'a dour church' it is made of dark local stone laid in crazy-paving fashion. Small and upright, its plan comprises nave and chancel in one with transepts, the north one heavily buttressed with catslide roof. Pointed windows are in singles, pairs and triplets, all with rectangular lead glazing. A slate-clad porch was added in 1964.

An arch is positioned, curiously, mid-way along the nave. With medieval-style arch-brace trusses and flat wide purlins west of the arch, and a boarded ceiling to the east, it was suggested that the church may have been planned to be longer.

Tip by

16.9 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.2 km

2.95 km

2.00 km

1.11 km

615 m

Surfaces

4.85 km

4.57 km

3.10 km

2.83 km

1.37 km

189 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Tuesday 5 May

13°C

7°C

16 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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The Glaslyn Estuary – Black Rock Sands Beach loop from Porthmadog

The Glaslyn Estuary

Morfa Bychan Beach

Black Rock Sands Beach and Jellyfish

Criccieth — Beach and Castle View

Dylan's Airstream Criccieth

Black Rock Sands Beach

View of the Afon Glaslyn Estuary from Borth-y-Gest

St Cyngar's Church, Borth-y-Gest

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