Llandudno’s Great Orme

WALK DETAILS

START 

Walk down Llandudno Promenade toward the Great Orme to reach the entrance to the pier. Pass left of the pier and curve right around it heading towards the Grand Hotel. Just before this hotel cross left over the road and go left up a sloping path ignoring the first set of steps left to take the second set on the left and then continue on the main path as it zig-zags up the lower slopes of ‘The Orme’. Soon cut back right before steps and a road and pass a sunken green and then a green as you head towards the cable car station. Before you reach it cut left on a path. At the next crossroad of paths go ahead (half right really) to rise and curve left then right and descend to a junction with a wide track/lane. Go left uphill on this to go right at the next junction and then immediately left. Shortly rise up steps left to reach a marker post right of two benches.

Points of interest on this section

  •  Llandudno is the largest seaside town in Wales with a population of around 21,000
  •  Llandudno Pier opened in August 1877 and is 2,295 ft/699 metres long making it the longest pier in Wales, and the fifth longest in England and Wales
  •  The Great Orme Cable car has been in operation since 1969 and is a spectacular way to get to the summit

2) Go left following an arrow and blue marker post and a sign saying, ‘to the summit’. Soon cut back right then left and zigzag up the hillside. Before the next bench cut right up steps and pass through a gate following a sign for ‘the summit’. Pass a limestone outcrop and climb steps passing right of the ski slope. Further up, rise up steeper steps with a handrail passing odd benches as you climb past the ski slope. Beyond the steps continue more easily past limestone outcrops. At the next blue marker post (between two outcrops) cut right up more steps. At the top of these cut left and go right at a signpost for ‘St Tudno’s Church’. Continue levelly to rise to another marker post. Follow the arrow half left and at the next junction stay ahead for ‘the summit’. Continue by a fence to go right with it as it bends right. Continue to cut right through a kissing gate before a house. Follow the track past the house and pass through a gate by barns. Follow the track through another kissing gate and follow the fenced path beyond. Pass Powell’s Well to go through a kissing gate and continue on the path to a road by St. Tudno’s Church.

Points of interest on this section

  •  Local legend has it that Powell’s Well was formed when the Powell family prayed at St. Tudno’s Church as they were in need of water
  •  St. Tudno’s Church has been a place of worship for Christians for over 1,400 years and holds open air services in the summer months

3) Go left up the road (signposted ‘Great Orme Mines’ and ‘summit’) and when the cemetery ends continue up the road. In a short distance leave the road to go right following an arrow for ‘the summit’. Now follow a good wide path ignoring any paths going right or left. Head left of the cable car station and cross a surfaced track to continue climbing on the path. As the path steepens curve right towards the cable car station and rise to a track. Go left to pass under the cable cars to reach the trig point on the Great Orme summit.

Points of interest on this section

  •  The Great Orme summit is at 679 ft/207 metres and here you will find toilets, a visitor centre and a café complex

4) Head towards the café and summit complex and continue to the car park past the visitor centre. Exit the car park down the approach road using the right-hand grass verge to avoid the traffic. Continue past a quarry right and keep near the road passing a marker post that reads ‘to town’. Descend to a telegraph pole and take a marked track to the left of the telegraph pole marked for ‘the town’. Pass left of a quarry rising to a junction and another marker post. Go left following the arrow and continue to another marker post. Continue to another marker post by limestone boulders. After this the path descends steeply towards Llandudno and the sea. Soon you zig-zag down through limestone outcrops and continue to reach a marker post amongst limestone pavement. Go right following the arrow to descend steeply below limestone cliffs. At the next marker post cut left and continue more levelly towards Llandudno. At the next marker post (near a wall) continue ahead in the direction of the arrow. At a wall corner stay ahead when the path splits and rise with a wall left. Continue rising by the wall to take a path above gorse bushes at the next marker post. Just before a limestone outcrop cut right to drop down limestone steps and cut back right near the outcrop to curve left to a marker post. Follow the arrow direction to zigzag roughly down the hillside towards houses to reach a junction with a good surfaced track.

5) Go left following the track through a green gate into landscaped gardens. Continue with a rustic fence right and pass the statue of Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Continue past houses on a wide surfaced lane to pass a café and toilets left. Start to descend and soon join a tarmac lane and descend beneath houses. At a road junction go right to descend to another road junction by a church. Go straight over the junction to reach the shops and go right to go left at the next junction and continue to the seafront. Go right back to your car.

A WORD OF CAUTION

Walking in the outdoors can be a strenuous activity and it is up to you to ensure that you are fit and healthy enough to undertake the route described and to approach the venture with caution and care. You should wear appropriate footwear and suitable clothing, take along food and drink plus carry the relevant map and a compass and be able to use it. The details given here are believed to be correct at the time of going to press. However, neither North Wales Magazine nor the author can accept responsibility for inaccuracies encountered. 

Route map

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