Pencon one

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Hiked this route in January 2024. A good route predominately away from traffic and pollution, and very peaceful. Would recommend hiking shoes/ boots. The path is uneven and muddy. If on wheels would need to be a mountain bike or all-terrain wheels. Walked reverse Conwy to Penmaenmawr. Start/ finish next to Conwy Train Station and the finish/ start is very close to Penmaenmawr Train Station. We used the bus to return which is regular and reliable. Outside of both towns, where it was quiet road walking, the route climbs to 3/4 way up Conwy Mountain by a stony track. There is a little overlap with the Wales Coast Path 'High-Level Route' but it doesn't go as high as this which we appreciated. The route is very easy to follow being mostly straight on the whole way and the most obvious path. The ascent and descent weren't too steep. The road sections were quiet.

I walked from Conwy to Penmaenmawr one morning, starting with showers of rain on what should have been the most scenic part over Conwy Mountain. It was still good, just wet. I would recommend walking along a higher path than the one taken across the flank of the mountain. It would still get you to the Sychnant Pass, but with the prospect of more wide-ranging views. The sudden appearance of the Sychnant Pass is a definite highlight of the route, but after that it's all road walking. I wasn't too keen with the route offered along Treforris Road and Conwy Old Road as a way of getting from Dwygyfylchi to Penmaenmawr, although it's fair to say that Treforris Road is a quiet one-way road and Conwy Old Road isn't too busy. In fact, I decided to go back down Treforris Road and find another way out of Dwygyfylchi, which was easy as a signpost promised 'beach over footbridge', indicating a path behind the houses and over a bridge beside the Orme Service Station. From there, it was a simple matter to follow the traffic-free Wales Coast Path along a shared tarmac footpath and cycleway close to the A55, linking with the promenade into Penmaenmawr. I'm giving the route four stars because the first half is excellent, but I think the second half could be improved. There are regular daily trains and buses linking Conwy and Penmaenmawr.

Walked from Penmaenmawr to Conwy, the last part of a long three route walk from Bangor. I enjoyed this route, especially the wonderful views from the hill above Conwy, but it is not easy, and it does involve quite a bit of walking on roads without pavements. I didn't feel these were dangerous because most of these were either very quiet or in 30 mph zones. I am not sure that the route selection is optimal - between Penmaenmawr and Dwygyfychi we gain quite a lot of height only to lose it all, and the choice of paths over the hill should stick to one of the two main paths rather than switching from one to the other on a little used and uncomfortably narrow path through the heather.

From the meeting point in Penmaenmawr, we go down Ffordd Bangor then go straight on across the junction, bearing right up Old Conwy Road. This is not a busy road, but it does have a couple of fairly narrow sections with no pavements. We follow it out of the village then turn left downhill into Dwygyfychi - initially no pavement but once past the school the pavements are good. There are shops here. We soon turn right onto Old Mill Road, another quiet road with no pavements. This is fairly flat at first but climbs increasingly steeply once we are past the houses.

Eventually the road turns sharply right and our path takes the track straight on, soon becoming a narrow and rough path that climbs steeply up through the heather to a T junction accessed via steps. We bear left towards the top of the hill. The choice of paths offers some fine views down over a gap to the Great Orme, but eventually we have to find a way right to the well used track along the wall. I used the path that doubles back a little further than the one marked on the GPX because I was wearing shorts, the path was very narrow and the fresh heather looked sharp.

Once on this track we follow it until we reach roads on the outskirts of Conwy. Note that the bridge over the railway is narrow and has no pavement, so it may be best to wait for a gap in the traffic. We follow Bangor Road to the city walls, where the pedestrian gate is left of the road. The meeting point in the square is a short distance beyond.

Overall I am still willing to give the route 5 stars, because the scenery is magnificent.

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