Time Stands Still in this Corner of the Welsh Heartland
- This area is home to many of Owain Glyndŵr’s exploits – Harlech Castle and Machynlleth in particular
- Take in the sights of the beautiful Mawddach Estuary with, views towards Cadair Idris
- Walk along the sands at Barmouth Beach
- Dinas Oleu, the first National Trust property – a small diversion from the path
- Ffestiniog – a steam powered railway running between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog
- The Italianate portside town of Portmeirion
Gazing Out Across Land and Sea from the Meirionnydd Coast Path
The Meirionnydd Coast Path forms the wilder, more remote section of the Wales Coast Path with numerous sites of historical interest built into the coast's rocky outcrop. Tiny churches and beaches lie cradled among the rocks and dunes as the path opens up and slopes beside the sea. Our trail links famous sites such as Harlech Castle, with prehistoric monuments dotted along the coastline – here we have a region unchanged, with an unbroken link across Welsh history.
Along your route, you have the option of visiting the famous Welsh town of Portmeirion. Perched on the slopes overlooking the river, the town was designed in 1925 and styled on an Italian portside village. Your route crosses paths with estuary, small fishing villages and miles of sandy beaches and typically steers a close course to the shore, with the exception of where our trail diverts inland to finish at Machynlleth – site of Owain Glyndŵr’s coronation.
Please be aware that this stretch of The Wales Coast Path is comparatively less populated than other routes along the Welsh coast. With that in mind - plan ahead, take a packed lunch from your hosts and anything else that you would usually buy en-route. There's no guarantee that there will be shops or services available in the small villages you come across along the way.
Path Walkthrough
Your holiday begins in Porthmadog, along the causeway that cuts through marshlands towards Minffordd and Portmeirion. From your woodland walk, there are glimpses of the coast past Harlech - where the path becomes predominantly coastal towards Barmouth.
A long viaduct (Barmouth Bridge) takes you over the estuary toward Morfa Mawddach, where the section gradually becomes hillier beyond Fairbourne. The route descends toward Llwyngwril and climbs back towards Tywyn, where your route consists mainly of minor roads, drove paths and bridleways. From Tywyn, there is a long sandy walk to Aberdyfi and from there the route turns away from the sea where you take the remainder of the route through wild, rolling hillside towards Machynlleth.
Our Meirionnydd Coastal Path Itineraries
Porthmadog to Machynlleth
Distance: 60 miles (96.5km)
MCP1
6 Nights
from £785
MCP2
7 Nights
from £880
Porthmadog to Machynlleth
7 nights, 6 days
Day | Walk | Distance | |
---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | Arrive Porthmadog | 1n | |
Day 2 | Porthmadog to Harlech | 11 mls | 1n |
Day 3 | Harlech to Tal-y-Bont (t) | 10.5 mls | 2n |
Day 4 | (t) Tal-y-Bont to Barmouth | 5.5 mls | |
Day 5 | Barmouth to Llwyngwril (t) | 9 mls | 2n |
Day 6 | (t) Llwyngwril to Aberdovey | 12.5 mls | |
Day 7 | Aberdovey to Machynlleth | 12 mls | 1n |
Day 8 | Depart Machynlleth |
2024 Prices
Itinerary price: £880 per person, based on two people sharing.
Solo walkers supplement: £72 per person per night.
Single occupancy within group: £44 per person per night, for groups of 2 or more people.
Extras
Rest days/additional nights: Prices from £65 per person per night.
Recommended locations for rest days are Porthmadog (for the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways), Harlech, Barmouth and Machynlleth.
Upgrade options: Speak to our team to discuss upgrade options for this itinerary.
Walk Pack postage: Europe - to first night’s accommodation, Rest of World - £30 supplement, (UK is included in price).
Extra Walk Packs: can be requested, please see here for full details and supplements.
Bank Holidays and short notice bookings may incur extra charges.
These itineraries can be combined with the Ceredigion Coast Path - please contact us for further details.
- Good standard accommodation at a mixture of guesthouses, farmhouses, local inns and B&Bs with en-suite or private facilities wherever possible
- Breakfast
- Luggage transfers
- Personal transfer between accommodation and path that form a part of our standard package
- Route planning
- Walk pack including Trail Guide and mapping, itinerary, accommodation directions and route notes, lunch and dinner information, restaurant recommendations and holiday planning details
You choose which day you would like your holiday to start on. We will book your holiday in accordance with your requirements.
Our Meirionnydd Coastal Path holidays are available to walk March to October.
We offer trips around the Meirionnydd coast from Mar - October as the rest of the year will tend to experience considerable rainfall. Although the climate is generally quite mild, walkers should be prepared for the possibility of rain. The driest month, July, experiences on average 98mm of rainfall.
Trains call at Porthmadog roughly once every two hours Monday - Saturday, with a solitary train stopping in each direction on Sundays. During the day, trains run through to/from Shrewsbury and Birmingham International (joining or splitting from a portion to/from Aberystwyth), but in the evening trains start/terminate at Machynlleth.
Trains from Machynlleth meet Pwllheli and Aberystwyth, towards Shrewsbury and Birmingham International. The service in each direction is approximately two trains hourly.
Bus services cover the area from Bangor to Aberystwyth.
Meirionnydd Coastal Path Client Reviews
4.8/5 based on 19 reviews
Celtic Trails were helpful, responsive and everything ran smoothly, thank you all!
Anon - September 2023
Celtic Trails were friendly, efficient, well-organised.
Anon - July 2023
Everything was arranged carefully so we could just enjoy the walking. Better than other companies.
Brenda and Stephen, Exeter - June 2023
Celtic Trails though of everything one would need and are reliable and prompt. I would, and frequently do, recommend them.
R. Shortridge - May 2023
Celtic Trails are a very friendly, helpful company.
Richard and Ginny, London - May 2023
Celtic Trails are an efficient company with good experience of the area. We thoroughly enjoyed our walk and everything was arranged very well and with no hiccups. We would like to do more of the Welsh coast in the future: we did the Pembrokeshire coast through Celtic Trails in 2021
Trish Webster - April 2023
This was out first walk without a guide - it was great to have the arrangements made by experts. I am walking the entire WCP over the next few years.
Sarah, Merseyside - September 2022
Celtic Trails are very professional and efficient. Many thanks for your organisation.
Anon - September 2022
Celtic Trails were very good and to be recommended. Better than other comapnies.
Graham Ford - June 2022
As 4 friends in our 70's, the seamless organisation helped us relax away from other commitments. The walking was more varied that expected, which was good. And the weather helped, as we had wonderful views.
Anon - April 2022
I would describe my experience with Celtic Trails as well organised.
Anon - September 2021
Anon - September 2020
Celtic Trails are better than other companies we've walked with - better accommodation, professional, friendly and helpful in all aspects. Great holiday, fantastic weather, very happy.
Anon. - September 2019
Good information given re: the walk, easy to contact via the 'phone and e-mail. Refreshing to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Gradually walking the Wales Coast Path from Chester.
C. Jones - September 2019
Celtic Trails - well organised, thorough checking of dietary requirements, great communication, accommodation to a high standard. This holiday had a deeply positive impact on body and mind. My mum was ecstatic to see this part of the country, feeling revitalised for the year ahead. As a wildlife and plant lover, my mum thoroughly enjoyed the dunes, the hills, the history and the people we met along the way. Personally, I savoured the luxury of a comfortable bed and delicious breakfast to see me right for a day of exploring. All round a great experience.
West & Eilers - August 2019
We were very happy with all aspects. We have done plenty of hiking and camping, but this was our first organised walk of this type - very organsied and good accommodations; the description in the materials accurately reflected what the trip would be like. We enjoyed the local people and interactions that we had along the way.
Busch - July 2019
A big thank you to Nathan and team for a perfect holiday.
Enderli - June 2018
Excellent service. Special thanks to Nathan and Anne :-)
Iles - June 2018
'We want to use this space say thank you to Nathan Murphy for his help, patience, support, and advice. We also enjoyed seeing a part of the world that is a secret too well kept. More people should walk the WCP!'
Dowey - July 2017
Local Points Of Interest
The Wales Coast Path
Meirionnydd forms part of the 870 miles of Wales open for discovery along the coast, one of nine distinct and varied sections of the Wales Coast Path. Browse our page on walking the Wales Coast Path for more information on where to take your journey next.
From here, the path joins the Ceredigion Coast Path - Britain’s first Marine Heritage Coast - designated as a special area of conservation for its abundance of wildlife. Preceding the route: The Llŷn Peninsula.
Harlech Castle
The castle was built in the 13th century by Edward l, and was designed as a strategic point for the king's invasion and conquest of Wales. The castle was laid siege to at the start of the 15th century by Owain Glyndŵr, becoming his residence until the fortress was recaptured by English forces in 1409.
Where the sea has receded, the castle is stranded upon a rock and can be visited today across a specially constructed footbridge. The medieval structure is well preserved, with a chance to gaze out onto the landscape before you from the ramparts.
Portmeirion
The Italianate village was the brainchild of the architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who stated that he ‘wanted to pay tribute to the Mediterranean’. Apart from its unconventional deign, the village is also well known as the setting for the cult 1960s TV series The Prisoner.
The village is in the community of Penrhyndeudraeth, on the estuary of the River Dwyryd - 2 miles (3.2 km) south east of Porthmadog. The resort is a point of curiosity among the landscape of the Welsh Coast, and remains a top tourist destination to this day.