Secret Mountains Series. Yr Eifl

A mountain with three summits and stunning, far-reaching sea views. Yr Eifl on the Llyn Peninsula is a must-do mountain for your next holiday in North Wales.

There’s really only one way you’d want to be blown away on top of a mountain, and this place will not disappoint. Expect to be bowled over by the views from the summit.

Introducing Yr Eifl

Yr Eifl is essentially a series of three peaks which tower above the sea close to the Llŷn Peninsula’s rugged north coast. Yr Eifl is the highest point at 564m, but arguably it is the Tre’r Ceiri hill fort that is the highlight of this walk. More on that in a mo.

On a clear day you can expect to see as far as the Isle of Man, to the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland and over to the Cumbrian peaks of the Lake District. And you’ll get a fantastic view right down the full sweep of the beautiful Cardigan Bay too. It’s stunning.

There are certainly few places in the world that can rival Yr Eifl’s soaring, timeless views. You can completely understand why our ancient Iron Age forbears decided to settle on this summit. What a fantastic vantage point.

Of giants, Iron Age hillforts and curling stones

The middle-sized peak (485m) of the three Yr Eifl summits is called Tre’r Ceiri, which translates into English as ‘Town of the Giants’. We can’t claim to have seen any giants roaming the mountainside yet, but we can confirm that Tre’r Ceiri is one of the most spectacular Iron Age hillforts you are ever likely to see. The fort was built in around 200 BC and is still clearly preserved today.

Gan For, the smallest of the three peaks (444m) has been extensively quarried for granite. Stones from this mountain have been used to pave streets all over the UK, and as curling stones in the Olympics!

Route up

Start your walk in the Llithfaen village car park. Two of the Yr Eifl summits will dominate the view, so it should be pretty obvious which way to head for.

From the car park, head south east alongside the stone wall, keeping the wall on your right. The path climbs gently before descending again into a broad valley.

Stay on the path, heading towards the rocky outcrop of Caergribin. Once you are at Caergribin, you will be able to see the Tre’r Ceiri hillfort.

Follow the narrow path down from Caergribin in a northerly direction. Join the main path, using the stile to cross a stone wall. The path to Tre’r Ceiri will be obvious. Once you’re there enjoy the fantastic views and explore the fort! There are some informative notice boards dotted around the site which are worth reading.

To get to the summit of Yr Eifl (Garn Ganol) return to the wall and cross the stile. Turn right and follow the path which climbs alongside the wall towards the summit. Prepare for the most spectacular views! Descend southwest from the summit on a clear path to get back to your starting point.

• Distance: 7.5km
• Height: highest peak is 564m
• Time required for walk: approx. 4 hours
• Start point: Llithfaen car park

Mountain Safety

All the usual safety advice applies: never go into the mountains without the right gear. Our bare minimum recommendations would be waterproofs, spare layers, food, water, gloves, hat / sun hat (and sun cream if you are climbing in summer), map, compass, mobile phone and whistle. Make sure you check the weather before you depart, and if possible, tell someone at home which route you intend to take and what time you expect to finish. You should always thoroughly research your route so you have the best possible idea of what to expect.

Stay in near Yr Eifl

Looking for somewhere to stay nearby? Check out our selection of beautiful holiday cottages close to Yr Eifl, here.