Things to do in Nefyn
Published on 6 Jul 2020 by Amy GreenwoodNefyn is a lovely seaside village on the north coast of Pen Llŷn, with an attractive harbour and some of the best mountains-and-coast views in the UK. It is also home to a fantastic headland golf course.
Nefyn’s sandy beach curves south west around a small headland to the tiny old fishing village of Porthdinllaen, with its much-loved beachfront pub, the Ty Coch Inn. Cast your eyes up the coast in the other direction, and you will see the three peaks of Yr Eifl, home to an Iron Age hillfort that towers above the sea. If walking’s your thing, then you’ll be pleased to know that Nefyn sits almost exactly midway along Llŷn’s north coast path, part of the Wales Coast Path. It’s a stunning section of coast to explore. In the village itself, the recently reopened Llŷn Maritime Museum tells the story of the peninsula’s often stormy relationship with the sea. It’s a great place to get a better understanding of the local heritage and culture.
BEACHES
Nefyn Beach
Nefyn Beach is a wonderful 2-mile long sweeping stretch of golden sand and shingle, which curves around a naturally sheltered bay. The beach faces north-west from one side of the crescent, and north-east from the other, creating different conditions for surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers. It’s also great for paddling and splashing around in kayaks or on paddleboards. The views are great, especially looking across to the Iron Age hillfort of Garn Boduan and Yr Eifl mountains. There are dog restriction areas on the beach from April – end of September, as well as a boat exclusion zone. Walk for around 2 miles along the beach to get to the small, picturesque fishing hamlet of Porthdinllaen and its famous pub, the Ty Coch Inn, which lies at the top of the beach.
Porthdinllaen
One of our favourite Llŷn beaches has to be at Porthdinllaen, just about a mile along the coast from Nefyn. You can walk there via the marked footpath through Nefyn golf course, or by following the beach north west from Nefyn. Porthdinllaen is home to a beautifully sheltered sandy bay and a pub that is consistently voted one of the best bars in the world – the Ty Coch Inn. Expect magnificent views back towards Eryri, a lovely walk around the headland, and some lovely sheltered bays. An idyllic place for a pint and a ploughman’s, but check the Ty Coch Inn’s opening times before you visit. 2 miles from Nefyn.
Pwllheli beach
There are two gorgeous beaches in Pwllheli, Glan y Don Beach and South Beach. Glan y Don Beach, which is south-facing, is one of the Llŷn Peninsula’s ‘best-kept secrets’. Around three miles long, it is covered in fine sand and pebbles and backed by sand dunes. Ideal for sandcastle and a game of beach cricket. The South beach is mainly shingles, and stretches from Gimblet Rock, across the beautiful promenade toward Llanbedrog. Pwllheli’s beaches are popular spots for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing and kite surfing. 8 miles from Nefyn.
Llanbedrog Beach
Llanbedrog beach is golden, sandy, relatively shallow and sheltered. It is much loved for its colourful beach huts and mountain backdrop. The location is within touching distance of the Wales Coastal Path – follow it up and over the headland to Abersoch, and on your way check out the impressive Tin Man sculpture. Also handy for a visit to the Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw, which is a stone’s throw from the beach. 8 miles from Nefyn.
Porthor (Whistling Sands)
At Porthor, the sand squeaks underfoot when you walk on it. It is a really stunning beach, with crystal clear waters and great rocks to explore and jump from. Access is from the National Trust car park a small walk away. There is a café on the beach too for refreshments, and public toilets. 12 miles from Nefyn.
Porth Iago
With its crystal blue waters and white sands, on a lovely sunny day, you could be mistaken for being somewhere in the Mediterranean. Access to Porth Iago is from a farm campsite where there is parking and toilets – there is a nominal cash fee to pay. The beach is good for kayaking and canoeing as well as swimming. 12 miles from Nefyn.
Aberdaron beach
The mainly sandy Aberdaron beach looks out across the waves of the dramatic Irish Sea. It’s a beauty. There are great views to Bardsey Island, which sits around two miles off the shoreline. Around a mile long, the beach is flanked by handsome headlands, which are a handy natural windbreak. There are public toilets close to the beach. 13 miles from Nefyn.
WALKS
Walk the Wales Coast Path
Nefyn sits on the Wales Coast Path, and there are some wonderful walks to do from the centre of the village which take in stunning coastal landscapes and big mountain views. Favourite walks include a 2 mile stroll along the beach to Porthdinllaen, or at 6.5 miles, a slightly longer hike to the sheltered cove at Porth Ysgaden. Enjoy the local flora and fauna along the way – including bee orchids, grey seals, dolphins, choughs, puffins, brown hares and lizards. Find out more about the Wales Coast Path here.
Walk part of the Pilgrim’s Way
Centuries ago, pilgrims in their thousands passed by Nefyn as they found their way to nearby Bardsey Island – the Island of 20,000 Saints. They were drawn there by stories of the special peace to be found at the edge of the western world (and they weren’t wrong – it is a very special place). Today a route crossing North Wales has been mapped and waymarked, linking ancient churches dedicated to the saints of the 6th century whose gentle faith, entwined with a sense of the beauty and wonder of nature, still echoes with us today. Find out more about the 135-mile Pilgrim’s Way – aka the Welsh Camino – and how you can walk part of it near Nefyn, here.
Take on Yr Eifl
There’s really only one way you’d want to be blown away on top of a mountain, and Yr Eifl will not disappoint. Expect to be bowled over by the views from the summit. Yr Eifl is essentially a series of three peaks which tower above the sea close to Pen Llŷn’s rugged north coast. Yr Eifl is the highest point at 564m, but arguably it is the Tre’r Ceiri Iron Age hill fort that is the highlight of this walk. 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. Find out more about walking up Yr Eifl on our blog. 5 miles from Nefyn.
Conquer Yr Wyddfa – Snowdon
It’s a bucket list favourite for anyone visiting North Wales – do you fancy climbing Wales’s highest summit on your next trip here? Nefyn is an easy drive from the start point of one of the best routes up Yr Wyddfa – or Snowdon, the Rhyd Ddu Path (pronounced ‘rheed-thee’). This is one of the quieter ways up the great mountain, and offers some of the best views. Plan ahead by downloading the Snowdon Walks app, which covers the six main routes up, with detailed maps and a live progress tracker. You can read more about how to prepare for a walk up Yr-Wyddfa, here. 22 miles from Nefyn.
Other local walking ideas
For some more walking inspiration, you might be interested in these websites: Mud and Routes is a great information resource for walking in the area. Simply enter where you would like to walk and it will give you some tried and tested routes. Geocaching is popular in this neck of the woods and if you love a treasure hunt, then this is a great way to while away an afternoon, especially if you’re trying to keep the kids amused too.
DAYS OUT
Visit the Cwrw Llŷn brewery tap room
The Cwrw Llŷn is a small independent brewery in Nefyn, producing delicious, characterful beers which are inspired by the legends, people and places of North Wales and made using water drawn from a local lake. There are usually four beers on draught in the tap room, as well as a full selection of bottled beers. The brewery also produces limited-edition seasonal ales at various times throughout the year, and visitors can book in for a brewery tour. Ales-wise, look out for the Brenin – a delicious copper ale, and the Glyndwr Aur – a super-smooth golden ale. Dogs are welcome in the outside seating area.
Visit the Llŷn Maritime Museum
The Llŷn Maritime Museum at the old St Mary’s Church in the centre of Nefyn, holds a unique collection of around 400 artefacts associated with the maritime heritage of Nefyn and Pen Llŷn. Visit the museum to catch a glimpse of the area’s fascinating history, including the history of smuggling in the area. All kinds of treasures are exhibited here including maritime artefacts, fishing equipment, paintings, old maps and much more.
Enjoy a drink at the Ty Coch Inn
This wonderful beachfront pub is regularly name-checked as being one of the best beach bars in the world. With covered outside seating and the sound of waves lapping the shore, it really is the most perfect place for a pint. The Ty Coch Inn has limited opening hours in the low season, so it may be worth checking the pub’s website or social media before you visit. Well behaved dogs are welcome inside the pub, there are usually lots of happy dogs running along the beach outside. 2 miles from Nefyn.
A day out in Pwllheli
The unofficial ‘capital’ of Pen Llŷn, Pwllheli is a lovely seaside resort with a large marina and sailing community, and some great sandy beaches. The local waters are world-class, with gorgeous views across Tremadog Bay towards the mountains of Eryri. There’s a popular watersports and sailing centre, as well as plenty of local art galleries, shops, cafés, restaurants, and bars. With plenty to do both in the town on the doorstep, it’s a very family-friendly place for a day out on your hols. 7 miles from Nefyn.
Discover Welsh art and culture
The Oriel Plas Glyn-y -Weddw at Llanbedrog is a wonderful showcase for Welsh art, music and theatre. There’s always plenty going on, and it’s well-worth checking out what’s happening whilst you’re on holiday in North Wales. The gallery’s cafe is a great place for a bite of lunch or afternoon tea, and there are pretty woodlands and gardens to explore. Llanbedrog’s spectacular sandy beach is just a few minutes’ walk away. 8 miles from Nefyn.
A day out in Abersoch
You’ll find the village of Abersoch on the southeast-facing side of beautiful Pen Llŷn. Originally a small fishing port, it is now a chic seaside town which seems to have something for everyone: cliffs and coves, bars, bistros and smart boutiques. It’s the kind of place which has been much-loved by generations of loyal visitors, and with its long golden sands and great sweeping views across Cardigan Bay to Eryri, it’s not hard to see why. 12 miles from Nefyn.
Explore Criccieth Castle
A spectacular coastal fortress which stands proud on its own rocky headland, Criccieth Castle is a landmark historic site which has plenty to tell us about the fortunes of war. Built around 1230 by Llywelyn ap Iowerth (Llywelyn the Great), the castle sits on a high rocky peninsula in the centre of town, with enormous views over Cardigan Bay to the Irish Sea beyond. It is a strategic and quite astonishingly beautiful setting. Seasonal opening times and paid entry, book online. 14 miles from Nefyn.
Head to Porthmadog for a ride on a steam train
This part of the world has no shortage of heritage railways, but two of our favourites – the Ffestiniog Heritage Railway and Welsh Highland Railway – are based in nearby Porthmadog. If ever there were a place to sit back and enjoy the nostalgic pleasure of steam, this is it. Jump on board in the centre of town to enjoy comfortable plush carriages, the nostalgic aroma of coal, and gentle chuff of the engine as it moves through spectacular mountain landscapes. A day out on these railways is one of life’s great pleasures. 18 miles from Nefyn.
Experience the quirky beauty of Portmeirion
Portmeirion Village was designed by Welsh Architect Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20th century. The architectural equivalent of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, it is an eccentric collection of Riviera-inspired houses, ornamental gardens and colour washed villas. It is also home to the spectacular Gwyllt woodland – ten hectares of trees and ornamental shrubs, with big views over the Dwyryd Estuary towards Harlech. There are plenty of cafés and shops to browse, and fabulous Italian Gelati at Caffi’r Angel. Lunch on the lawn outside the beautiful Art Deco Hotel Portmeirion is the perfect holiday treat. Read more about a day out at Portmeirion here. 22 miles from Nefyn.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND ADVENTURES
Sawna Criccieth Sauna
Sawna Criccieth Sauna is a traditional wood-fired sauna located just a stone’s throw from the sea, above Criccieth beach. The view from the sauna takes in the Rhinogydd mountains, the mediaeval castles of Harlech and Criccieth, and the beautiful coastline and sea in between. This outdoor sauna offers the perfect way to relax and recharge both your body and mind – combine with a refreshing sea dip for the ultimate sauna experience.
Glasfryn Parc
The Glasfryn Parc Activity Centre is a short drive from Nefyn. It offers hours – or even days – of family fun including archery, crazy golf, go-karting, wakeboarding, aquapark, kayaking, and stand up paddleboarding. 8 miles from Nefyn.
Go surfing in Abersoch
Abersoch’s sandy beach is popular with swimmers, sandcastlers and paddlers – and there’s plenty of room for a game of cricket or rounders too. The town is very popular with surfers, and there’s plenty of opportunity to learn how to catch a wave with a number of surf schools near the waterfront, including Abersoch Watersports, Offaxis, and the Hell’s Mouth Surf School. 12 miles from Nefyn.
Dwyfor Ranch Rabbit farm and Animal Park
For over 30 years this lovely farm has welcomed visitors to interact with a wide range of farm animals, including some rare breeds. Children are allowed to handle a selection of different types of animals including rabbits, guinea pigs and puppies, as well as hand-feeding many of the larger animals such as pigmy goats, alpacas, rhea, donkeys, ponies, pigs and lambs. Check the website for opening times. 12 miles from Nefyn.
Take a boat trip to Bardsey Island
Run by a local family who have been lobster fishermen and Bardsey Island farmers for generations, Bardsey Boat Trips will take you across to the historic Bardsey Island – Ynys Enlli – from Porth Meudwy, near Aberdaron. On your way you’ll take in some of the most stunning coastal scenery the UK has to offer. Once upon a time Bardsey Island was known as the Isle of Twenty Thousand Saints and was a destination for Christian pilgrims. Now it’s home to abbey ruins, a bird observatory and a wide variety of flora and fauna. And bundles of peace and tranquillity. 15 miles from Nefyn.
Black Rock Lamas
This is a fabulously quirky place – a lama sanctuary based at Morfa Bychan, just outside Porthmadog. It’s the place to visit if you’d like to take a lama for a walk, watch them do some show jumping (AKA a rather impressive agility display), or even go lama trekking (1.5 activity, from age 7+). Book your Black Rock Lamas experience online, in advance. 20 miles from Nefyn.
Sygun Copper Mines
Winner of the Prince of Wales award for tourism, Sygun Copper Mine is one of the wonders of Wales – a remarkable and impressive example of how our precious industrial heritage can be reclaimed, restored and transformed into an outstanding attraction. A self-guided audiovisual tour allows you to explore the old workings with its winding tunnels and large, colorful chambers, magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations. Above ground you can try your hand at panning for gold and enjoy a beautiful lakeside walk. The kids can let off steam at the adventure playground. 26 miles from Nefyn.
Zip World Caverns
This underground adventure allows you to speed through the caverns of the abandoned Llechwedd slate mine on zip lines, navigating part of the course with a via ferrata, monkey bars, and a whole variety of challenging obstacles. It’s a thrilling experience! Zip World Caverns is part of the Zip World portfolio, which also boasts Europe’s largest zip zone at Blaenau, as well as the fastest zip line in the world at Penrhyn Quarry – a site that was once home to the world’s largest slate quarry. 31 miles from Nefyn.
Bounce Below
Zip World Caverns (see above) is where you’ll also find Bounce Below – a series of giant underground trampolines, strung across enormous underground chambers, with climbs, slides and various levels to navigate. Bounce Below is another thrilling and completely unique North Wales adventure. From age 7+. 31 miles from Nefyn.Other stand out North Wales adventure attractions include Zip World Titan,Zip World Velocity, Greenwood Forest Park, Rib Ride, The Slate Caverns at Llechwedd, and Go Below.
MOUNTAIN BIKING AND CYCLING
Circular coast-to-coast route to Pwllheli
The Llŷn is a brilliant place to bring your bike on holiday – there are so many quiet cycle routes and lanes to explore – many of the rural B-roads are virtually traffic-free. We love this round trip from Nefyn to Pwllheli.
Antur Stiniog
Set in the stunning slate mountains of Blaenau Ffestiniog, and with far-reaching views towards the Irish Sea, Antur Stiniog offers 14 fantastic gravity fed trails for all shades of rider from novice to world cup racer. The downhill trails are graded from green to black. Antur Stiniog includes a mountain uplift service, and bikes are available to hire from the site. 31 miles from Nefyn.
Coed y Brenin
Coed y Brenin near Dolgellau is the UK’s first and largest dedicated mountain bike trail centre. Hire bikes from the visitor centre (or bring your own) to explore miles of world-class mountain bike trails, with waymarked routes to suit all abilities. There is also a café, plenty of family walking trails, a nice play area and some gorgeous spots for a riverside picnic. 36 miles from Nefyn.
Want to hire some wheels?
Head to the Llŷn Cycle Centre on Ala Road in Pwllheli for bike hire and local cycling routes and tips.
FOOD AND DRINK
Here are some of our favourite places to eat and drink near Nefyn. Enjoy!
PUBS:
Just a short distance from the beach in Nefyn, Y Bryncynan serves up traditional tasty pub fare and has a good selection of ales, gins, and wine.
The Ty Coch Inn in nearby PorthDinllaen is walkable from the centre of Nefyn and offers an unbeatable location, along with great ales, ciders and a delicious menu (food is daytime only, they do not take bookings). Unbeatable ploughman’s lunch. Seasonal opening times, so check before you visit.
Y Llong / The Ship Inn in nearby Edern serves up very decent pub food, including an outdoor barbecue in the summer. Children must be aged 10+ in the evenings, the pub is dog-friendly.
RESTAURANTS:
The Cliffs at Morfa Nefyn scores well on a number of fronts. Laid back beachy vibes, excellent ice cream, licensed bar, great pizza and a very decent Sunday roast. Sunny outdoor terrace for when the weather is right. Regular live music.
The restaurant at the Nanhoron Arms Hotel offers a family friendly menu which is open daily in high season. There is a carvery every Sunday.
The Woodlands Hall Hotel is a family-run hotel set in seven acres of grounds, in the nearby village of Edern. Delicious menu, with something for all the family.
A lunch or dinner at Dylan’s is worth the short drive to Criccieth (12 miles). Excellent seafood, burgers, and pizza, served up in a beautiful art deco restaurant on the seafront.
CAFES:
Lots of tempting cakes, coffees and other assorted treats on the menu at Caffi Porthdinllaen, which is a stone’s throw from the beach at Nefyn. Fab pizza to take away too.
FISH & CHIPS:
Head to the family-run Arvonia in Pwllheli. Great fish and chips!
TAKEAWAY:
Caffi Porthdinllaen for pizza
ICE CREAM:
THE PRACTICAL STUFF
For medical help
Dial 999 to call for an ambulance if you require urgent medical attention.
You can find your nearest urgent care health services provider by searching the NHS online directory at https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/
For non-urgent medical advice dial ‘111’ to speak to an operator at the NHS telephone advice service, or visit www.111.nhs.uk
WELSH LANGUAGE
The welsh alphabet is phonetic so once you know how to say the letters, the theory is that reading the words is straightforward; you say what you see. A little time spent familiarising yourself with the alphabet will help no end when you’re trying to navigate your way around the area…
a short, as in ‘hat’, never as in ‘ball’
b as in ‘bag’. Although is there really any other way?
c always hard as in ‘cat’, never an s as in ‘precise’
ch like the ch in the Scottish word ‘loch’, but with more phlegm
d as in ‘dog’, never as in ‘djinn’
dd a buzzy ‘th’ sound, as in ‘this’. Think angry bees with a lisp
e short, as in pen
f v. This is very, very simple, and when you get really used to it, f will play hafock with your spelling
ff f. Equally, you can ffind yourselff getting too used to ff as well
g always hard as in ‘get’, never a ‘j’ sound as in the last g in garage
ng as in ‘song’, where the g isn’t hard, like in ‘gig’, but a soft glottal stop made in your throat
h as in hat, always sounded and never silent
i as in ‘pin’
j accepted now because of the loan words from English that use it, like ‘garej’
l a ‘luh’ as in ‘lava’, but never an ‘ul’ sound as in ‘milk’
ll not as hard a sound to make as some would have you think. Raise your tongue to the top of your mouth as if you were going to say ‘el’, then make the ‘ell’ sound by blowing air round the sides of your raised tongue, instead of by using your voice. You should sound like an annoyed cat
m as in ‘mithridatize’. Or as in ‘mum’, if you want to be boring
n as in ‘nanobot’
o short as in ‘hot’, not round as in ‘hotel’
p can I have a p please Bob?
ph an English f, or Welsh ff sound, as in ‘phase’
r rolled. Some people just can’t get a rolled ‘r’ – their tongues are unable to vibrate in the right way. It’s a genetic thing, apparently,
similar to being able to roll your tongue into a tube, or turn the end upside down. Honestly, some people can, but my tongue’s not that prehensile. Roll if you can, don’t if you can’t
rh hr. Make a huffy, breathy sound before your rolled ‘r’
s always soft as in ‘sit’, never a ‘z’ sound as in ‘juxtapose’
t as in ‘top’. Can it get any simpler?
th as in ‘think’, softer and less buzzy than dd
u If you had stepped in something disgusting and made a kind of ‘eugh’ noise, the vowel ‘eu’ sound would about approximate
w oooooo
y ok, y breaks the rule that Welsh is phonetic. As a single syllable word, y is like ‘uh’, on the last syllable of a multisyllabic word it’ an‘u’ or ‘ee’, and anywhere else it’s like the unstressed, indeterminate noise of the final e in ‘garden’ or ‘letter’. Ysbyty (hospital) is the perfect example.
USEFUL PHRASES
Welcome: Croeso
How are you? Sut mae / Ti’n iawn
Good morning: Bore da
Good Afternoon: P.nawn da, prynhawn da
Good evening: Noswaith dda
Good night: Nos da
Cheers / Good Health! Iechyd da!
Do you speak welsh? Ydych chi’n siarad Cymraeg?
How do you say…. in welsh? Beth ydy….yn Cymraeg?
Thank you: Diolch
I love you: Dw i’n dy garu di
Happy Birthday: Penblwdd Hapus
and a couple of funny ones….
Microwave: popty ping
‘Might as well’: Man a man a mwnci
