Borth-y-Gest Walk

A Beachy Walk

Regular blog readers will remember that a couple of weeks ago we featured the lovely village of Borth-y-Gest on the Oakeley Blog, and that we promised details of a fabulous walk there. Well, never ones to go back on our word - here's the Borth-y-Gest walk.

It starts in the main car park in the village (postcode for sat nav is LL49 9TS)

Distance/Time:   6.5km / 4 miles

Start:                     Car park in Borth-y-Gest (at the southern end of the bay, opposite the café and shop)
Grid Ref:              SH 565 375

**Please note that parts of this walk are tidal, so please check tide status before starting and do not continue if it is unsafe to do so. The walk is best undertaken at low or falling tide.

1: Turn away from the harbour and walk up a short path at the top left corner of car park; turn left at the top.

2: As the road sweeps right, stay ahead and as the road ends stay ahead again and follow the footpath; pass a small church above on the right. Continue ahead on the clear path with beaches below on the left behind the hedgerow; ignore steps on the left.

3: Eventually, at a T-junction after upward steps, stay ahead (ignore the right fork). Cross bridge down to beach. Aim for large sand dune straight ahead. At bottom right corner, find path path uphill bearing right and soon becomes a clear path that snakes upwards and levels out.

4: Turn left at top and walk beside large wall. The path ends at a footpath sign and a rough drive. Turn right through the (usually) open gate then immediately left. Follow the path to reach steep steps and follow them as they zig-zag downhill to reach a concrete slipway.

 5: Either turn left down the slipway then right onto beach; or if tide is high go straight over and follow a stony path on top of the embankment with the golf course on the right. Aim for the rocky outcrop ahead on the left with a small white house just visible.

6: If the tide is out then skirt around the edge of the rocks and to the left of the house. If not, continue along the embankment path to the right of house and pass above it before dropping down to Black Rock Beach.

7: Once on the beach, continue ahead with dunes to right, for almost a kilometre. Cross a brook (may be deep at high tide or after heavy rain).

8: Take the first main exit you reach on the right (look for a sign-board and blue cabin) passing caravan parks. Soon after the pub take a right turn for Y Ffridd then follow a public footpath sign on the right leading into a wooded area to emerge onto a golf course.

 9: Turn left to follow the wide gravel path across the course. After a large bend and fence posts, the track meets a tarmac road. Turn left then almost immediately right to walk along a fence to a path uphill into trees. Continue until you emerge at a caravan park then turn left.

 10: After tennis courts go slightly left at junction then immediately right (with a cabin on the left). Follow this windy road uphill, eventually passing two wooden bin stores.

11: At the first caravan on your left and a slate sign for Borth-y-Gest and Beach ahead, turn right to cross a small grassy clearing, leading to a path through trees then fork left and go through the gate.

12: Follow the path downhill, behind school buildings then through a kissing gate. Turn right then left at road, down Mersey Street and back to car park.