GPS Cycle and Walking Routes

Rhuddlan To Rhyl - River and Coast Walk

4 miles (7 km)

This nice walk from runs from Rhuddlan To Rhyl along the River Clwyd and the North Wales Coast. The route runs for a distance of just over 4 miles, using good waymarked paths.
Start the walk on the bridge in Rhuddlan just to the west of the castle. Rhuddlan castle was erected by Edward I in 1277, following the First Welsh War. It makes for a lovely photo with the castle river and church viewable from the southern side of the river.
From the bridge you can pick up the North Wales Path and follow it west along the river to the coast at Kimmel Bay. The waymarked path heads round the marine lake on the outskirts of Rhyl before picking up the coast path and following it along the Rhyl seafront.
To extend your walking around Rhuddlan you could follow the Clwydian Way south to visit the historic city of St Asaph. There's more nice riverside footpaths along the River Elwy to enjoy here. Heading west along the coast path will take you to Abergele. Here you could visit the woodland, gardens and viewpoint at Gwrych Castle. The Grade I listed castle became famous in 2020 when it was used as the setting for the 20th series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! 

Rhuddlan To Rhyl - River and Coast Walk OS Map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Rhuddlan To Rhyl - River and Coast Walk Open Street Map - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

To the west of Abergele you could visit the small village of Rhyd y Foel where you can enjoy a climb to the Pen y Corddyn Mawr hill fort. There's photogenic limestone scenery and more fine views over the River Dulas valley from this interesting ancient site.

Photos

Bridge at Rhuddlan - geograph.org.uk - 616199

Bridge at Rhuddlan. Road bridge over the River Clwyd at Rhuddlan, with Rhuddlan Castle in the distance.

Rhuddlan, River Clwyd, church and castle - geograph.org.uk - 455498

Rhuddlan, River Clwyd, church and castle. The parish church of St. Mary, Rhuddlan, alongside the River Clwyd and with the castle in the background.

The Marine Lake, Y Rhyl - geograph.org.uk - 1576241

The Marine Lake, Y Rhyl. In days past the Marine Lake was the centre of a large permanent amusement park. Generations of Sunday School kids from all over North Wales used to make the annual "Trip Ysgol Sul" pilgrimage to Y Rhyl and the Marine Lake by charabanc and chartered trains. The name Y Rhyl is a medieval corruption of the English name "the hill".

Rhyl promenade - geograph.org.uk - 30657

Rhyl promenade

Salt marsh pools - geograph.org.uk - 707731

Pools in the salt marshes of the Clwyd estuary, north of Rhuddlan.

Part of the North Wales Path beside the River Clwyd - geograph.org.uk - 2602464

Part of the North Wales Path beside the River Clwyd

Stream entering the River Clwyd (Afon Clwyd) - geograph.org.uk - 2566286

Stream entering the River Clwyd (Afon Clwyd)

Railway bridge over the Clwyd - geograph.org.uk - 667018

Railway bridge over the Clwyd

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Rhuddlan To Rhyl - River and Coast Walk.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Share>Save to Files')

Memory Map Route

Rhuddlan To Rhyl - River and Coast Walk.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>'Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Share>Save to Files)