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Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)

By Dave Roberts   

on April 10, 2012    No ratings yet.

Posted as a walk in – Anglesey / Ynys Mon, Europe, Wales, Wales Coast Path

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)

Route Essentials

Route Summary

See the end of the article for local information about parking, public transport facilities, pubs and cafes.

Distance

5.72 km

Ascent

286 m

Time

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Start Location

Difficulty

Easy Moderate Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Hazards

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?
Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need. 

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack) Ordnance Survey Map and GPX File Download

View the full route map

Download file for GPS

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)

A steady walk up Mynydd y Twr, Holyhead Mountain that has some pretty rough and steep sections on the descent (if in doubt, return the same way).

The Route

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)The route starts off at the lower South Stack Car park, where parking is free but limited (it gets busy quickly!). This is located at SH210 818 and can be reached from Holyhead by following the signs for South Stack from Holyhead (past the high school).

1 You have two options to start off, the best of which is to follow the coastal path waymarks which descends towards the clifftops. There isn’t much exposure, and the clifftop path from here to Twr Elin provides exceptional views towards Ynys Lawd and Pen-las Rock. There’s even a bench here, but doesn’t leave much room for people to pass when you’re seated! Follow this as far as Elin’s Tower, a white tower that’s unmistakeable.

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)

1a Alternatively, follow the wide track that starts near the disabled parking spots and leads to Twr Elin.

2 Take the steps directly up the hillside, again clearly marked with the coastal path waymark, up to the minor road. We took the path to the right that takes you to the middle car park and the cafe in order to pick up supplies.

3 Continue along the road (whichever route you took above) and when the road ends at a final tiny car park, ignore the sign for Mynydd Twr and instead head on uphill along the coastal path. The path is rather rough, but you soon arrive at an old lookout station with views that make it worth it. We could see the mountains of Wicklow clearly.

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)4 Keep on the coastal path, which climbs slowly, past a small lake to your right and the impressive views of towards North Stack across Bae y Gogarth.

5 Mynydd y Twr is clearly visible directly ahead, with people easily picked out on the summit. Keep on the coastal path, which takes you past the radio station buildings and a final climb to the high shoulder above North Stack where you leave the coastal path.

6 There are numerous paths to the summit, but there’s a clear path with steps that is easier than the other path 100m to the east. You only have 50m or so to climb, so you’re soon on the summit, leaving the heather behind for more welcoming grass.

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)7 The views are breathtaking from here, considering that you’ve only climbed to 220m. We could clearly make out the Wicklow Mountains as well as the Mourne in Ulster. There’s even the remains of a Roman signal tower on the summit that gives the hill its name (twr = tower). If you’re doing this as a prelude to the coastal path, then you can see the entire island and the mountains of Eryri beyond.

8 The descent we took was in a southerly direction and needs some care as it is steep and rough. It flattens out while you’re still high above the easy path, and the obvious route ends at the top of a cliff (which has a right of way crossing it!) Instead, take the route left which snakes it’s way easily enough through low gorse to the main footpath.

Walk to Mynydd y Twr (Holyhead Mountain) and Ynys Lawd (South Stack)9 Follow this path, towards the main radio station building (it looks like a 1970s block of toilets) and you’ll rejoin your earlier route for a short while before leaving it for a tarmac road. The track does descend back to the upper car park (the sign that you ignored earlier) but a more direct route is to follow the footpath that soon veers off parallel to the left of the track. This turns into an old lane (with remains of tarmac just discernable) that takes you directly down to the RSPB Cafe.

10 Follow the lane downhill to the start. It’s well worth visiting the hut circles while you’re there. These are yet another Cytiau’r Gwyddelod – or Huts of the Irish – of which there are at least 3 marked on the OS map for Ynys Cybi with another just across the water on the main island at Ynys Leurad between Y Fali and Four Mile Bridge.

Local Information and Recommended Maps and Guidebooks

Route Summary:

Route Start Location:

Distance
 Ascent
 Time
5.72 km 286 m

Calculate the time using Naismith’s Rule and factor in your own pace.

Activivity Type: Easy Moderate Walk, Trail or Fell Runs

Summits and Places on this Route

Facilities

Check out the businesses nearby for more places to stay and drink.

Hazards

Remember that we cannot outline every single hazard on a walk – it’s up to you to be safe and competent. Read up on Mountain Safety , Navigation and what equipment you’ll need.

Parking :

Public Transport:

Traveline for UK Public Transport

Weather Forecast:

Check out our Best Mountain Weather Forecast?

Recommended Maps: 

Landranger 114 Anglesey , Explorer 263 Anglesey East, Explorer 262 Anglesey West

Guidebooks:

Walking the Isle of Anglesey Coastal Path – Official Guide, Coastal Walks Around Anglesey

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Dave Roberts

Dave Roberts founded Walk Eryri in 2004, with the aim of providing routes that are off the beaten track. Walk Eryri is now part of Mud and Routes which continues to provide more off beat routes and walks in Snowdonia and beyond. Dave has been exploring the hills of Eryri for over thirty years, and is a qualified Mountain Leader. Dave also established Walk up Snowdon, Walk up Scafell Pike and Walk up Ben Nevis just to mention a few.

More Posts by Dave Roberts

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