Sarn Bach waterfall walk

Including Pistyll Cim.

Ability requirements (key)

Directions

From Cardiff, take the A470 past Dolgellau until it turns right off itself, and the road ahead becomes the A487. Continue along the A487 to Porthmadog. From Porthmadog, take the A497 to Pwllheli. From Pwllheli, take the A499 to Abersoch. From Abersoch, follow lane markings for Sarn Bach. After passing the cross roads in Sarn Bach, take the second proper road (not a farm access track) to the left. Follow the road to the bitter end, where there is a parking area overlooking the beach. A fee is charged for parking. SH 3111 2492.

Route

At the corner where the road turns into the last part of the parking area, take the path that leads off along the clifftop fields (to the left when looking towards the beach from the road). This soon reaches a path junction where two paths come in from the left and another leads off to the right down to the beach. Continue roughly ahead instead, running in the same direction along the clifftops. Just as it swings left to join a track, take a smaller path that to the right, that again resumes the old direction along the clifftops.

Remain on the clifftop path, skirting a large field to get to the other side of a headland, where the path then crosses a small stream. The rather poor waterfall lies downstream, but to see it, you will need to leave the path and progress along the top of the cliffs of the tiny headland to the right. It's quite muddy and slippery, and a long way down onto the rocks, so take great care. A lot of rain is needed to make the stream flow enough to become interesting, but that also makes the mud worse. Return the same way.

Maps

KML files can be opened in Google Earth, Google Maps, GPX Viewer, and some other mapping services.

Waterfalls

More about this area

Whilst every care has been taken in the compilation of this description, neither the author nor his fellow walkers can accept responsibility for loss or injury arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this description. This description is intended as a guide only, and you should select a route to suit your own abilities, at your own discretion. Ability requirements are a guide only. Route maps are approximated. You follow this description at your own risk.