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Cycle Ride On Anglesey
Bodedern
to Church Bay
and Porth Trwyn,
Porth Crugmor & Howell Water Mill
Quiet lanes, lovely beaches on National Trust-owned coast and a historic water mill
Route: Bodedern - Llanfaethlu - Porth Trwyn - Porth Crugmor - Church Bay (Porth Swtan) - Church Hill - Llanfairynghornwy - Mynedd Mechell - Elim - Water Mill near Llanddeusant - Bodedern. (The first 3 and last 4 miles are the same as the Bodedern to Cemaes Ride. Please note that for about a 300 yard stretch the lane before the water mill has deteriorated into a fairly rough track)
Distance: 24 miles
Ascent: 350 metres. A fair number of typical Anglesey undulations where one can build up speed on a descent to help one at least part way up the following ascent. A long and fairly tough climb up Church Hill and a steep but short ascent into the village of Llanfairynghornwy.
Start: free car park at the school on the left soon after entering the outskirts of Bodedern from the A55 Grid Ref: 331801 (OS map 50,000 Anglesey No 114)
The Ride
Turn Left out of car park and go along the narrow road through Bodedern
Turn Left at T junction (B5109)
Turn first Right signposted Llanfigael, Llanddeusant
Turn 1st Left just before a chapel
Turn 1st Right just after a bungalow
At T Junction Turn Left on to A5025 (Take care on this short stretch of main road)
Very shortly Turn 1st Right signposted Llanfwrog etc
At T Junction in outskirts of Llanfaethlu Turn Left signposted Church Bay
After a right-angle bend after descent to coast Turn Left down short track marked Porth Trwyn to visit beach and then return to road and Turn Left
After Two Thirds of a mile Turn Left down track marked Porth Crugmor to visit beach and then return to road and Turn Left
After half a mile Turn Left to visit Church Bay (Porth Swtan - NB the thatched cottage folk museum, Swtan, can be reached via the Church Bay car park) and then return
Turn Left and ascend to Church
At Church Turn Right
Turn sharply 1st Left
Keep Right at fork
After passing Church Hill summit on your Right descend steeply and Turn Right at T Junction
Continue to village of Llanfairynghornwy and Turn 2nd Left just after church signposted Coastal Road
On reaching A5025 go straight across
Turn 1st Right at sign for Kay's Nursery
Turn Right at T Junction
Turn 1st Right near former chapel
After one and three quarter miles Turn Left (this unsignposted turn can easily be overlooked - it is just after a former chapel and just before the village sign 'Llanddeusant')
On entering hamlet of Elim Turn Right opposite church ('Single Track Road')
After just over one third of a mile visit water mill on your left and then continue
Turn Left at T Junction
Turn Right at T Junction signposted Trefor
Turn Left signposted Bodedern and go past Llyn Llywenan
Turn Right at T junction (B5109)
Turn Left just after Church (on right) in Bodedern to return to car park
Points of Interest
Most of the heritage coast near the following beaches belongs to the National Trust. In spring the gorse of this whole area is a brilliant yellow.
Porth Trwyn has an extensive sandy beach
Porth Crugmor is a quiet, attractive creek
Church Bay (Porth Swtan) has a long sandy beach backed by steep headlands and is popular in the holiday season. There is a good cafe and a well-known seafood restaurant (The Lobster Pot).
Swtan Thatched Cottage was built as an 18th century crofting longhouse. It is the last remaining thatched cottage on the island. It is open on certain days as a folk museum and has been updated for 2006. It belongs to the National Trust but is leased by the Friends of Swtan. It is reached from Church Bay car park. Click here to visit website.
Church Hill (Mynedd-y-Garn) at 570 feet is the highest point in this area of Anglesey. The summit has panoramic views and can be reached by walking a 500 yard footpath that starts shortly after passing a house on the Right.
Howell Water Mill near Llanddeusant is in a pretty dell. From Easter it is open free of charge and has a certain amount of its original equipment.
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