Wygyr riverside walk and Cemaes Community Woodland
Gentle village walk in Cemaes along the Afon Wygyr, with benches, red squirrels and the ruins of an old brickworks, plus a 5-acre volunteer-run woodland with a pond.
When the wind is whipping across the bay, head inland. Locals call this path Lawr yr Afon, and it follows the Afon Wygyr from the beach car park up the valley under the trees, with plenty of benches along the way. Volunteers look after it.
What to see and do
Red squirrels have returned to the valley, and the river is good for birdlife. In spring there are bluebells and ferns. Keep going under the main road bridge to find the ruins of the old brickworks and its chimney. A narrow-gauge railway once carried the bricks down to the harbour quay, and you can still spot bits of the track on the Harbour Hotel side. The valley's old name, Nant y Ddyfrgi, means stream of the otter.
Cemaes Community Woodland is a short walk away on Ffordd y Traeth. It was wasteland until 2003. Now it is 5 acres of native trees, wildflowers and bulbs, with a small pond, picnic benches and bird boxes. Its paths link to the beach road, the village park and another footpath through the village. Cwmni Cemaes, a local community enterprise, owns it.
Good to know
The main riverside path is broad and level, suitable for buggies and wheelchairs. The stretch up to the brickworks is unmade and often muddy, so wear boots. Cafés, a pub and the Heritage Centre are all close by on the High Street.