Criccieth Castle and Morfa Bychan Walk
Gwynedd
Criccieth Castle stands on a rocky headland above two long sandy beaches, a thirteenth century Welsh fortress later strengthened by Edward I and now in the care of Cadw. This dog friendly walk follows the Wales Coast Path west from the castle through the village, around the headland of Graig Ddu and along the dunes to the spectacular Morfa Bychan, also known as Black Rock Sands, one of the only UK beaches you can drive a car onto.
The terrain is a mix of pavement, clifftop grass and beach, with one short steep climb above the cliffs. Dogs are welcome at the castle on a lead in the grounds, and Black Rock Sands has dog friendly zones marked with red signs at each access point (most of the beach allows dogs year round, with seasonal restrictions on the central section in summer). Watch the tides on the long return along the shore. Multiple dog friendly cafes in Criccieth. Pay and display parking on the seafront and at Black Rock Sands.
At a Glance
- Distance
- 9.0 km (5.6 miles)
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Duration
- 3 hr
- Walk Type
- Coastal, Historic
- Route Type
- Out and Back
- Off Lead Potential
- Moderate
- Livestock Risk
- Low
- Facilities
- Criccieth has multiple dog friendly cafes and pubs, toilets at Black Rock Sands seasonally.
- Parking
- Pay and display car parks at Criccieth seafront and Black Rock Sands, around 200 spaces total.
Dog Friendly Stays Nearby
Make a weekend of it. These are the closest dog friendly places to stay to Criccieth Castle and Morfa Bychan Walk, each one checked for its dog policy before we listed it.
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What’s Nearby?
Beach0.3 mi awayCriccieth Beach
Gwynedd
A sandy beach dominated by Criccieth Castle's medieval silhouette with seasonal restrictions from 1 April to 30 September, Cadwaladers legendary ice cream and the classic charm of a Welsh seaside resort.
2 mi awayBlack Rock Sands Touring and Camping Park
Gwynedd
A dog friendly, all grass touring and camping park behind the sand dunes of Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog, with the wide open beach right on hand.
Beach2.5 mi awayBlack Rock Sands
Gwynedd
A vast, famous Cardigan Bay beach where vehicles can drive onto the sand, with Snowdonia as a backdrop, a seasonal restriction from 1 April to 30 September and excellent off-lead space outside the season.
Walk5.6 mi awayPortmeirion Village and Dwyryd Estuary Walk
Gwynedd
An estuary walk circling the wooded peninsula above the Italianate village of Portmeirion, with views of the Dwyryd sands and the mountains of Eryri.
Beach6.5 mi awayHarlech Beach
Gwynedd
A vast sandy beach below UNESCO World Heritage Harlech Castle with the Snowdonia mountains as a backdrop, a seasonal restriction from 1 April to 30 September and one of Wales's finest off-lead walks outside season.
Walk7.1 mi awayCwm Pennant Circular Walk, Snowdonia
Gwynedd
A wild, lonely dog friendly mountain circuit at the head of Cwm Pennant, taking in the rugged peaks of the Hebog and Nantlle ranges.