Landslip forces path walkers on 2-mile diversion

WALKERS are fuming after a landslip smashed part of the popular Wales Coast Path on the Llŷn peninsula.

Wooden steps at the western edge of Traeth Penllech near Tudweiliog were swept away in the landslip which happened last winter.

It prevents access to and from the headland at Porth Colmon and means walkers have to walk along the beach when the tide is out or make a two-mile detour inland to pick up the path again just 300 yards away.

But Gwynedd Council, who are responsible for the maintenance of the path, have only put up a sign at each end of the closed-off area and are yet to post a diversionary route well ahead of it.

The path in this area is also part of the Pilgrim’s Way from Holywell to Aberdaron and Bardsey island, and attracts walkers from all parts of the world.

Some walk the entire 870-mile route encircling Wales from Saltney to Chepstow, and this year has been one of the busiest since it opened officially in 2012.

The only indication of a problem is on the Wales Coast Path website. In an update posted in April it states “this is a long term closure and a diversion will be in place in due course”.

Ed and Sarah James from Congleton told the Daily Post they were in a group of four caught out by the closure last month.

After making their way to Llangwnnadl, they walked down the lane to Porth Colmon to start the eight-mile trek along the path to Tudweiliog and back to their holiday cottage near Morfa Nefyn.

“From where we turned off the Aberdaron road we saw no signs warning of the path closure,” said Ms James.

“If we had seen something we could have started from Traeth Penllech straight away. It was only when we got to the beautiful cove at Porth Colmon that we had the first inkling something was not quite right.

“The sign pointing towards the path was covered over but there was no advice so we carried on. A short distance later, the path drops down into another cove where we saw the red ‘path closed’ sign. There was a wooded board nearby but no advice on it.

“Our map showed the path leading from this cove and we followed it back to the road. We walked past where we were dropped off as we headed to Traeth Penllech. In all we walked more than two miles before we started our hike properly.”

The 50-year-old administrator said she spoke to several other walkers on the path that day who said they had also been caught out by the closure.

“If the tide was out or ebbing, we could have walked on the beach,” she said.

“It’s only a couple of hundred yards but, when we were in that area, high water was still an hour off and we decided it wasn’t worth the risk.”

Walkers have also commented on the Wales Coast path Facebook page about the closure.

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “Due to extreme weather, six sections of the coastal path in Gwynedd were temporarily closed earlier this year.

“Our officers worked hard to re-open as much of the path as possible with the vast majority reopened by Easter.

“Part of the coastal path between Traeth Penllech and Porth Colmon near Llangwnnadl remains closed to ensure the safety of the public.

“Due to the nature of the damage caused by a landslide, we are in discussions with nearby landowners regarding how best to resolve the issue. In the meantime, a diversion is in place from Porth Colmon to Llangwnnadl and back through the Traeth Penllech car park. We have installed signage at various locations to make members of the public aware.

“Our officers will visit the site in the coming days to inspect whether some signs have been removed and will make arrangements to install further signs if required.”