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Porthdinllaen Gwynedd Wales

Welcome to Porthdinllaen Gwynedd Wales

Porthdinllaen History

Porthdinllaen History

Porthdinllaen History -  has belonged to the National Trust since 1994. Porthdinllaen has a extensive history which dates back to the 18th century. In fact, Porthdinllaen means “the harbour of Dinllaen” this name orginates from the Lageni tribe. Porthdinllaen started as an iron age fort on the headland but eventually became a fully working harbour and a main port for shipbuilding and fishing industries. To this day the harbour is still used by local fisherman.

Beach

Porthdinllaen Beach

Porthdinllaen Beach - this spacious sandy beach can be visited all year round. The beach is wellmaintained by the National Trust and has stunning views in all directions. Porthdinllaen is bursting with rock pools and wildlife. Near Porthdinllaen is a Tavern called Tŷ Coch and here you can enjoy a range of drinks and small bites to eat. Access to the pub is on foot as vehicle access is for residents only.

Harbour

Porthdinllaen Harbour

Porthdinllaen Harbour - in the 18th century Porthdinllaen began as an iron age fort on the headland but the fully working harbour quickly became a centre for the shipbuilding and fishing industries. The harbour was useful for landing and loading cargo. As the harbour was enclosed, ships would sometimes take shelter there due to strong winds and tides.
In the 19th century parliamentary powers were obtained for Porthdinllaen and the harbour then became a port for ships enroute to Dublin. Member of Parliament, William Maddock, saw the opportunity and built a causeway (road connecting to an island at low tide) at Porthmadog. This was so that cargo could be easily transported from London to Dublin via Porthdinllaen. Fast forward to the present day and the harbour is still used by local fisherman and you can still see the causeway… at low tide of course.

Parking and Accessibility

Porthdinllaen Parking and Accessibility

Porthdinllaen Parking and Accessibility - the car park is 1 mile from the beach. Accessibility to Porthdinllaen is limited due to uneven surfaces and steps. Please take this into consideration before planning your trip. The National Trust owns the car park. Parking is free for members of the National Trust. Pay and display machines accept coins only however you can pay online using PayByPhone. We recommend you download the app beforehand. Public toilets can be found close by. There are dog-restriction areas on the beach as well as boat exclusion zones.

Location Of The Park