Stroll - Llanbedrog Headland, visiting the "Iron Man"

Llanbedrog headland - clifftop path
                  
This fairly easy 3 mile stroll leads around Mynydd Tir y Cwmwd, the massive granite headland at Llanbedrog, a high point with spectacular views of the Llyn peninsula to the north west, and the Cambrian Coast to the south.
At the halfway point of the route is the Iron Man, a sculpture of a human form, which is said to sing in the wind. Bold laments of long ago battles? A proud Celtic warrior fending off invading Roman governors and power-hungry English kings?  Sometimes also called the Tin Man, this figure was installed in 2002 and is the most recent of a series that have held vigil high over the Llanbedrog skyline. It replaced a 1980 metal sculpture by Simon van de Put and which, in turn, replaced an original wooden figurehead from a ship, which had been placed there by Cardiff businessman Solomon Andrews, but had then been destroyed by vandals.

The three successive statue

Route: The route follows a well-defined stony path along the clifftop, circling gradually round to a high rocky platform above Llanbedrog, the location of the Iron Man statue.

This path does optionally continue onwards down a long steep flight of steps into the grounds of Plas Glyn-y-Weddw.  A better alternative is to retrace one's steps a short way back along the headland, then take the path ascending gently inland towards the trig point at the summit.

View from the Trig Point

Close to the trig point is a panoramic viewpoint at which an interpretation panel clearly identifies all the mountain summits which are in view from here.
All the visible summits are named at this viewpoint

The summit path then descends further inland, to meet the original minor road back into Llanbedrog.

The Llanbedrog headland originates as a huge granite deposit, and several long-defunct quarries on this cliff face once produced granite setts which were shipped away to cobble the streets of distant towns.
Geology of the Llanbedrog headland (screenshot from the BGS iGeology app)

Parking: Whilst there are various seaside car parks in Llanbedrog, it seems easier to start the walk from the small roadside parking area about 1/2 a mile along the narrow lane to Bolmynydd, which climbs fairly steeply up beside St Pedrog's Church Hall. This parking area is sufficient to accomodate about 6 tidily parked vehicles.

Parking area
Obstacles: None. Some care needed if approaching cliff edges.

Facilities: Public toilets and additional parking in Llanbedrog village. Cafe (and gallery) at Plas Glyn-y-Weddw.