Criccieth Beach Paddle Boarding and exploring Tremadoc Bay

From charming seaside town and Criccieth Castle ruins to beautiful riverside meadows. On this high-tide route, launch from the Criccieth Beach at this charming seaside town and make your way up an estuary bordered by marshland, sandbanks, and beautiful water meadows. Oozing Welsh charm, Criccieth is probably best known as the home town of Liberal Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, who was brought up in nearby Llanystumdwy. The crescent-shaped sand and shingle beach, popular with local families, is protected by a headland crowned by the ruins of 13^th-century Criccieth Castle.

Leave from the beach and head right (west) towards the castle to explore the small gullies at the base of the vertical cliffs. Continue alongside the shingle beach and its wooden groins to reach the stones and shingle that mark the entrance to the estuary of the Afon Dwyfor.

Paddle upstream initially past marsh, then meadows and sand banks where you’re likely to spot wading birds. The fins of grey mullet often break the surface here as they bottom-feed in the shallows. Most high-water levels should allow you to paddle up to the railway bridge, which is the limit of this route. On the return, look out for the faint ruins of the old shipbuilding yard on the left (north bank) before enjoying the beautiful views across Bae Tremadog to the peaks of Eryri (Snowdonia). You might be lucky enough to encounter the pod of porpoises that visit this area in summer.

Distance 8.8km return

Paddling environment 4/5

Starting Point Traeth Criccieth, Criccieth, Llŷn Peninsula, LL52 0HZ. Grid ref. SH 503 380; What3Words binds.sparkle.fitter; Lat/long 52.919, -4.227

Parking Criccieth beach car park (charges), Esplanade, Criccieth, LL52 0HZ.

Launching Beach, short walk from car park

Pitstops Criccieth Bowls of Menai mussels and chips and great seafood by the beach, Dylans Criccieth, tel. 01766 522773 www.dylansrestaurant.co.uk/restaurant/locations/criccieth ; delicious selection of fish, scallops and chips, Castle Fish and Chips, tel. 01766 522081 www.castlefishandchips.co.uk ; plenty of flavours of creamy Ice-cream to try at Cadwaladers Ice Cream Parlour, the Iris, tel. 01766 523665 www.cadwaladersicecream.co.uk

Lessons & trips Llŷn Peninsula: Abersoch Watersports, tel. 01758 712483 www.abersochwatersports.co.uk

Getting there A497 E from Pwllheli ino Criccieth and continue along High Street. Turn R just past church and follow signs for Traeth/Beach to find car park on R.

Special points Start 2hrs before HW to ensure deeper water levels at the river entrance. River access is best on spring tides but can be paddled during neaps. The bay is exposed to SW wind and swell so check Surfline www.surfline.com at Criccieth for local conditions.

Offshore wind: N