Discover the ancient magic of the “Holy Island” of Anglesey.
This walking route has it all: sacred wells, standing stones, Neolithic burial chambers, breathtaking coastal views, and a whole lot of ancient sacred history encapsulating both pre-Christian and Christian worlds.
On this pilgrimage, you enter an otherworldly landscape of prehistoric chambered cairns, cliffside holy wells, and remote tidal island churches as your footsteps honor the somber memory of the druids massacred on Anglesey by the Romans in the 1st Century AD.
From low-lying tidal pools and pretty beaches, your journey crescendoes to an epic sweeping view from the top of Mynydd Twr, the Holy Mountain– a preeminent sacred place of druidic culture. From this perspective, you glimpse the unfolding of your journey to this venerable place before descending to your journey’s end in Holyhead and a well-deserved celebratory rest.
Total distance:
9 Walking Segments / 70 miles
Start location:
Caernarfon, Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom
Finish location:
Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales, United Kingdom
Route direction:
Initially generally northeast, then turns generally northwest for majority of route
Sacred Springs & Wells on this route:
The informational materials provided with your mobile route map include details for where you’ll encounter each sacred spring or well, including in which Walking Segments they’re located. Each sacred spring or well is marked on your mobile route map with a designated icon shown in the provided map key.
- Segment 5: unnamed natural spring
- Segment 7: St. Gwenfaen's Well
- Segment 7: unnamed natural spring
- Segment 8: pair of unnamed natural springs
Standing stones on this route:
The informational materials provided with your mobile route map include details for where you’ll encounter each standing stone site, including in which Walking Segments they’re located. Each standing stone site is marked on your mobile route map with a designated icon shown in the provided map key.
- Segment 4: Trefwri 1 Menhir
- Segment 4: Trefwri 2 Menhir
- Segment 4: Bryngwyn Standing Stones
- Segment 8: Ty Mawr Menhir
- Segment 8: Meini Hirion Penrhosfeilw (excursion from walking route, 1 mile each direction)
Castles on this route:
The informational materials provided with your mobile route map include details for where you’ll encounter each castle site, including in which Walking Segments they’re located. Each castle site is marked on your mobile route map with a designated icon shown in the provided map key.
- Segment 1: Caernarfon Castle
- Segment 2: Penrhyn Castle (country house constructed in the style of a Norman castle; excursion, 4.3 miles each way from walking route)
Optional excursions shown on this route map:
The location of each optional excursion will be included in the informational materials provided with your mobile route map. Your route map will include color-coded navigation route lines for each excursion that can be followed in the same way as your main route, as described in the included instructional materials. Like other informational elements shown on your mobile route map, the Excursion route lines can be turned on or off to reduce distraction when not needed.
- from Segment 2: Penrhyn Castle country house; 4.3 miles each way
- from Segment 3: Ynys Dysilio- Church Island featuring 15th-century St. Tysilio's Church built over a 630 AD hermitage site; access to the island is via a short tidal causeway that can only be crossed when the water level is low; 0.2 mile loop route
- from Segment 3: candle-lit church built in 1856 on a site founded in 640 AD by St. Edwen, believed to be daughter or niece of St Edwin of Northumbria; 0.1 mile each way
- from Segment 4: Tre Ifan hut circles & Bodowyr burial chamber; 0.8 mile each way
- from Segment 5: Barclodiad y Gawres / Giantess' Apronful neolithic burial chamber & Mynydd Bach Round Cairn: 0.7 mile loop from route (joins back with the route 0.3 mile later)
- from Segment 8: Meini Hirion Penrhosfeilw standing stones; 1.1 miles each way
- from Segment 9: Ty Mawr Hut Circles (two Iron Age hut circle groups): 0.3 mile each way
- from Segment 9: Elin's Tower: 0.3 mile each way (or option to shortcut back to a point 0.3 mile later on main route)
- from Segment 9: iconic 1809 landmark lighthouse located on a small island reached via a descent of 400 steps down the steep mainland cliffs: 0.3 mile each way
9 Walking Days + 2 Rest & Integrate Days = 11-day immersive walking journey (not including travel to and from the route location)
What is a Rest & Integrate Day? Find out here.
Suggested itinerary:
An in-depth look into creating your pilgrimage itinerary can be found here.
- Day 0: travel Arrival Buffer Day
- Day 1: walk Segment 1: 5.3 miles
- Day 2: walk Segment 2: 5.9 miles
- Day 3: walk Segment 3: 8.9 miles
- Day 4: Rest & Integrate Day
- Day 5: walk Segment 4: 5.9 miles
- Day 6: walk Segment 5: 10.4 miles
- Day 7: walk Segment 6: 6.0 miles
- Day 8: Rest & Integrate Day
- Day 9: walk Segment 7: 8.2 miles
- Day 10: walk Segment 8: 7.1 miles
- Day 11: walk Segment 9: 5.9 miles
If you don’t have time to complete the entire route, you can choose the Custom Length option below to have your route trimmed to the number of Segments you do have time for. (Remember to include a Rest & Integrate Days for every 3-4 days of walking for a full immersive experience). For example, if you have time for 6 Walking Days and 1 Rest & Integrate Day, you can choose to do Walking Segments 1 – 6, or Walking Segments 4 – 9, or any six consecutive Walking Segments of your choice.
If you prefer to start with Segment 9 in Holyhead and finish with Segment 1 in Caernarfon, choose the Reverse Direction option below.
You also typically have the option to engage the use of ground transportation for help in completing any Walking Segments that might seem to be of a daunting length. Catch a bus or grab a taxi or use a ride-hailing app.
Nearest airport to start of route (international, regional):
Hawarden, Chester (CEG); 64 miles from trailhead
Nearest airport to end of route (international, regional):
Blackpool International Airport, Blackpool (BLK / EGNH); 74 miles from end of route
Nearest transit stations to start of route:
Bangor Station (BNG); Station Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 1LZ From Bangor Station to Caernarfon:33 minutes by bus ($2 - $4): Stop H for buses towards Caernarfon and Anglesey is a 2 minute walk from the booking office, on Caernarfon Road17 minutes by taxi ($29 - $35)
Caernarfon Bus Station (Penllyn); Poolside, Caernarfon, LL55 1NW Main bus and coach routes include:1/1A Bangor - Caernarfon - PorthmadogT2 Aberystwyth - Machynlleth - Dolgellau - Caernarfon - BangorS4 Caernarfon - Beddgelert5/5C/X5 Caernarfon - Bangor - Conwy - Llandudno9/9A Bangor - Caernarfon88 Caernarfon - LlanberisNational Express 545 London Victoria - Birmingham - Shrewsbury - Wrexham - Chester - Rhyl - Colwyn Bay - Llandudno - Bangor - Caernarfon - Pwllheli
Nearest transit stations to end of route:
Holyhead Station (HHD); Station Approach, London Road, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 2BT; 0.5 mile from end of route For the nearest bus stop from the station, walk across the footbridge from railway station and turn right onto Victoria Road. Holyhead Port terminal adjacent to railway station offers ferry services to Dublin.
Navigation app:
You’ll need a navigation app in order to use your mobile route map on your phone.
I recommend and provide step-by-step instructions for installing and using the highly regarded Caltopo app. It’s available for iOS and Android, in a free version and in a $20 paid upgrade version for offline use.
With the Caltopo app, you’ll be able to track your location on the map, so you’ll be able to view your progress along the route, see how far you have to go, and never worry about getting lost.
Unless you have satellite phone plan that provides universal coverage, I recommend the upgrade to Caltopo’s Mobile plan ($20 for a year of use), which allows you to find your way whether or not you have a signal (or prefer to leave your phone in Airplane Mode). The app does work better while connected, but will get you by when not, and I’ll share tips in your route materials for how to get the best usage experience. That said, it wasn’t that long ago when I was navigating solely via paper maps and trail markers… and I’m here to tell the tale.
Caltopo requirements:
iPhone: iOS 16.0 or later; the app has a file size of 172.5 MB
Android: 5.1 (Lollipop) or higher; the app has a file size of 32.7 MB
The informational materials provided with your mobile route map will walk you step-by-step through adding the navigation app to your phone, setting up your Caltopo account (free or upgraded) for logging into the mobile app, importing your route map, and all of my best tips for setting it up and using it for on-trail navigation.
Here’s where to find the Caltopo app if you want to check it out before receiving your route map’s step-by-step instructional materials:
If you already have a navigation app that you know and love, feel free to contact me after your mobile route map purchase to request a map file to import. Keep in mind that in most, if not all, cases, some of the functionality of the Mystic Path Mobile Route Maps’ interactive icons and the appearance of some of the map elements may not transfer correctly.
I don’t have any affiliation with Caltopo; I’ve simply found it to be the best tool for navigating with Mystic Path Mobile Route Maps that’s available for both iOS and Android.
Unless you've selected personalization options, your mobile route maps will be delivered to your Mystic Path account for access upon purchase, along with all of the necessary instructions and materials for using them.
If you’ve selected personalization options for your mobile route map, you’ll receive an email notice when your personalized route (and its accompanying informational materials) have been delivered to your Mystic Path account.
Alright, let's get the not-so-fun stuff out of the way...
Digital Products Policy key points:
No Refunds on Digital Products once downloaded, except as stated in the Digital Products Policy
Due to the non-tangible and irrevocable nature of digital products, all sales are considered final and non-refundable once the product has been downloaded.
Please reach out with any questions before completing your purchase, or if you need help accessing or using your mobile route maps.
Any refund requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and must be submitted within 14 days of purchase.
Single User License
Each digital product is for a single user license. Sharing credentials or allowing others to use the digital products is prohibited.
Instead, consider purchasing multiple copies of your chosen route for your walking group companions, or grab gift cards below for your favorite fellow wayfarers.
Digital Product Policy
View the full Digital Product & Refunds Policy here.
Make it YOUR journey...
Personalization options for your route map.
Descriptions for each of these Personalization Options can be found back on the main Shop Page, where you have the option to add them there as well…
