Morfa Nefyn, Porthdinllaen and the Ty Coch Inn: a guide
The beach walk to the Ty Coch, parking, food times, walks nearby, and where 16 of you can eat and stay.
Morfa Nefyn sits on the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula, about seven miles from Pwllheli. The bay curves west to Porthdinllaen and the Ty Coch Inn. You cannot drive to the pub. That is part of the appeal. Guests staying in our holiday lets on the Llŷn Peninsula ask about three things: the walk, the dogs and dinner for 16.
What does Morfa Nefyn mean?
Morfa means salt marsh in Welsh, from môr (sea) and -fa (place). So Morfa Nefyn means roughly Nefyn's sea marsh. The village has about 1,200 people in north Wales. It is less than two miles from Nefyn. In the 2021 census, 72.3% of residents could speak Welsh.
What are the best walks near Morfa Nefyn?
Four popular walks start close to Morfa Nefyn: the Porthdinllaen loop, Garn Boduan above Nefyn, Nant Gwrtheyrn and Yr Eifl. Only the first has a pub halfway round. The other three are proper hill walks, so bring boots and check the weather first.
| Walk | Distance | Time | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porthdinllaen loop | 2.5 miles | 1 to 2 hours | National Trust car park, Morfa Nefyn (LL53 6DA) |
| Garn Boduan | 5 miles | 3 to 3.5 hours | Parc-y-Ddol car park, Nefyn (LL53 6HP) |
| Nant Gwrtheyrn | 3.5 miles | About 2 hours 40 minutes | Car park north of Llithfaen (LL53 6NU) |
| Yr Eifl and Tre'r Ceiri | 8 miles | About 4 hours | Car park above Llithfaen (LL53 6PA) |
Images © Keenan Wills
Garn Boduan
Garn Boduan is the hill behind Nefyn, 279 metres high, with an Iron Age hillfort on top. A 1950s survey counted 170 hut circles there. The climb is steep and rough, and the paths fade near the summit, so save it for a clear day. Dogs on leads.
Nant Gwrtheyrn
Nant Gwrtheyrn is a former quarry village at the bottom of a steep road with two hairpin bends. It was abandoned during the Second World War and is now the Welsh language and heritage centre, with a café. The circular walk heads down towards the sea and climbs about 1,000 feet in total.
Is Morfa Nefyn beach dog friendly?
Mostly, with a summer catch. From 1 April to 30 September, Gwynedd Council bans dogs from marked zones on Morfa Nefyn and Nefyn beaches. The rest of the sand stays open. From October to March, dogs can go anywhere. The council's dog control order shows the zones.
Yr Eifl and Tre'r Ceiri
Yr Eifl is the three-topped hill you can see from the beach. Its highest top, Garn Ganol, is 564 metres, the highest point on the Llŷn. Another, Tre'r Ceiri, is an Iron Age hillfort with the remains of about 150 stone houses. The Llŷn AONB's Llithfaen circular walk takes in Yr Eifl, Tre'r Ceiri and Nant Gwrtheyrn in one go.
How do you get to the Ty Coch Inn?
On foot only. Cars in Porthdinllaen are for residents with permits. The pub says it takes about 20 minutes over the golf course from the car parks. You can also walk from the National Trust car park along the beach. That route is better, but high tide cuts it off, so check the tide times.
The National Trust's Porthdinllaen trail is a 2.5-mile loop. Allow one to two hours. In October 2026, part of the path near the lifeboat hut was closed, with a diversion behind the pub.
Tŷ Coch Inn image © Wales Online
Where do you park for the Ty Coch Inn?
Use the National Trust car park at the bottom of Lôn Golff (postcode LL53 6DA) or the golf club car park. Both charge. From Pwllheli, take the A497 to Nefyn, then the B4412. Follow the signs for the golf course.
Does the Ty Coch Inn take bookings?
No. The Ty Coch does not take reservations or table bookings. So a group of 16 turns up like everyone else and spreads out on the terrace and sand. Go early in summer. Treat it as drinks and a sandwich, not the main event.
What time does the Ty Coch Inn serve food?
Lunchtime only, from 12pm to 2.30pm. There is nothing in the evening. The menu is simple: sandwiches, soups and light bites, plus real ale, cider and wine. Hours are shorter out of season, sometimes weekends only. Check before you walk.
Is the Ty Coch Inn dog friendly?
Yes. CAMRA lists the Ty Coch as dog-friendly. The National Trust trail is too. About one in four bookings at our Nefyn holiday homes bring a dog. That is 25 of 105 since August 2024, so we get asked this a lot.
Where can a large group eat near Morfa Nefyn?
Book a table in the village rather than relying on the Ty Coch. Y Bryncynan is a 19th-century pub that serves food. The Cliffs Restaurant and Bar looks out over the bay. Tŷ Cod does take-away fish and chips. Ring ahead for anything over ten.
Porthdinllaen and the pub's past
Porthdinllaen is a hamlet with a handful of houses. The National Trust has owned it since 1994. It also has an RNLI lifeboat station dating from 1864. Around 1900, the Ty Coch's landlady was Mrs Jones. She also ran a girls' school, served as harbour master, and raised six children.
Where to stay near Morfa Nefyn
Our three large, dog-friendly self-catering holiday homes in North Wales are in Nefyn, less than two miles away. Y Nyth sleeps 16 in 8 bedrooms. 49 of its 56 bookings have been groups of 12 or more. It is made up of two joined houses, Gwynt Y Mor and Ceg Y Bae, which sleep 8 each and can also be booked separately. Dogs are welcome at all three (£25 per dog). More on our Llŷn Peninsula page.
Bringing all 16?Y Nyth sleeps 16 in Nefyn, less than two miles from Morfa Nefyn. Dogs welcome.
See Y Nyth
