Construction is underway on a new scenic cycleway along the North Wales coast – passing the northernmost point of the country.
The new route, from Talacre to Ffynonngroyw, brings the ambition of a coastal cycleway one step closer. At present, National Cycle Network route 5 diverts inland on hilly country roads, leaving the coast for 11 miles. The new path will complete the first six miles of a replacement coastal route.
The £750,000 project runs through an environmentally sensitive area – restricting the time of year at which work can be carried out – and skirts around the site of Point of Ayr Colliery. The colliery closed in 1996, the last deep mine in North Wales. Point of Ayr, the northernmost point on the Welsh mainland, is an RSPB reserve and renowned for its wading birds.
When it opens in August, the cycle route promises scenic coastal views and a safe alternative to the busy A548.