Industrial Heritage Walk: Porthgain to Abereiddy

Your walk begins in the quaint harbour village of Porthgain. Though peaceful today, it was once a bustling industrial port exporting slate, stone and later crushed roadstone. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the harbour was extended to support large-scale quarrying operations in the surrounding cliffs.

The impressive brick hoppers that still stand above the harbour were used to store crushed stone before it was loaded onto ships. The remains of tramways and quarry buildings are visible along the coastline, powerful reminders of the village’s industrial importance.

Today, Porthgain blends history with creativity, home to galleries, cafés and welcoming spots for food and drink, making it an ideal place to begin or end your walk.

As you climb out of Porthgain and follow the coast path north, you’ll pass remnants of the area’s quarrying past embedded into the cliffs. This coastline was once alive with workers, machinery and vessels transporting materials across Britain.

The path itself offers sweeping views across the Irish Sea, with dramatic drops and rugged headlands shaped by both industry and nature. Interpretation boards along parts of the route help tell the story of how this landscape evolved.

The walk culminates at the world-famous Blue Lagoon at Abereiddy, a former slate quarry that has since been reclaimed by nature. When quarrying ceased in the early 20th century, the sea flooded the pit, creating the striking turquoise lagoon seen today.

Now known globally as a coasteering hotspot, the Blue Lagoon has hosted the prestigious Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, attracting athletes and spectators from around the world. Despite its modern adrenaline-fuelled reputation, its industrial origins remain clearly visible in the quarry walls that form its dramatic amphitheatre.