Explore Pistyll

Hidden gem 

Nestled between Penrhyn Bodeilias and Carreg y Llam lies the impressive storm-beach of Porth Pistyll. Over a mile long, composed mostly of granite pebbles and often unfrequented, this beach boasts a lovely setting for silence and reflection.

Pilgrimage 

The grade I listed church of St. Beuno is situated in a quiet hollow above the sea. An unaltered example of a small medieval church in Wales, it is believed to have been built in the 12th Century. 

Named after St. Beuno, a 7th Century Welsh Abbot, pilgrims would stop at the church for a well needed rest on before continuing their long journey to Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island)  

Step back in time as you enter the church where the spirit of Celtic Christianity is very much alive. Look through the slot in the wall by the altar where lepers of the Middle Ages would watch mass away from the healthy churchgoers.  

Quarrying 

After the success of the granite quarry at Nant Gwrtheyrn and the high demand for building materials for the expansion of cities across the UK, Carreg y Llam quarry was opened in the late 19th Century. 

Between Carreg y Llam and two other quarries at Porth y Nant and Cae’r Nant, cargo ships were regularly loaded with granite setts and transferred to industrial cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. 

In the 1920s, large electrically operated stone crushers were assembled to produce ballast for roads and railways. In time, this introduced electricity to the local area. 

Archaeology  

On the Pistyll and Carreg y Llam coastline, hut circles and enclosures have been recognised as proof of settlements dating back to the late prehistoric and Romano-British periods. Unfortunately, a once small hillfort situated at Carreg y Llam was destroyed due to quarrying in the area. 

There have also been records of medieval and post-medieval houses in the same locations as the older settlements