At the upper end of a remote, narrow river valley lies Gwytherin. The village at the bottom of the Cledwen Valley combines a striking landscape with traces of religious history: from a church with a varied history of use to early medieval inscribed stones. For planning your trip, two sections of the North Wales Pilgrim’s Way of different lengths are also of interest.

Gwytherin in the Cledwen Valley

The Cledwen runs roughly from south to north through the valley. Gwytherin lies at its upper end in a highland region. This geographical setting gives the place a clear framework for exploration: the church, churchyard and associated history are found in the small village, while the Pilgrim’s Way names Gwytherin as both a destination and a starting point for stages.

Among the older traces in the landscape are the remains of St. Gwenfrewi’s Chapel. They survive as a flattened mound with a shallow depression three metres across. This is a different kind of evidence from the inscribed stones in the churchyard: here, an earlier chapel site can be recognised by its remaining form in the landscape.

The Pilgrim’s Way: two stage lengths

The North Wales Pilgrim’s Way includes a seven-mile section from Llansannan to Gwytherin and a 3.4-mile section from Gwytherin to Pandy Tudur. The stage to Pandy Tudur is less than half as long as the section from Llansannan to Gwytherin. Check route conditions before setting out on a walk.

A Visit Conwy pilgrimage route also leads to Gwytherin: the village is the fifth stop on the route. For this stop, the route lists St Winifred’s Church and the row of ancient standing stones. This places the village’s history in a wider pilgrimage context, without requiring you to undertake a complete circular walk.

St Winifred’s Church and its history

St Winifred’s Church stands in the heart of the village. The present building was constructed in 1867–69 and has a Victorian character. St Winefride is closely connected with Gwytherin’s religious history: she joined a community there and became its abbess. Thus, the present church building and an older story of a saint stand side by side in the village.

The church’s use changed significantly later. In 2005, St Winifred’s Church was closed and converted into a history centre and wedding venue called The Gwenfrewi Project. The church has no regular opening hours. If you are travelling specifically for a visit, ask locally in advance about the possibility of access.

Individual furnishings also tell stories of different periods. A Celtic cross-slab is set into the step leading to the chancel. A fragment of the shrine of St Winifred, formerly housed in the church, was found in June 1991 at the rectory in Holywell. An oak shrine called Arch Gwenfrewi, once housed in the church, was later sold off in pieces.

The stones in the churchyard

North of the church, a group of four inscribed stones forms an east–west row. The westernmost stone bears the inscription “VINNEMAGLI FILI/SENEMAGLI”. A sixth-century Latin inscription names Vinnemaglus, son of Senemaglus. The stones have been associated with an early medieval monastic complex.

The churchyard also contains four ancient yew trees. The most venerable is considered to be the yew east of the chancel. Together with the stones, they draw attention to different kinds of evidence at the same site: inscribed remembrance, religious tradition and older vegetation. If your visit also includes the church interior, bear in mind that there are no regular opening hours.

Discover more destinations: Llanbedr-Y-Cennin, Dolwyddelan, Abergele, Llanrwst, Pentrefoelas, Dolgarrog, Llandudno Junction, Deganwy.

For the wider travel overview: Conwy.