Barbary Pirate Lookout.
9th July 2026
Walk 8 saw GOES members explore the Maesdu, Bryniau Hill and Cwm Mountain areas of Llandudno. Before Maesdu Golf Club was established in 1915, this area of land made up part of Maesdu Farm with its assortment of whitewashed, stone buildings. This area had a long military association with the military. In 1938 the foundation stone of Llandudno hospital was laid by Lord and Lady Mostyn and the building of the new £69,000 hospital began. Previously the people of Llandudno had been treated at the Sarah Nicol Memorial Hospital on Trinity Avenue which opened in 1885 but by the late 1930s was wholly inadequate for the town’s needs. Continuing up Bryniau Hill we reached the watchtower known locally as ‘Granny’s Armchair’. It was built in the early part of the 17th century to guard against raids by Barbary Pirates who were marauding the coast at that time, stealing ship’s cargoes, and taking men and women to sell into slavery. From Bryniau Hill we ascended Cwm Mountain and heard about how the Home Guard carried a bathing hut to the summit to shelter in while on watch during the Second World War, only for it to blow away in a particularly fierce storm, before descending to the start point by the entrance to the hospital.
Many thanks to Adrian for leading this walk.