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Art and Walking: Kyffin Williams’ Anglesey Walks

The national charity Living Streets and Oriel Mon have partnered to create an exciting new project to develop and sustain guided walks with artistic interest. The walks are inspired by well known artist, Kyffin Williams.

Living Streets Cymru, part of the UK charity for everyday walking, and Oriel Mon have collaborated to create three led walks here on Anglesey – at Bae Trearddur, Llangefni and Pwllfanogl. A newly designed Kyffin Williams Walking Trail map featuring the three walks is available – in Welsh or English. These are available for free from Oriel Mon and a number of other Anglesey attractions.

The project has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the #15MinuteHeritage programme - thanks to National Lottery players.  The project funding supported the development of the walks, the creation of the maps and the training of staff and volunteers to undergo online Walk Leader training and develop their knowledge of Kyffin Williams and the walk routes. Although the project has finished, there will be regular guided walks offered at each of the three locations, under the guidance of volunteers and staff at Oriel Môn.

The walks support mental and physical wellbeing and connect local people to the work of Kyffin Williams at scenic locations on Anglesey. The led walks will be as accessible as possible for wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs, and will follow Covid-19 restrictions.

Rhiannon Hardiman, Manager, Living Streets Cymru said:

“The Guided Walks are a great way of helping people start to get back outside and enjoying their local area post-lockdown safely.

“Getting out to walk in fresh air is important for our wellbeing, helping us stay active and connected to people around us. The Kyffin Williams walking trails have the added bonus of teaching us about the art heritage that’s right on our doorstep.”

Feedback from those who have attended the led walk at Trearddur Bay in June include:

The led walk on Sunday was excellent and I learnt a lot about Kyffin and Trearddur.

Thank you for organising this. It was a very enjoyable morning, looking forward to more of these walks!

I thoroughly enjoyed the walk, the chance to learn about Kyffin’s art and the areas that were special to him was really interesting. I look forward to more walks in the future.

Born in Llangefni in 1918, Kyffin Williams is widely regarded as one of the most defining Welsh artists of the twentieth century and his paintings depict the ruggedness of Welsh landscapes and coastlines, often in wet, bleak and turbulent weather. Through his sketching and painting ‘en plein air’, he sets a great example of the fact that walking is all about what you wear and can be enjoyed come rain or shine.

If you would like to volunteer to lead some of our future walks, please email orielynysmon@ynysmon.llyw.cymru or visit orielmon.org/en-gb/learn/volunteer.

Walk at Trearddur Bay, June 2021
Walk at Trearddur Bay, June 2021
Funders' logos - thank you to all funders for making the project possible.
Funders' logos - thank you to all funders for making the project possible.

Maps

Volunteer