Walking in Wales
Free walking routes across Wales — from Eryri and the North Wales coast to the Pembrokeshire cliffs, Bannau Brycheiniog and the Wye Valley.
Wales packs mountains, coast and quiet valleys into a small country, and every county below has its own starting towns and routes.
Mountains. Wales has three national parks: Eryri (Snowdonia) in the north, around Llanberis and Betws-y-Coed; Bannau Brycheiniog (formerly the Brecon Beacons) in the south, around Brecon and Crickhowell; and the Pembrokeshire Coast in the west.
Coast. The Wales Coast Path runs for 870 miles around the Welsh coast and opened in May 2012. With the Offa’s Dyke Path along the border, it forms a continuous walking route around almost all of Wales.
Valleys and borders. Monmouthshire, Powys and the South Wales valleys offer river, woodland and ridge walks, with market towns such as Abergavenny, Hay-on-Wye and Llangollen as good bases.
Pick a county to see its starting towns and routes. Take suitable footwear, a map or GPS app and waterproofs, and check the weather before heading onto higher ground.
Where to Walk in Wales
Eryri (Snowdonia)
Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), at about 1,085 metres, is the highest mountain in Wales, and Eryri has been a national park since 1951. Llanberis, Betws-y-Coed and Dolgellau are popular bases for mountain, lake and forest walks.
Bannau Brycheiniog
Pen y Fan, at 886 metres, is the highest peak in South Wales. Brecon, Crickhowell and Abergavenny are good bases, and the Beacons Way crosses the national park.
Pembrokeshire Coast
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path opened in 1970 and runs 186 miles from Amroth to St Dogmaels, past cliffs, coves and islands. St Davids and Tenby are popular starting points.
Offa’s Dyke and the Borders
The Offa’s Dyke Path opened in 1971 and runs 177 miles from Sedbury, near Chepstow, to Prestatyn. Hay-on-Wye sits on the route, and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen has been a World Heritage Site since 2009.
Mid Wales
Glyndŵr’s Way makes a 135-mile journey from Knighton to Welshpool by way of Machynlleth, through quiet hills and moorland. On the coast, Aberystwyth is a base for cliff walks on the Ceredigion section of the Wales Coast Path.
The South Wales Coast
Gower, near Swansea, and the Glamorgan Heritage Coast in the Vale of Glamorgan offer cliff, beach and headland walks within easy reach of Cardiff and the valleys.
Popular Starting Towns
Walks by County
North Wales
Mid Wales
South West Wales
South East Wales
Walking in Wales: FAQs
What is the highest mountain in Wales?
Can you walk the whole coast of Wales?
How many national parks are there in Wales?
Which National Trails are in Wales?
Which towns make good bases for walking in Wales?
Walking Elsewhere in the UK