Hiking in Wales: 6 Most Amazing Trails

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Wales is a country of rugged beauty, with mountains and valleys to explore. You’ll find long stretches of coastline along the Irish Sea where you can enjoy miles of sandy beaches. And some of the best places for hiking in Wales will give you a stunning combination of all that good stuff.

From the towering mountains in Snowdonia National Park to the rocky coastlines of Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales has plenty to offer for those looking for an outdoor adventure.

Every hike is different and offers something new. From views of rolling hillsides to breathtaking coastline cliffs that seem like they’re right out of a movie set. 

The 6 Best Hikes in Wales

These are some of Wales’ most popular hikes and a few hidden gems, which are sure to leave you feeling rejuvenated and ready for your next journey. Whether you’re looking for a quick day hike or an all-day trek with overnight camping options, read on!

1. Mount Snowdon

One of the most popular places for hiking in Wales is Snowdon, which is the 3rd tallest mountain in the UK, with the peak reaching a height of a whopping 3,560 feet.

It is an extremely safe hike, but one of the most important things to remember is that it’s still a mountain. This means you must be sensible and take the correct clothing and footwear with you. 

If you’ve never done something like this before, the trails “Pyg” and “Miners” are the ones recommended. These two routes meet on the way so it gives you the option to walk up one and down the other. It would be best for you to walk up Pyg and come back down Miners. 

The hike takes roughly 3 hours without any breaks. However, if you want to stop for a breather, lunch or to take multiple photos it can take up to 7 hours, which means leaving early. It’s a good idea to start the hike at around 10am at the latest, regardless of your fitness levels as it can also get fairly busy. 

Also, make sure you have a good breakfast and take drinks and food with you. Chicken sandwiches and isotonic energy drinks are simple options, but they do the trick.

The hike is fairly difficult, however, with plenty of breaks, it’s a fun challenge to get to the summit. Plus, the views you get on the way make it well worth the effort (the photo doesn’t do it justice).

2. Pen-y-Fan

The Pen-y-Fan hike is the most popular hike in the Brecon Beacons, taking you to the top of Pen-y-Fan Mountain. The views are spectacular and well worth the effort it takes to get up there.

The actual distance of the hike is only 8 miles, but it has over 1400 meters (4500ft)of ascent. The terrain includes boggy ground, steep ascents and descents and scrambling up rocks. So, you need to be prepared for a challenging, but fun, day out.

To get to Pen-y-Fan you need to park at Corn Du, the car park is found on the A470 between Storey Arms and Brecon. The starting point of this hike is actually not Pen y Fan but Corn Du (the highest point of this mountain).

From the parking area, follow the footpath signs for ‘Pen y Fan’. This is part of an Iron Age hillfort, you will notice a few hut circles along the ridge.

After about an hour walking you will be rewarded with amazing views over Brecon, as well as deep into Wales, the Black Mountains and the surrounding beautiful countryside.

This beautiful route is easily one of the best mountain walks in Wales.

3. Strumble Head

At the end of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, the imposingly attractive Strumble Head Lighthouse provides a focal point for one of the best places for hiking in Wales.

The walk climbs to the summit of Garn Fawr, the highest point on this stretch of coastline. At the summit, an Iron Age fort constructed more than 2,500 years ago makes excellent use of the hill’s natural lines, linking the rocky outcrops with stone walls.

But the highlight of the walk is the stunning views. A patchwork of green fields disappears into headlands. Then, Pembrokeshire’s remarkable coastline provides mood-lifting views that stretch towards impossibly beautiful sunsets.

The walk starts at the Garn Fawr Car Park and the easiest way to get here is to drive. Alternatively, a bus service runs intermittently from St Davids.

The walk is challenging with a steep climb to the summit (around 200 metres). The total distance is 10 kilometres. It’s a great walk for people who like to escape the crowds.

Plus, although it’s long, there are no tricky sections, so it’s suitable for anyone with a decent level of fitness. Allow around 3 hours and 30 minutes for the walk.

4. Llyn Peninsula

Hiking around the Llyn Peninsula is a must-see for anyone visiting Wales. This beautiful peninsula is located on the west coast of Wales, between Caernarfon and Bangor. The Llyn Peninsula is a wildlife haven. It offers amazing views across the sea up to the mountains which surround this area.

There are many great mountain walks on the Llyn Peninsula including Snowdon, Moel Eilio and Arenig Fawr. If you are new to hiking, this is a great walk to start with. The terrain is more forgiving than higher mountains.

Hiking around the peninsula takes you through an amazing variety of landscapes. From coastal views over Porthmadog and the island of Eynhallow to deep forested glens. You’ll pass open moorland and impressive views down into the villages.

Many people come to Wales to hike in Snowdonia National Park. But there are many great mountain walks around the Llyn Peninsula that are equally, if not even more breathtaking.

You can reach this area from Caernarfon or Porthmadog by car or public transport and then hire a bike to explore the area on two wheels.

There are plenty of campsites available in this region where you can stay overnight, and there are also loads of self-catering cottages and apartments available.

5. Castell Coch and Forest Fawr Walk

For one of the best hikes in Wales, the Castell Coch and Fforest Fawr circular walk is on the outskirts of Cardiff. It’s just a 20-minute drive from the city centre.

The best way to get to this walk is to input the postcode, CF15 7JS, in the sat nav. Then, follow directions to the entrance of the castle. If getting public transport, the train or bus are the best options.

Get the number 26 bus from the city centre or the train from Cardiff Central to Taffs Well and the castle is a short walk away from both stations.

This walk starts at Castell Coch (translated to Red Castle). It’s one of the most fairytale-looking castles in Wales and leads to four paths through the Fforest Fawr.

Along the route, you can see the famous Welsh valleys, historical mines, animal wood carvings along the ‘Sculpture trail’ and views of the distant ocean when reaching the top. Take your own picnic and grab a bench near the wizard sculpture to enjoy before descending back towards the castle. 

Except for a steep incline at the start, the walk is easy and ideal for anyone, even if you’re not a regular walker. There are four routes altogether which are signposted and colour-coded.

The best route to take is Sir Henry’s Trail. This is the circular route that passes everything there is to see. At a regular pace, this walk takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes covering a distance of over 5km. 

6. St David’s Head

The Pembrokeshire Coast Path is arguably one of the most magnificent – and yet accessible – coastal walks in the UK. With 190 miles (306km) of stunning coastal scenery, craggy cliffs, calm turquoise bays and soft sandy beaches, you’re spoiled for choice.

All of it is well-managed and signposted by the National Trust. But my favourite part – and one of the best things to do in Pembrokeshire – is the St David’s Head coastal walk.

The walk starts at Whitesands Beach, about 15 15-minute drive from St David’s, a tiny city in the UK. Here there’s a large car park and a small gift shop and café where you can grab an ice cream to give you energy for your walk. 

From the car park, the walk takes you uphill to the clifftop. Then, around the whole of St David’s Head, a craggy peninsula that juts out from the northern tip of Pembrokeshire.

Along the way, you’ll pass plunging cliffs formed of ancient volcanic rock, a 4000-year-old Neolithic burial site, and Ramsey Island with its lighthouse. You may be able to spot porpoises playing in the waves.

The walk is one of the best hikes in Wales. It’s about 6 km and takes about 1.5 hours if you don’t stop to take too many photos! It’s quite short and accessible, so good for almost anyone as long as you have a basic level of fitness.

Final Thoughts on the Best Places for Hiking in Wales

Wales is easily one of my favourite places to go hiking in the UK. There are so many trails and such a wide variety of walks.

You can be scaling a mountain one day and exploring a waterfall the next. Then, you can head to the coastline for oceanside hikes with remarkable views.

If you love the outdoors and want a countryside playground with loads to see and do, you can’t go wrong with hiking in Wales.

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