Discover Wales

Hiking

With its three national parks, mountainous landscape, wild coastline, and lush green interior, Wales is the perfect place to discover on foot. Here are some suggestions...

The Wales Coast Path

The world’s first uninterrupted national coastal path runs for 1,400km and takes in some of the best sights the country has to offer, from castles and fishing villages to pods of Risso dolphins and colonies of gannets. 

Glyndŵr’s Way

Named after Owain Glyndŵr, the last Welsh Prince of Wales, this 217km route is perfect for those looking to get off the beaten track. The Glyndŵr’s Way takes walkers through one of the least inhabited parts of Britain, between Knighton and Welshpool.

Offa’s Dyke Path

Running for 285km from south to north Wales along the English border and celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, this 8th-century earthwork created to keep the Welsh out, is now one of Britain’s best-loved walking routes.

Elan Valley Trail

An accessible 13km trail that follows the old Birmingham Corporation Railway line along the Afon Elan river, several reservoirs and ends up at the impressive Craig Goch Dam.

North Wales Pilgrim’s Way

The North Wales Pilgrim's Way follows a 217km waymarked walking route, between Basingwerk Abbey near Holywell and Bardsey Island. The route links 6th century churches and sites of religious significance across North Wales, taking in mountains, waterfalls, thousand year old crosses and stone circles.

The Cambrian Way

The Cambrian Way long distance trail offers 481km of meandering, remote pathways between Cardiff and Conwy, taking you up some of the highest peaks in Wales. The route starts by heading towards the Black Mountains before crossing westwards over the Brecon Beacons and into the Cambrian Mountains. From there it's northwards, taking in Cader Idris, the Rhinogs, Snowdon and the Carneddau mountains.

For a thrill

For something more thrilling, take off the hiking books and instead don a helmet, a life jacket or a harness and throw yourself into these heart-racing adventures in Wales...

Zip World

Wales has always been known as the land of song, more recently it’s known internationally for adrenaline rushes. Zip World, with three sites in North Wales, lays claim to the world’s fastest zipline at Penrhyn Quarry. The new Zip World Tower, based at a disused colliery in South Wales, boasts the world’s fastest seated zipline.

White Water Rafting

Make a splash by braving a ride along Wales’ white water rapids. With so many rivers making a frothing route through Wales’ lush countryside, there are many places you can hop in a raft. Visit the National White Water Centre for a scenic yet bumpy ride along the River Tryweryn in the Snowdonia National Park. Or, head to the capital to paddle Cardiff’s man-made rapids at Cardiff International White Water (CIWW). 

eFoils

Head to the North Wales coast for a chance to float on water. The eFoil is an electric surfboard charged with power from a renewable source that allows you to hover on the water’s surface - a great way to interact with the beauty of the environment without imposing upon it.

Coastal adventures

With more than 2,200km of coastline, Wales offers a wide range of year-round sea-based activities for all ages, tastes and abilities. In Pembrokeshire, pioneering TYF in St Davids, introduced the world to coasteering in 1986, combining the best of exploring, scrambling, leaping, climbing and swimming; along with kayaking, it’s now one of their most popular sports. You can also learn to surf or stand-up paddleboard, and younger family members can take part in a rockpool safari to learn about life on the seashore. Here it’s all about reconnecting – to each other and the environment.

Wildlife watching

The vast, diverse and rugged landscapes of Wales are bursting with wildlife waiting to be discovered. From seeing seals and dolphins splashing along the coast to spotting rare birds swooping overhead, here are just a few of the exciting wildlife opportunities you can expect to have in Wales…

Newport Wetlands

Formerly the storage lagoons for a power station, these two elongated waterways on the Severn Estuary are home to the shrill carder bee (Bombus sylvarum) - the rarest bumblebee in England and Wales. The area is full of wildflowers and teaming with insects and bird life, including fabulous bearded tits and breeding bitterns. Guided visits are available.

Skomer and Ramsey Island

The largest islands off the Pembrokeshire coast are easily accessible by boat for day trips. The former is noted for its colonies of puffins and Manx shearwaters while the latter is an important breeding ground for choughs and peregrine falcons. The sea in this area is rich with seals and dolphins.

Llanelli Wetland Centre

With uninterrupted views across the Burry Estuary to the north Gower coast, this two square kilometre site welcomes some of the world’s rarest or most unusual bird species – including Caribbean flamingos, black-tailed godwits and green sandpipers. 

Cardigan Bay

Cardigan Bay is home to Britain's largest population of bottlenose dolphins and a boat trip from New Quay is your chance to learn more about these marine mammals from experts onboard. Elsewhere, Mwnt is a hidden cove laced with caramel sands and backed by a grassy hillock – your ideal picnic spot to witness dolphins and seals.

Cycling and mountain biking

Not only is cycling and mountain biking a sustainable mode of transport, it allows you to go further and see more of Wales without compromising on the lung-fulls of fresh air and views of the untouched nature all around you. Here are seven top spots in Wales to explore on two wheels...

Lon Eifion

This 20km cycle path from Caernarfon to Bryncir runs along the western side of Snowdonia. Cycle past Caernarfon Castle, steam trains on the Welsh Highland Railway, and take in the views of Snowdonia’s peaks and Caernarfon Bay. There are some pretty villages along the way, too where you can stop to refuel on local food and drink.

Taff Trail

The Taff Trail follows the course of the River Taff for 89km from Cardiff through the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park – along pretty riverside paths, old railway lines, serene canal towpaths, forest roads, and a rugged mountain pass finishing in Brecon. Look out for Castell Coch, the famous fairytale castle.

Millennium Coastal Path

From the Sandy Water Park in Llanelli this mostly flat and easily accessible traffic free route runs for over seven kilometres along the Carmarthenshire coast to a rare sand dune forest. Stretching from Llanelli to Pembrey it provides stunning views of sea and hills.

Mawddach Trail

Following an old railway line along the coast from Dolgellau to Barmouth, this 14.3km route is regarded as one of the country’s most scenic. On either side are the foothills of Cader Idris and the gorgeous Mawddach Estuary.

BikePark Wales

South Wales’ biggest purpose-built downhill riding centre serves up 40 thrilling trails for riders of every level – including some of the longest in the UK. Experienced bikers can tackle the giant leaps of Enter the Dragon and Vicious Valley, while newbies can find their feet on the Badger’s Run.

Coed y Brenin

The UK’s first specialist mountain biking centre has purpose built, all-weather single-track routes. As their names suggest (The Cavity and Falseteeth, to name a few) the tracks are guaranteed to get experienced biker’s pulses pounding, while there are gentler options for younger and more casual cyclists.

Afan Forest Park

More than 130km of single-track mountain-biking trails criss-cross a forest park just off the M4 near Port Talbot in South Wales. Look out for the bone-shaking Skyline Trail, which offers hundreds of metres of highs and lows, and the specially-built, multi-purpose White's Level Trail.

Nant Gwrtheyrn

Immerse yourself in the culture and heritage of Wales on the rugged northern coast of the Llŷn Peninsula. The National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre (Wales’ first Eco-museum) allows visitors to experience traditional and contemporary Welsh culture. It’s also the perfect place to learn a little (or a lot) of the magical mother tongue on day or on a residential course.

Welsh castles

Wales has more than 600 castles, from romantic ruins to family homes. Highlights include the four UNESCO-listed castles built by King Edward I in Gwynedd – Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech, and Caerphilly Castle the biggest in Wales, and second largest in Britain - look out for its famous leaning tower.

St Fagans National Museum of History

St Fagans National Museum of History is one of the seven National Museums of Wales. The open-air museum on the outskirts of Cardiff is free to enter and preserves the architectural heritage of Wales – more than 40 buildings have been moved from their original sites and rebuilt on the Elizabethan estate. You can also see traditional crafts such as blacksmithing, milling and clog making.

Big Pit National Coal Museum

Wales has a long history of coal mining and Big Pit in Blaenavon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its industrial landscape, is now responsible for preserving the country’s coal-mining heritage. The highlight of the free museum is the Underground Tour – 91 metres down a mineshaft led by a miner. 

 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Wales is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Its most recent, The Slate Landscape of North West Wales includes the quarry landscapes of Penrhyn, Dinorwig, the Nantle Valley and Ffestiniog, the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, Penrhyn Castle and the famous Ffestiniog and Talyllyn Railways. Another place that pays homage to the country’s industrial heritage is the 33 sq km Blaenavon World Heritage Site were you can learn of the miners and ironworkers of Wales’s past.

Also worth visiting is the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, a 17km stretch of the Llalngollen Canal described by UNESCO as ‘a masterpiece of creative genius’. Or why not go even further back in time with a visit to the UNESCO-listed Castles and Town Walls of King Edward? The castles of Beaumaris, Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech were all built during the reign of Edward I in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Foraging

Wales offers many opportunities for food foraging – on the coast, in the countryside and even in the capital city. Craig Evans of Coastal Foraging leads outings along the Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire coasts followed by cooking some of the marine goodies. Adele Nozedar of Brecon Beacons Foraging takes visitors on an exploration of the plants and fungi in her home area, including collecting botanicals to make gin; she also offers outings for children. Cardiff’s Bute Park is the unlikely venue for a half-day’s foraging with Wildfood UK, during which you can taste local wild garlic soup and elderflower champagne.

Awesome Wales

This young social enterprise offers zero-waste shopping at two locations in the Vale of Glamorgan, west of Cardiff. The on-site café hosts a “repair shop” once a month.

Dyfi Distillery

A multi-award-winning distillery whose artisan gins are crafted with wild Welsh botanicals foraged in the surrounding Dyfi UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Visits are informal and free and, of course, you can sample some.

Caws Teifi

Gouda-style award-winning cheeses have been made with raw milk on this Dutch family’s organic farm in West Wales for 40 years, making them the longest established cheesemaker in Wales. Nettle or seaweed varieties provide a unique taste.

Blodyn Aur

Wales’ only rapeseed oil is produced by three farmer friends in North Wales, using a zero-waste pressing plant powered by a micro wind turbine and a riverside hydro-electric unit.

Palé Hall

The fine-dining restaurant of this country-house hotel near Bala has won a Michelin Green Star Award thanks to chef Gareth Stevenson’s creative use of local, seasonal produce.