Best Hikes In Wales
Wales is full of mountains, hills, moorland, forests, rivers, streams, and has one of the most beautiful coastlines in the UK. There are 15 national parks in Wales, three of which are quite famous. The Pembrokeshire Coast, The Brecon Beacons, and Snowdonia National Park that holds the highest peak in Wales and the second highest in the UK.
Just like in England, and Scotland, there are hundreds of different trails and hikes in Wales’ national parks, along with some great campsites to stay at too. The trails range from easy to hard, suiting all levels of hiking. Whether you’re after a forest walk, following a river, strolling through white-sand beaches, or summiting a mountain, Wales has got it all. The scenery is beautiful and you quite often get a view of the sea from most peaks, so don’t forget your camera.
Most of the trails can be accessed via public transport but it will be a lot easier to have a car, we highly recommend it. You’ll be able to get to trails that are a bit further out the way, and it makes getting from A to B a lot quicker and more convenient.
In this article, we’ll go through some of the best hikes in Wales ranging from hard to easy that cross the beautiful environments Wales has to offer.
Tips for Hiking in Wales
Hiking in Wales, unlike Scotland, does not allow wild camping, and therefore crossing or pitching your tent on private land is illegal. This does limit the freedom of hikers and bit, but Wales is well kitted out with excellent public footpaths and some great campsites. You can also camp anywhere you like, but you have to make sure it’s legal and to do this, you must seek the permission of the landowner.
Pen y Fan Summit Loop from Libanus
Hike Details
- Trail length: 11.6 miles
- Elevation Change: 2900 ft
- Hiking Time: 6 hrs 14 mins
- Starting Point: Storey Arms, Brecon Beacons National Park
- Difficulty: Hard
- Transportation: Car, bus
The Pen y Fan Summit Loop from Libanus is a stunning hike found in Wales’ Brecon Beacons National Park.
The hike takes you up to the Pen y Fan summit that offers stunning views. Along the way, you’ll pass through some magical scenery and it’s definitely a hike worth taking your camera on, and you will be walking above the clouds if you’re lucky.
The hike starts at the Storey Arms, lovely little pub worth stopping in at once you’re finished.
The Hike
The hike starts from the car park and takes you over a lovely river. From here you’ll follow an obvious path while the route ascends on the way to Bwlch Duwynt or windy pass.
Continue through the windy pass and to find yourself on the southern slopes of Corn Du. With a few more strides, you find yourself in the saddle between Corn Du and Pen y Fan. Turn and look south to see incredible views on the Neuadd Valley and the lakes.
For here it is a hard push to the summit of Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park, at 2906 feet. On the summit, you’ll find a burial chamber from the Bronze Age, also known as a cairn. It was excavated in 1991 when a spearhead and a bronze brooch were found inside.
The views from the top are incredible, especially on a clear day. You can see the summit of Cadair Idris in the distance, the town of Brecon, the Bristol Channel if you’re lucky and the Sugar Loaf sits far to the east.
Once you’ve spent enough time enjoying the summit, follow the same route back through the saddle and then up to the summit of Corn Du for some more views. There is a cairn on Corn Du as well, and if you look north-west, you’ll see the beautiful Cwm Llwch valley.
From here descend and follow the ridge to get to Tommy Jones’ obelisk, with beautiful views behind it. Once you’ve seen the obelisk, follow the path the way you came and cross a little stream to follow the path back down to the Storey Arms.
Weather & Difficulty
This is a long hike with some very steep sections. It’s labeled as hard and you’ll need some solid fitness for it.
The weather can change very quickly, and it’s advised to bring a torch, whistle, map, compass, and waterproofs in case it gets stormy.
Snowdon Summit Loop - Ranger Path
Hike Details
- Trail length: 7.45 miles
- Elevation Change: 2250 feet
- Hiking Time: 4 hrs 52 mins
- Starting Point: Llyn Cwellyn Car Park, Snowdonia
- Difficulty: Hard
- Transportation: Bus, car
One of the most famous walks in Wales is the summit of Snowdon, the second-highest mountain in the UK. Snowdonia National Park is beautiful and full of