{"id":947749,"date":"2026-05-09T06:41:19","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T06:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/947749\/"},"modified":"2026-05-09T06:41:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T06:41:19","slug":"i-went-on-70-wales-walks-in-one-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/947749\/","title":{"rendered":"I went on 70 Wales walks in one year"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Getting fresh air in her lungs while admiring the beauty of Wales is always on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/jessieannlewis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jessie-Ann Lewis<\/a>\u2019s weekly agenda. Her passion for exploring nature began as a child when she would go on days out with her grandparents, and it has brought her much fulfilment and joy ever since.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am so lucky to have so many nice places in my country to explore. I\u2019ve found that getting away from urban spaces and going to the <a class=\"post_in-line_link\" href=\"https:\/\/inews.co.uk\/topic\/hiking?ico=in-line_link\" id=\"11463\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rugged mountains<\/a>, or the wild coast, reminds me that I\u2019m a very small part of this world, and that is always comforting,\u201d Lewis, 32, says.<\/p>\n<p>Through her hobby, she has become an ambassador for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walescoastpath.gov.uk\/?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wales Coast Path<\/a> and has an engaged walking community on Instagram who turn to her for inside knowledge on which routes to take. Here, Lewis shares her 15 favourite walks and hikes.<\/p>\n<p>North Wales<\/p>\n<p>Y Garn\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eryri (Snowdonia), Gwynedd<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance:<\/strong> 7.9km\/4.9 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>4hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Llyn Ogwen car park, circular\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThis is a lovely walk starting near the <a href=\"https:\/\/eryri.gov.wales\/visit\/ogwen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ogwen Valley <\/a>visitor centre, heading up to the lake of Cwm Idwal. Following the path around the lake, you then find yourself taking a scramble up Devil\u2019s Kitchen, before coming onto the mountaintop, where you get a breathtaking look at Eryri\u2019s highest peaks. The route features some steep and rocky sections, so it\u2019s important to take care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cwm Idwal\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eryri, Gwynedd<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>4.8km\/3 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete:<\/strong> 2hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Ogwen Cottage and Ranger Base, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cIn a similar spot to Y Garn, there is an easier route, the Cwm Idwal lake walk. Once you get to the lake, after heading uphill from the car park in the Ogwen Valley, instead of heading upwards onto the peaks, you follow a shore-side route. If you are new to hiking, or you\u2019re just wanting a more casual walk, this is far flatter, but you still get epic views of the mountains reflecting in the\u00a0crystal clear waters of Llyn Idwal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Cadair Idris\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Eryri, Gwynedd<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance:<\/strong> 9km\/5.6 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>6hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>D\u00f4l Idris Car Park, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThis is one of the most challenging hikes I have done. It\u2019s tough on the lungs, the legs and also can be difficult to navigate, but wow, the climb is worth it for what you see when you reach the highest point. I\u2019ve taken the Minffordd Path to the top a few times, and you can stop halfway at the <a href=\"https:\/\/eryri.gov.wales\/walk\/minffordd-path\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Llyn Cau<\/a>, a glacial lake. If you want to continue, head on up to the ridgeway. The weather changes extremely quickly here, so you need to be fairly experienced to take it on. There is a small stone hut at the top where you can sit and have a picnic, or shelter from the weather, before heading back down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1013\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296013955.jpg\" alt=\"Top 15 walking routes in Wales Image supplied by Jessie Lewis\" class=\"wp-image-4406131\"  \/>Lewis shares her adventures on social media (Photo: Provided)<\/p>\n<p>North-west Wales<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mawddach Estuary Trail<\/strong>, <strong>Gwynedd<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>15km\/9.3 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete:<\/strong> 6hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Dolgellau\u00a0to Barmouth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cStarting in Dolgellau and following a flat path to Barmouth, crossing over the iconic Barmouth Bridge. This is a beautiful route along the estuary, with mountain views as you get closer to the sea. I rented a bike at a local shop in Dolgellau,\u00a0but you can walk it, too. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.barmouth-wales.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Barmouth<\/a> is known for being a lovely seaside resort. A perfect spot to grab an ice cream before heading back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mid Wales<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hafren Forest Boardwalk Cambrian Mountains, Powys<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>0.9-13km\/0.5-8 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>30 minutes-5hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish:\u00a0<\/strong>Rhyd-y-benwch car park,\u00a0circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cA beauty in Mid Wales, and just a short drive from Llanidloes in a magical forest setting. This really is a hidden gem, and you can walk out as far as you want to, so great for families and those wanting a shorter trek. The Cascades Walk is the shortest, and you\u2019ll go across the riverbank boardwalk and see the side of the tumbling cascades. It feels otherworldly. I have hiked in Canada, and it reminded me of that. The Source of the Severn Trail is the most strenuous, but you\u2019ll get to see the remains of a mine and a farmstead.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p>South Wales<\/p>\n<p><strong>Beacons Horseshoe Circular, Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Powys<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>16km\/9.9 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete:<\/strong> 5-6hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Neuadd car park near Taf Fechan forest, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cOver the circular walk which takes around six hours, you take in four of South Wales\u2019s highest peaks, so you can see the mountains from all around, as well as the surrounding countryside over to Brecon and Abergavenny, and even as far as the Bristol Channel on clear days. It is hard on the legs because there are steep inclines and declines, but it\u2019s worth it for what are, in my opinion, the best views in Wales, so I\u2019ve done it several times. Apart from Pen y Fan, it\u2019s peaceful, and you will bump into only a handful of people at the peaks. The Neuadd carpark near the Taf Fechan Forest, which is a good point to begin the route, is free.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pen y Fan<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bannau Brycheiniog, Powys<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>7.4km\/4.6 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>3hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish:<\/strong> Pont ar Daf to Pen y Fan<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cStarting from the National Trust Pont ar Daf car park, the hike to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaltrust.org.uk\/visit\/wales\/bannau-brycheiniog-brecon-beacons\/pen-y-fan-and-corn-du-circular-walk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Pen y Fan <\/a>is a really popular out-and-back route, some say too popular, but I love it nonetheless. It\u2019s a great one for people new to hiking or wanting to gently build up their fitness, as there is a really easy route. There are also plenty of people around to ask questions if you feel yourself getting lost. But don\u2019t be fooled \u2013 the weather can change very quickly up there, so you still need your wits about you, appropriate layers and footwear.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1013\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296013940.jpg\" alt=\"Top 15 walking routes in Wales Image supplied by Jessie Lewis\" class=\"wp-image-4406150\"  \/>lyn y Fan Fach + Fawr (Photo: Provided)<\/p>\n<p>Llyn y Fan Fach, Llyn y Fan Fawr and The Carmarthen Fans Circular\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bannau Brycheiniog, Carmarthenshire<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>15.3km\/9.5 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>5.5-6hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Fforest Fawr car park, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThis walk is in my home county of Carmarthenshire, and features two lakes with stunning ridgeway views. It really is beautiful to be in this remote location sandwiched by two mountains. I would suggest getting there early as the car park is small and can get busy, but it\u2019s a much quieter route than others in the <a href=\"https:\/\/bannaubrycheiniog.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bannau Brycheiniog National Park<\/a>. To add to its allure, it has folklore surrounding it. The story goes that there\u2019s a lady in the lake who appeared to a young farmer and became his wife, but then returned, leaving him in despair.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Cardiff Bay Trail\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Cardiff<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>10km\/6.2 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>2.5hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Wales Millennium Centre, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cI walked or ran along here every day during lockdown, and it\u2019s how I got my love back for doing those things after a short period of not getting outside as much in early adulthood. It was my little slice of waterside peace among the craziness of Covid. There is a five-mile circular route that is very clearly signposted with great coffee shops, restaurants and cafes around it, so lots of places to stop for a snack, and you get to walk through local parks. There\u2019s always something going on down the bay, especially in the summer, whether it\u2019s a food festival or live music. It\u2019s totally flat, so great for wheelchair-users and prams.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rhossili Downs\u00a0Loop<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gower Peninsula<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>8km\/5 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete:<\/strong> 2.5hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Rhossili National Trust shop, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cRhossili Bay is a beach that frequently features on the best-in-the-world lists. This walk heads up onto the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationaltrust.org.uk\/visit\/wales\/rhosili-and-south-gower-coast\/rhosili-down-hillend-and-beach-walk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rhossili Downs<\/a>, the highest point of the Gower, and overlooks the beach itself with stunning views of Worm\u2019s Head. The Gower is a really beautiful part of Wales \u2013 super-rugged and has its own microclimate.\u00a0The walk has you coming back via the beach. Visit in the summer and head to the Rhossili sunflower fields, a short walk from the start and end point of this circular walk. Rhossili also has some great places to eat after your walk. The View is a favourite, and aptly named as it looks over the beach.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>South-west Wales<\/p>\n<p>Bosherston Lily Ponds<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pembrokeshire<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>8km\/5 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>1.5-2hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Bosherston Lily Ponds, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThis is my favourite walk in the world, and where my grandparents would take me. It starts at Bosherston Lily Ponds \u2013 go in June for beautiful lily views \u2013 and heads to Stackpole and Barafundle Bay, which is also frequently voted as one of the world\u2019s best beaches. It feels like you\u2019re in a tropical country with its golden sand and clear waters, which is how it got its nickname, Welsh Caribbean. You then follow the route around onto the clifftops to Broadhaven South, which is often used as a filming spot, including in\u00a0Doctor Who. I love the tea rooms at Stackpole for the best Victoria sponge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tenby-to-Manorbier coastal path<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pembrokeshire<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>13.5km\/8.4 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>3.5hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>Tenby to Manorbier<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitwales.com\/destinations\/west-wales\/pembrokeshire\/things-do-tenby\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tenby<\/a> is a gorgeous harbour town with nice places to eat, beaches, shops and galleries. I love Harbwr for a good meal, or Cadwaladers for an ice cream. If you take the Wales Coast Path, which is the first path in the world to follow a country\u2019s coastline in its entirety, to the west, you\u2019ll head towards Manorbier, a much quieter village, that gives a totally different vibe with its pastel-coloured houses and surfing spots. On the way, you pass Skrinkle Haven and Church Doors Cove, a secluded and beautiful beach with a rock formation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"1013\" width=\"760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_296013937.jpg\" alt=\"Top 15 walking routes in Wales Image supplied by Jessie Lewis\" class=\"wp-image-4406155\"  \/>The Laugharne Circular (Photo: Provided)<\/p>\n<p>Laugharne\u00a0Circular\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Carmarthenshire<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance: <\/strong>5.5km\/3.4 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>2hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish:<\/strong> Laugharne Castle, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cLaugharne lies on the edge of the T\u00e2f Estuary in Carmarthenshire, with its stunning castle and is famed for being the home of Dylan Thomas. This is a short, easy walk, taking in views of the Taf Estuary and passing Dylan\u2019s home, the Boathouse, and his Writing Shed. This walk is special because it feels like you\u2019re following in the footsteps of the great poet, and it is a really peaceful stroll by the estuary. Laugharne has some lovely places to eat, and there\u2019s even a spa at the <a href=\"https:\/\/luxurylodges.com\/locations\/dylan-coastal-resort\/?utm_campaign=Local%20Pack&amp;utm_source=Google%20Local&amp;utm_medium=organic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dylan Coastal Resort<\/a> \u2013 you could treat yourself to a massage as a reward for your walking.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>West Wales<\/p>\n<p>Ceredigion Coast Path\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ceredigion<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance:<\/strong> 10.5km\/6.5 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete: <\/strong>4hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start\/finish: <\/strong>New Quay to Aberaeron<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cNew Quay is the official midpoint marker of the Wales Coast Path, and this section links two of Ceredigion\u2019s most iconic towns. It is pretty and has some hillier sections along the clifftops, with sweeping views of Cardigan Bay. You can sometimes spot dolphins in the bay. Walk out and get the bus back like I did, as they have really frequent, great public transport, but not before grabbing a dessert at Hive in Aberaeron, where they make honey ice cream.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Porthclais and Caerfai Bay loop\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pembrokeshire<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Distance:<\/strong> 6.5km\/4 miles<\/li>\n<li><strong>Approx time to complete:<\/strong> 2hrs<\/li>\n<li><strong>Start point: <\/strong>St David\u2019s Cathedral, circular<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cThis is a lovely four-mile loop starting and ending at the beautiful <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">St David\u2019s Cathedral.<\/a> If you head out of the village to Caerfai Bay, you then follow beautiful clifftop walks to the sweet little harbour of Porthclais. Grab an ice cream from the kiosk in the harbour car park and then head back up the country lanes to the cathedral. While the size of a small village, St David\u2019s is technically a city as it has a cathedral, and is full of independent cafes, shops and art galleries.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Getting fresh air in her lungs while admiring the beauty of Wales is always on Jessie-Ann Lewis\u2019s weekly&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":947750,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5010],"tags":[748,4884,33388,17978,16,15,1764,88109,5182],"class_list":{"0":"post-947749","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wales","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-great-britain","10":"tag-hiking","11":"tag-iweekend","12":"tag-uk","13":"tag-united-kingdom","14":"tag-wales","15":"tag-wales-travel","16":"tag-walking"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116543259146096732","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947749","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=947749"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/947749\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/947750"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=947749"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=947749"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=947749"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}