Wales is top-notch, and to get the best out of it, you absolutely must savour the country’s impressive scenery. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to walk for days on end. (Of course, if you want a long hike or multi-day walking holiday, Wales is the place to do it). But there are so many marvellous shorter walks for the scenery-seeker to enjoy. 

These inviting walks make for great family outings and are perfect for soaking of the gloriousness of Wales in a few hours or less.  

• Slice of the Mawddach Trail, Dolgellau  

This trail is a short and sweet slice of the longer Mawddach trail at the southern end of Snowdonia National Park. This section is flat and easy to follow. It’s multi-use so there is plenty of room for wheelchairs and pushchairs. And being a rail-trail, you can decide to explore this path on two wheels.  

The starting point of this rail-trail is in pretty Dolgellau. The walk runs along the south side of the Mawddach Estuary to Penmaenpool. It’s a heavy scenic hitter, with mountain views of the wondrous Cadair Idris and you can see up towards Diffwys and the Rhinogydd. There’s also a super view of Y Garn valley and the spectacular Aran Mountains.   

Length: 2.5 miles (you can continue and do the full 9.5 miles if you’re feeling particularly energetic!) 

• Brecon Beacons Four Waterfalls Walk 

One of the great Brecon Beacons circular walks, and one close to Sgwd Henrydd – where filming for the recent Batman trilogy took place. This is a truly beautiful area of Wales with a huge number of fantastic waterfalls to see, as well as caves, and gorges.  

This walk is slightly more strenuous than some of the other walks on our list, but it’s rather special. Walking around these amazing waterfalls always makes us glad we didn’t leave the UK to go scenery hunting… 

Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Y Pannwr and, Sgwd Yr Eira are the four waterfalls on this walk. (There are actually 15 waterfalls in an approximately four-mile radius!). The walk takes you behind the cascade, so you can see Sgwd yr Eira 

from the back – with undertones of fairy tale to boot. 

Just be aware that the signs on this route aren’t fantastic, so it’s worthwhile consulting a map to make sure you know where you’re going. And, unsurprisingly in waterfall county, this walk can get slippery (!) so make sure you have good shoes.  

Length: 3.8 miles  

• Abermawr Wood Walk, Pembrokeshire 

An easy trail through marsh, wild woodland and pristine shingle beach on the coast of Pembrokeshire. This trail passes along Abermawr Beach and through Abermawr Woods, with views over Penbwchdy’s rocky headland that really are just fab.  

This is a super spot for viewing the bluebells in the spring. The observant among you can discover one of Brunel’s abandoned railway lines, the stumps of trees from an ancient forest at low tide, and the remains of the old coast road. We love this dreamy path!  

Length: 2 miles 

• Aber Falls Walk, Abergwyngregyn 

Rhaedr Fawr, or Aber Falls, is a 115-foot waterfall, and a strikingly fine one at that. It really is Wales at its best.  

This trail is situated close to sleepy Abergwyngregyn in North Wales in the valley of the Coedydd National Nature Reserve. This locale promises (and delivers) breathtaking mountain scenery, woodland and thriving wildlife. You can also spot standing stones from the Iron Age along the way.  

It’s an access-friendly route so fine for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs. If you want a longer hike, you can follow the trail from behind the waterfalls up into the hills.   

Sorry to have to break it to you, but this beauty is not a secret – it’s a busy route all year round, so don’t expect to escape the crowds here. 

Length: 3 miles 

• Whitesands Beach, Pembrokeshire 

Another Pembrokeshire jewel. Whitesands Beach, on the St. David’s Head peninsula, is a fine beach to hang out on and soak up some sun if you get lucky with the weather – which happens more than you’d think!  

It’s also a super place for a walk where you can frolic in the sand dunes and rocky outcrops (if frolicking is your thing!). This is another well-marked, circular walk, although you can enjoy this as part of the Wales Coastal Path.  

You can climb up to see Coetan Arthur, a megalithic tomb dating back from 4000 to 3000 BCE, although it’s fairly well-hidden so be prepared for a bit of exploration!  

If you’re in the area, you should definitely get a boat out to nearby Skomer Island to see the puffins. St. David’s, the UK’s smallest city, is an extremely pleasant place to while away a few hours.  

Length: 3.8 miles 

We really hope you enjoy these walks as much as us!  

We’d love to hear your comments if you’ve been on one of these walks or have any more suggestions for short walks in wondrous Wales! 

Are you visiting Pembrokeshire? 

If you’d like to walk on the …slightly unusual side, we’d love to welcome you on our daily alpaca walks at Sweet Home Alpaca. And if you fancy wild camping near to the Pembrokeshire Coast, our stunning site is only 2 miles from Newgale Beach!  
 
Get in touch to book a pitch or walk!  
 
Happy walking!