Hiking is one of the top activities in Wales and for those who love a challenge, we have a huge number of long-distance hikes that traverse the Welsh countryside.
In this guide, I’ll share 16 of my top recommended multi-day hikes in Wales, ranging from 2-day mid-distance trails up to the longest hikes in Wales which takes up to 7 weeks to complete.
Keep in mind that wild camping is technically still illegal in Wales so I recommend planning a full itinerary and making use of the plethora of hotels, bunkhouses, and B&Bs we have across the country.
1. The Wales Coast Path
Wales is one of the few countries in the world that has a trail all the way around its coastline. Previously, the path had been split up by county with the Anglesey Coastal Path and the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path among the separate parts.
But in 2012, National Resources Wales took over linking and maintaining these trails, to launch the official Wales Coast Path. With a total distance of 1,400km (870 miles), it’s the longest hike in Wales and one of the longest in Britain.
The trail is waymarked along the entire route and there’s a dedicated app which can track your progress and alert you of any temporary diversions. If you prefer a physical map, you can also purchase this Wales Coast Path guidebook and map which has everything you need.
The entire route would take 6-7 weeks to complete, and that’s averaging an impressive 20 miles per day. You can make it easier by attempting each of the 8 sections independently. You can use these distance tables to customize your route.
2. Offas Dyke
Whilst the Wales Coast Path follows the coastal border of Wales, Offas Dyke follows the land border between Wales and England, crossing over it at least 20 times along the way.
The route runs alongside a long mound in the Earth which was thought to have been built by the Anglo-Saxon King Offa in the 8th century as a way of separating his kingdom from Wales.
The entire route is 285km (177 miles) long and would take about 2 weeks to complete if you’re averaging 20 miles per day. This is a National Trail and well signposted or you can download the route on AllTrails. The official guidebook is also handy for finding accommodation along the way.
The path begins in Prestatyn in North Wales and runs through eight counties, with parts running alongside the River Severn and the Montgomeryshire Canal. As you pass through the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, you’ll pass across the stunning Hatterrall Ridge in the Black Mountains.
Offas Dyke ends in Chepstow in South Wales, where it also links up with the Wales Coast Path, creating an entire route around the borders of Wales.
3. The Cambrian Way
The Cambrian Way is one of the most challenging long-distance hikes in Wales, spanning the entire length of the country from Cardiff in the south to Conwy in the north.
At 479km (298 miles) long, it crosses some of the most remote and wild areas of the country. It’s the only one of the long-distance hikes that passes through both Eryri (Snowdonia) and the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Parks.
As well as being challenging in terms of ability, it’s also challenging to navigate since it goes across mountains along unmarked paths. With this in mind, having the Cambrian Way guidebook or downloading the route on AllTrails is advisable.
Given the challenging nature of this walk, expect it to take around 3 weeks to complete. Many hikers will attempt it in smaller sections which are outlined in the guidebook mentioned above.
4. Glyndŵr’s Way
Glyndŵr's Way is a 217km (135 mile) long-distance hike in Mid-Wales that runs from Welshpool to Knighton. The trail doesn’t join these two locations directly, it’s a horseshoe shape that runs through Machynlleth.
The trail is named after Owain Glyndŵr, a national hero of Wales from the 15th century who led uprisings against the English who had conquered much of the area.
It’s a National Trail, but it’s not particularly well signposted since it mostly runs through open farmland. Therefore having the Glyndŵr's Way guidebook or downloading the route on AllTrails is a good idea.
On this route, you’ll hike through the rolling landscapes of Mid-Wales including the Radnorshire Hills, Clywedog Reservoir and over Pumlumon, the highest peak in the Cambrian Mountains.
The trail would take about a week to complete at the average pace of 20 miles per day, however, it’s quite challenging so the Welsh Government recommends allowing 9 days.
5. The Wye Valley Walk
The Wye Valley Walk is a multi-day hike in Wales that follows the River Wye starting at Chepstow in Monmouthshire then traversing the English-Welsh border and crossing through Mid-Wales to end at Plynlimon, the highest point in Mid-Wales (or vice versa).
The route passes through several beautiful towns and villages in the Wye Valley and Mid-Wales including Chepstow, Hereford, Hay-on-Wye, Built Wells, and Rhayader. Some of the landmarks you’ll pass are Chepstow Castle, Tintern Abbey, Goodrich Castle, and Capler Camp.
The total route is 219 km (136 miles) and should take anywhere between 7 to 10 days to complete depending upon your walking speed.
To commemorate your walk, you can access the free Wye Valley Passport and collect digital stamps along the route which can be redeemed for a badge and certificate afterwards.
The route is fairly easy to follow since it clings to the side of the river but I still recommend grabbing the official Wye Valley Walk guidebook to plan your stops.
6. The Snowdonia Way
The Snowdonia Way is a long-distance walk through Eryri National Park (known as Snowdonia in English) from Conwy at the northern tip to Machynlleth in the south.
You’ll pass through several mountain ranges including the Moelwyns, Snowdon Massif, the Glyders and the Carneddau which all offer stunning views, however, the main route (called the Low-Level Route) doesn’t go over any peaks so it’s suitable for all abilities.
Some of the highlights of the walk include the Ogwen Valley and Aber Falls. You’ll also pass by several beautiful lakes and charming villages including Beddgelert.
If you do want to traverse some mountains, there’s an alternative route called the Snowdonia Way Mountain Route that includes some of the National Park’s most famous peaks such as Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), Cadair Idris, Cnicht, and the Glyders.
The Snowdonia Way Low-Level Route is 156km (97 miles) and takes around a week to complete, whilst the Mountain Route is 196km (122 miles). The two routes intersect regularly so you can switch between them as you wish.
You can find the Snowdonia Way Low-Level Route on AllTrails here or you can pick up this Snowdonia Way guidebook which has details for both the easy and hard routes.
7. The Heart of Wales Line Trail
This multi-day hike follows the Heart of Wales railway line which is one of the most scenic routes in Britain.
It begins in the old railway town of Craven Arms in Shropshire and weaves through the Shropshire AONB, Radnorshire Forest and Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) and down to the Millennium Coastal Park in Llanelli.
Unlike most other routes, this is not a National Trail or managed by local authorities, it was created using crowdfunding and is managed by volunteers and through donations. Despite this, it’s one of the best waymarked trails on this list and is very easy to follow.
The total route is 227 km (141 miles) and is expected to take about 10 days to complete. Of course, it follows a working train line which means that it is very easy to break the hike down into shorter day hikes too.
You can use the official guidebook to find out more about the route including places to stay along the way or you can follow the route using GPS by downloading it on AllTrails here.
8. The Taff Trail
The Taff trail is an 88km (55 miles) cycling and walking route from Brecon in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (also known as the Brecon Beacons) down to Cardiff, where it ends at Cardiff Bay.
This hike takes you through the South Wales Valleys, alongside rivers, railways, and through forests. offering a mix of natural landscapes and more urban surroundings as you near the capital.
If you’re super fit, the Taff Trail could be done in a day, but for most hikers, it’s going to take at least 2 days.
Unfortunately, the full route isn’t on AllTrails, however, large stretches of the route are, including Cardiff to Pontypridd and Pontypridd to Merthyr. For more information, this Taff Trail guidebook is the best place to find maps and learn about the route.
9. Ardudwy Way
The shortest hike on this list is the Ardudwy Way, running from Barmouth to Llandecwyn. The route runs through the area known as Ardudwy which isn’t particularly popular nowadays but was once an administrative area and much earlier played a key role in Welsh mythology
It passes over the Cambrian Rocks and you’ll encounter many prehistoric sites including stone circles and cairns. It’s also a good place to spot red kites and buzzards, with the latter featuring in the logo of the route.
The Ardudwy Way runs along quiet lanes and pathways. It’s not a National Trail but it’s well waymarked with the buzzard symbol or you can also find the entire route on AllTrails here. Keep in mind that the route is rural so there are no cafes along the way.
The route is 39 km (24 miles) long which is doable in a day for the fittest, but for most hikers that’s at least two days. With this in mind, there are links to the towns of Harlech and Tal-y-Bont so that you can split the hike across several days and find somewhere to eat and sleep.
10. The Snowdonia Slate Trail
The Snowdonia Slate Trail (Llwybr Llechi Eryri) is the only long distance circular trail in Wales, starting and ending n Bangor which is ideal if you need somewhere to park.
It was created after the slate landscape of North Wales received UNESCO World Heritage status. The route passes through some of the most important areas and locations associated with the industry.
You can pick up a free Snowdonia Slate Trail passport and get stamps from some of the locations along the route including the National Slate Museum. Once you’ve collected 8 stamps, you can send it off and receive a commemorative medal – find out more about the passport here.
The total route is 134km (83 miles) and its creators (the Snowdonia Slate Trail Trust) suggest that you allow a full 7 days so that you can explore some of the important landmarks along the way.
If you're using AllTrails to navigate, the route is split into 13 different sections so be sure to download each of them before you go. The first one can be found here.
11. St Illtyd’s Walk
St Illtyd’s Walk is a religious trail across South Wales from Pembrey Country Park near Llanelli to Margam Country Park, near Port Talbot.
The route is named after St Illtyd, a 5th-century saint in Wales, although from my understanding, it doesn’t bear any relation to his life (correct me if I’m wrong).
The route follows several canals including the Swansea Canal and passes through lots of woodland. You’ll also see Melincourt Falls which is one of my favourite waterfalls in South Wales.
The route is 103 km (64 miles) long and is well signposted. You can get a full download of the maps for this route for free from Swansea Council’s website here.
12. The Severn Way
The Severn Way is a route that follows the River Severn from its source in Mid-Wales all the way to the sea. The route is a total of 338km (210 miles) which takes about 2 weeks to complete.
The route crosses into England near Shrewsbury and then winds down through southwest England to Severn Beach which is where the river enters the Bristol Channel. Some versions of the route continue along the River Avon and end in Bristol.
Compared to the other routes, the Severn Way passes through more built-up areas including the medieval towns of Shrewsbury and Tewkesbury and two cities, Worcester and Gloucester where you can see the iconic Gloucester Cathedral.
This route isn't on AllTrails but you can purchase the official Severn Way guidebook to find out more about the trail and key stops along the way.
13. The Beacons Way
The Beacons Way is a 159km (99 mile) long distance walk across the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacon) National Park.
It begins in Abergavenny and follows a linear route west, ending in Llangadog. You’ll pass by Llanthony Priory and Carreg Cennen Castle as well as through cute villages such as Crickhowell.
According to the National Park Authority, the walk takes 8 days to complete. Overall the walk is strenuous as it includes some of the park's most iconic peaks such as Fan y Big and Pen y Fan.
However, there are several easier stretches that you can take on if you prefer something less challenging. All of the sections are listed in detail on the National Park site here with the difficulty and highlights.
The route isn’t waymarked all the way so when you’re out and about, so I recommend you download the Beacons Way route on Alltrails here. I couldn’t find a dedicated guidebook for this route but it will be featured on OS large-scale maps.
14. North Wales Pilgrim's Way
The North Wales Pilgrims Way is a 225km (140 miles) long distance walking route that follows the footsteps of Pilgrims who once made their way across north Wales to Bardsey Island, just off the coast of the Llyn Peninsula.
Bardsey Island has long been considered a spiritual place and at one point two pilgrimages to Bardsey were equivalent to one to Rome. So the Pilgrims Way has long been a popular long-distance walk across Wales.
The route begins at Basingwerk Abbey which has also been a popular pilgrimage spot. Initially, you’ll follow an inland trail passing through St. Asap, Bangor, and Llanberis among others.
The second half along the Llyn peninsular largely follows the same route as the Wales Coast Path.
Most people will complete the route in 1-2 weeks depending upon your walking speed. Check the official North Wales Pilgrims Way guidebook to find out more about the historic route and some essential stops en route.
15. The Gower Way
Although you could classify this as mid-distance rather than long-distance, the Gower Way is a multi-day hike in South Wales that showcases the best of the Gower peninsular and the ancient lordship of Gower.
The Gower Way begins at Worms Head, an iconic natural landmark near Rhossili at the southwest tip of the Gower Peninsula. It ends at Penlle’r Castell which is the site of a former motte and bailey castle towards the north of Swansea County.
Along the way, you’ll pass some of the area's most beautiful beaches including Oxwich Bay and Three Cliffs Bay as well as standing stones and old fortifications. The route was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III.
The router is 56km (35 miles) or can be split into three sections as outlined here. The path is well signposted and there are marker stones every 1km to let you know that you’re still on the right route.
16. The Celtic Way
This is a lesser-known long-distance hike in Wales which continues on to England too. It’s not a National Trail, nor is it waymarked. The route was created by a group of volunteers and aims to connect over 100 prehistoric sites in Britain.
The route begins at Strumble Head Lighthouse in West Wales and heads through Pembrokeshire, briefly through the Brecon Beacons, before continuing around the coast of South Wales. It then continues along the peninsula of England, joining the Lands End Trail and finishing at St Michael's Mount in Cornwall.
Some of the historic sites you’ll enjoy on this route include Castell Henllys Iron, Age Village, Pentre Ifan burial chamber, Merlins Hill, Caerleon, and many more. Once in England, you’ll also pass the iconic Stonehenge.
The total route is 1155km (718 miles) which would take 5-6 weeks to complete at 20 miles per day. The best way to follow the path is by purchasing the handbook which can be found here.
Published: 14 September 2023