Wales' most popular walking destinations, including Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), often face overcrowding, with reports of litter and congested trails. However, the nation offers many other beauty spots that provide equally stunning scenery with fewer visitors.
St Illtud’s Way, a 64-mile long-distance footpath named after the 5th-century holy man, begins at Pembrey Country Park by Cefn Sidan beach and winds through four South Wales valleys to Margam Abbey. The trail features woodland, forest, river valleys, and moorland, with particularly scenic legs between Penlle’r Castell and Pontardawe, and from Afan Forest Park to Margam. Afan Lodge hotel, near the visitor centre, offers double rooms from £110 including breakfast.
In Pembrokeshire, the Preseli Hills offer the Golden Road, a seven-mile stretch of a 5,000-year-old trading route along which gold from Ireland was transported. The route features Bronze Age cairns, King Arthur’s purported battle site at Foel Cwmcerwyn, Bedd Arthur stone circle, and Foel Drygarn Iron Age fortress. Walkers should bring a physical map and compass as cloud cover can reduce visibility. Rhostwarch Farm B&B provides accommodation near Foel Drygarn, with doubles from £160 for two nights.
Ceredigion’s coastline offers a serene alternative to busier seaside spots. A 13.5-mile section of the Wales Coast Path takes in fishing villages, coves, and sandy beaches, with highlights including dolphin-watching near New Quay, Bird Rock’s seabird colonies, and Iron Age hill forts. Good bus connections link the finish to the start. The Cambrian Mountains, stretching from Llandovery to near Machynlleth, are sparsely populated and offer silent hills, ancient oakwoods, and forests, providing ample solitude for walkers.
