Walking in the UK | The 8 best hiking routes in Wales

Embark on a tranquil hike into the Brecon Beacons National Park and discover the hidden beauty of four exquisite waterfalls near Ystradfellte.

Widely considered one of Britain's finest waterfall walks, this trail is like something out of a fairy-tale. Immerse yourself in the wooded gorges, meandering riverside trails, and a series of cascading waterfalls.

The well-trodden and well-marked path begins at the Gwaun Hepste car park, conveniently situated southeast of Ystradfellte. If you’re looking to eat before or after your hike, this parking area also boasts a charming picnic spot.

Embark on a scenic journey along the Afon Llugwy from Betws-y-Coed to the exquisite Swallow Falls inside Snowdonia National Park.

This well-frequented riverside route takes you through woodland pathways and treats you to views of some of the most enchanting waterfalls in the UK.

Kicking off in the charming village of Betws-y-Coed (nestled away in the Conwy valley), this accessible trail follows the Llugwy, guiding you past the rustic Miners Bridge and several smaller waterfalls before finishing at the Swallow Falls.

Embark on a tranquil hike into the Brecon Beacons National Park and discover the hidden beauty of four exquisite waterfalls near Ystradfellte.

Widely considered one of Britain's finest waterfall walks, this trail is like something out of a fairy-tale. Immerse yourself in the wooded gorges, meandering riverside trails, and a series of cascading waterfalls.

The well-trodden and well-marked path begins at the Gwaun Hepste car park, conveniently situated southeast of Ystradfellte. If you’re looking to eat before or after your hike, this parking area also boasts a charming picnic spot.

From here, your adventure takes you to Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, the captivating Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr, and the remarkable Sgwd-yr-Eira waterfalls. Sgwd-yr-Eira is well renowned as the Beacons' most photographed waterfall. Here, you can venture behind the cascading curtain of water for an unforgettable photo opportunity and experience.

The latter portion of the trail forms a circular loop, with additional trails for you to take if you’re looking to extend your expedition. Detailed walking maps, accessible through the provided links, offer insights into these routes.

Moving through the Stackpole Estate and the pretty village of Bosherston, this accessible but challenging six-mile hike takes you to St Govan’s Chapel, Church Rock, Saddle Point, and the captivating Stackpole Head before you finish in the pristine surroundings of Barafundle Bay.

From your vantage point at Stackpole Head, your route shifts northwest, leading you to the renowned Barafundle Bay. Barafundle Bay is celebrated as one of the nation's finest beaches and is well worth a visit. Next, you’ll move westward across Stackpole Warren before ascending St Govan's Head and visiting the accompanying chapel.

This structure dates to the 6th century and has huge historical significance to the surrounding area. The chapel features a window inside that offers an unrivalled view of the sea. The trail continues along a country lane to the north, guiding you back to Bosherston and the car park where your journey started.

Climbing Snowdon is a must for anyone visiting Snowdonia.

This challenging trek follows the most popular track to the summit of Mount Snowdon, the largest mountain in Wales, and the highest point in the UK (1,085 metres or 3,560 ft).

Among the six routes leading to the summit, the Pyg Track is renowned for its rugged character. The trail navigates rough and rocky terrain that can test even hardened climbers.

Set off from Pen y Pass car park and start your journey at Bwlch y Moch. On your way up you'll pass the captivating glacial lakes of Llyn Llydaw and Glaslyn before reaching Bwlch Glas, where the imprints of the Snowdon Mountain Railway become visible.

As you take in captivating views of the surrounding area on your way up, you’ll start to appreciate how far you’ve climbed. The final stretch proceeds from Bwlch Glas to the summit, rewarding you with an unrivalled view of the picturesque countryside and parkland below.

If you’re looking for a different challenge, the Snowdon Miners Track also originates from the same car park. This trail has the added alure of waterside passages along the mountain's three stunning lakes: Llyn Teyrn, Llyn Llydaw, and Glaslyn.

Skirrid Fawr is part of the Black Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The mountain is 486m high and poses a challenge to intermediate climbers looking for an unrivalled view of the surrounding countryside and park.

The summit reveals ancient Iron Age fort ruins and St. Michael's medieval church. A panoramic viewpoint gives you a picturesque view of the Brecon Beacons, Black Mountains, and the town of Abergavenny.

Commence your journey in Abergavenny, adjacent to the tourist information centre. The trail follows the extensive Marches Way long-distance route up to the summit.

The descent leads through wooded stretches before re-joining the Marches Way to guide you back to Abergavenny. This route is well marked and well-trodden, giving peace of mind to beginner hikers and those new to Skirrid Fawr.

Should the allure of ascending another Black Mountain prove too strong, the iconic Sugarloaf mountain is conveniently located nearby.

This unique trail allows you to experience an extraordinary horseshoe ridge expedition featuring Pen Y Fan, Corn Du, and the Cribyn all inside Brecon Beacons National Park.

This challenging trek gives breathtaking views of all the surrounding peaks and reservoirs, rewarding your effort as you reach the summit of each of the summits on the way.

To start, find your way to the Taf Fechan Forest car park. From here, your journey heads northward to the Lower Neuadd Reservoir. Ascending westward onto the Craig Fan Ddu ridge, the path stretches north, giving you a unique view and perspective of Pen y Fan and Corn Du.

The ascent culminates with Corn Du's 873 m (2,864 ft) summit, adorned with a well-preserved Bronze Age cairn and expansive views of the Black Mountain range and Fforest Fawr.

A brief hike across the valley leads to Pen Y Fan's 886 m (2,907 ft) peak (the highest summit in southern Wales). From this vantage point, panoramic vistas of the Bristol Channel, Carmarthen Bay, Swansea Bay, the Gower Peninsula, Black Mountains, Cambrian Mountains, Exmoor, and the Clee Hills in South Shropshire are visible.

Descend along Craig Cwm Sere, the trail arrives at the Cribyn, standing at 795 m (2,608 ft). Keep an eye out for avian residents like peregrine falcons, common buzzards, and the majestic red kite. Continuing the descent along Craig Cwm Cynwyn, you’ll move along Bwlch Y Fan and Fan-y-Big. The concluding stretch meanders past Tor Glas and the Upper and Lower Neuadd Reservoirs, ultimately leading back to the car park for a well earned coffee and sit down.

This iconic circular route to Snowdon's summit is one for experienced climbers comfortable traversing jagged rock and knife-edge ridges.

Renowned for its thrilling ridge walk, this 7 mile route gives incredible views of both sides of the Snowdon canyon and parkland below. Caution is essential when navigating Crib Goch, especially along the knife-edge sections where it can get incredibly windy. Take extra care and avoid the route if the wind is questionably high.

The journey along Crib Goch to Snowdon’s summit starts at Pen-y-pass car park in the Llanberis Pass off A4086. Take the Snowdon Pyg Trac westward toward Bwlch Y Moch and continue until the Crib Goch stretch opens up.

After moving across Crib Goch, you’ll reach the grassy Bwlch Coch col which gives you stunning views of Llyn Glas, Y Lliwedd's twin peaks, and Snowdon's summit. Climbing onwards, you will come to Garnedd Ugain which is Wales' second highest peak.

The path continues to the Finger Stone at Bwlch Glas, marking the apex of the Pyg and Miners Track. This path takes you all the way to Snowdon's summit, where unrivalled photo opportunities await.

Descend steeply to Bwlch Cileau and Y Lliwedd using parts of the Watkin Path. The descent continues to Lliwedd Bach and progresses to Llyn Llydaw, offering views of Crib Goch where fellow hikers negotiate the challenging ridge you conquered earlier in the day.

The path skirts the lake's shores before aligning with the Snowdon Miners Track to Llyn Teyrn. From here, follow the track to the carpark where you began your journey.