Day hikes in Wales
Jul 15th, 2005, 10:54 AM
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Day hikes in Wales
I'll be visiting Wales in August and would like to find an area where we can take day hikes. I know the long walks are more popular but we'd prefer to have a base in one town and then drive to various areas to take day hikes that loop back to the car. Thanks for your input.
Jul 15th, 2005, 11:22 AM
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PeterJon: Actually on this forum day hikes are probably more popular than long overnight ones. There are sites of course that are more for back packers/hikers.
Just about anywhere in Wales you will find MANY good to great walks w/i small areas.
If I had to choose one area - I'd probably base in North Wales somewhere near Betws-y-coed. You could easily find 50 or more great walks w/i an hour's drive or less.
My 2nd choice would be somewhere on the Pembroke coast - there are amazing coastal walks all the way from Cardigan to Tenby.
Just about anywhere in Wales you will find MANY good to great walks w/i small areas.
If I had to choose one area - I'd probably base in North Wales somewhere near Betws-y-coed. You could easily find 50 or more great walks w/i an hour's drive or less.
My 2nd choice would be somewhere on the Pembroke coast - there are amazing coastal walks all the way from Cardigan to Tenby.
Jul 15th, 2005, 12:03 PM
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Have a look for the Ordnance Survey Pathfinder Guides - there are several titles for Wales. Walks are graded from the easiest strolls of a few miles at the front of the book, through to longer and more challenging walks at the back. I think they are all circular day or half day walks.
There are some beautiful walks in Snowdonia and I agree Betwys-y-coed, Conwy or even Llandudno would be a good base for walking there.
There are some beautiful walks in Snowdonia and I agree Betwys-y-coed, Conwy or even Llandudno would be a good base for walking there.
Jul 15th, 2005, 01:02 PM
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I have enjoyed the walk along Pembrokeshire Caostal Path very much- drastic sceneries, interesting wildlife and good B&B around. One of the best is the "Puffin Bus" (before the end of September) network for walkers to get back to start point, so you won't need to drive / double back. For all the details (including routes, maps,...), please check: www.pembrokeshiregreenways.co.uk.
I have based at St.David's and Tenby, but enjoy St.David's much better.
I have based at St.David's and Tenby, but enjoy St.David's much better.
Jul 16th, 2005, 12:00 AM
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Therer's a great deal to be said for just turning up virtually anywhere and buying the "Lots of Nice Walks Round Here" books all local newwsagents and bookshops sell.
There's also a lot to be said for making some general decisions in advance. A strong endorsement for Maria H's recommendation of the Jarrold/ Ordnance Survey Pathfinder Guides. If you don't have a bookshop nearby that sells them, my comiserations but Amazon's got them.
In your case, choose from the 'Brecon Beacons and Glamorgan', 'Mid Wales and the Marches', 'North Wales, Snowdon and Offa's Dyke', 'Pembrokeshire and Gower' and 'Snowdownia, Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula' volumes.
No-one can put their hand on their heart and say any one of these areas makes for better walks than the rest, You should just choose the couple of volumes that fit in best with the rest of your plans. Don't forget that travelling round Wales, apart from the fast road along the south coast and the sometimes fast road along the north coast, can be very, very slow.
BTW, do remember that the weather is often even more rapidly changeable in these areas than elsewhere in Britain. Do read the safety advice in these guides and follow it, and use a decent map (which these guides all have).
There's also a lot to be said for making some general decisions in advance. A strong endorsement for Maria H's recommendation of the Jarrold/ Ordnance Survey Pathfinder Guides. If you don't have a bookshop nearby that sells them, my comiserations but Amazon's got them.
In your case, choose from the 'Brecon Beacons and Glamorgan', 'Mid Wales and the Marches', 'North Wales, Snowdon and Offa's Dyke', 'Pembrokeshire and Gower' and 'Snowdownia, Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula' volumes.
No-one can put their hand on their heart and say any one of these areas makes for better walks than the rest, You should just choose the couple of volumes that fit in best with the rest of your plans. Don't forget that travelling round Wales, apart from the fast road along the south coast and the sometimes fast road along the north coast, can be very, very slow.
BTW, do remember that the weather is often even more rapidly changeable in these areas than elsewhere in Britain. Do read the safety advice in these guides and follow it, and use a decent map (which these guides all have).
Jul 19th, 2005, 12:41 AM
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Hello there
An excellent website is www.walkingbritain.co.uk If you go onto the site, then click 'The walks' and then 'Wales' it comes up with a whole list of walks you can print off, complete with route and photos.
An excellent website is www.walkingbritain.co.uk If you go onto the site, then click 'The walks' and then 'Wales' it comes up with a whole list of walks you can print off, complete with route and photos.
