Wild Trails Wales Guide: Hiking Responsibly

Everyone has the right to enjoy the wealth of beautiful open spaces and beauty spots we have in this country, but with that comes a responsibility. If you don’t want to spend the summer on the receiving end of fist-shaking angry locals or fined and shamed on national news, here are a few tips.

Spread out

Consider visiting less busy areas to avoid adding to pressure in these areas, and if you can, visit outside of peak times.

Be Adventure Smart

The Adventure Smart guidelines were created to help people think about keeping themselves safe outdoors. Read more here >

Park Responsibly

There have been some shocking examples of bad parking en-masse over the last couple of years, with gates being blocked, verges being ruined, and parking on narrow roads causing an obstruction for emergency vehicles and buses by bad parking. Don’t do it! Even if there are already loads of other cars parked badly, don’t be tempted to join them. Car parks in mountain and beach areas fill up quickly, so arrive early, plan alternative routes and parking options for if your first choice is full, or better, use public transport if you can.

Keep it down

Nobody wants to come to a quiet spot to listen to other people’s music. Head phones are a great, sociable alternative.

Be fire smart

In spring and summer especially the countryside is very vulnerable to forest and grass fires, even with the best intentions fires can accidentally get out of hand so better to be safe than sorry. If you really want a fire, consider staying in a campsite which has safe spaces for firepits, and use responsibly sourced wood.

Take your litter home

Anything you are able to carry in you should also be prepared to carry out. Nobody wants to go somewhere beautiful and not be able to enjoy it because there is litter everywhere. Neither do we want rubbish bins put everywhere creating an eyesore and detracting from the natural beauty of these places. And anyway who would empty them? Our National Parks and other areas struggle for budget to manage their existing responsibilities. We don’t have bin wardens in Wales - occasionally you’ll see volunteer litter pickers but they don’t really want to be there. Litter also poses danger for wildlife who could eat it or get stuck in it.

And a quick word about food waste - orange peel, banana peels and apples can take years to decompose, so they should go home with you too.

Go to the toilet responsibly

Public toilets are available in most towns and villages in tourist areas. If you get caught out in the more remote areas, make sure you go away from trails, buildings or waterways, take any tissue out with you, and dig a deep hole for anything substantial and make sure it is buried afterwards!

Camp in official campsites

There has been a worrying trend the last few years of people setting up camp or ‘trash-camping’ in inappropriate places and discarding tents, camp chairs, and other rubbish when leaving. There are loads of amazing campsites with great facilities, so really this type of camping isn’t necessary. Book ahead if you can.

Mind your dog

Keep your dog to the track or on a lead during breeding and nesting season and when around livestock. Pick up their poo and put the bag in a bin! Don’t leave it on the ground or hanging even if you’ve bought ‘degradable’ bags - they’re an eyesore and take years and years to degrade.

Support local businesses

You’ll be hard pressed to find any massive chains or big brands in rural Wales anyway, but do consider using independent shops, visiting farmers markets, staying in official campsites and eating locally produced food - you’ll get an enriched experience if you do anyway!

For more information see the countryside codes here>