Wild Trails Wales Guide: A Calendar of Alternative Walks With Amazing Views

To mark the turning of the year, I wanted to come up with a guide which could help to inspire your walking for the year ahead; help you get to know Wales better, and realise that, as for me, there is always somewhere else to explore in Wales; another fantastic place to walk, and another view to take your breath away. So, this guide is a calendar worth of inspiration for walking in Wales for the new year; twelve alternative walks which each have unforgettable views. I’ve tried to include a spread across Wales but inevitably some areas will be left out.

There should be something for most walkers here, ranging from easier coastal strolls to full mountain days. Although when putting together a list of walks with amazing views in Wales it was very tempting to include places like Pen y Fan, Yr Wyddfa and Rhossili, instead these are some of the lesser-known walks in Wales. Hopefully, then, this calendar can provide inspiration for even seasoned Wales explorers.

Some of the walks are straightforward, and others require good preparation and navigation. This list is intended to be used for inspiration and a starting point for you to plan your walks, rather than full route descriptions. If you’re looking for route descriptions why not sign up to our newsletter here, and you’ll receive a free monthly route description to your inbox.

So without further ado, here are twelve beautiful views that you can see on walks in Wales, some are within easy reach and some require a bit more effort. As always, this guide is for inspiration only and we can’t be responsible for anything that goes wrong on your walks. Go prepared - see Adventure Smart for advice.

1/ Carn Ingli, Preseli

Visitors flock to the beautiful beaches and coastal path of Pembrokeshire, and so many miss the treasures to be found inland. The Preselis are magical, mysterious and quiet hillsides in ancient Wales. It is widely accepted that the Bluestones of Stonehenge originated here, and the hillsides are peppered with ancient burial chambers, standing stones and stone circles. The view from Carn Ingli is particularly special; overlooking the Irish sea with views over rural Pembrokeshire and the rest of the Preselis. This walk is within easy reach of Newport.

2/ Cwm Doethie

Cwm Doethie in the southern area of the Cambrian Mountains is not far from the populated areas of South Wales, but feels a million miles away. This quiet valley is home to ancient forest, rugged landscape, and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. The Cambrian Way route through here offers wonderful views, peace and seclusion.

3/ St David’s Head

Views over to Ramsey Island from St David’s Head

A stone’s throw from the busy and bustling tourism hot spots of St David’s and Whitesands Bay, if you walk a little further along the coast you’ll reach a headland jutting out into the Atlantic. This place was once home to an Iron Age Fort, the hut circles of which are still evident today, as well as a well preserved ancient burial chamber. Follow the headland out for panoramic views out to Ramsey Island and the Bishops, and look out for seals and jellyfish in the water below. There is a great circular walk here starting at Whitesands. Even on the busiest summer days there is plenty of space and room to breathe here.

4/ Fan Brycheiniog

Fan Brycheiniog sits guarding Llyn y Fan Fawr, a glacial lake in the Black Mountain area of the Brecon Beacons. From here you can see East towards Pen y Fan, Corn Du and the Black Mountains, South to the Gower Coast, and North across the Epynt range. With panoramic views it’s a great place to watch sunrise or sunset, just be sure to brush up on your navigation before you set off here, there are large areas of featureless and pathless terrain.

5/ Y Garn, Crib Nantlle

The view over Llyn y Dywarchen from Y Garn

Not to be confused with the larger and more popular Y Garn in the Glyderau range of Snowdonia, or any other Y Garn for that matter, this particular Y Garn above Rhyd Ddu and the Nantlle Valley in western Snowdonia is often overlooked because of it’s relative low height. What it may lack in stature for those who are bothered about that kind of thing, it more than makes up for in views. Arguably a walk here offers one of the best views of Snowdon, as well as neighbouring mountains Yr Aran, Moel Hebog and Mynydd Mawr. Visit it in it’s own right or as part of a longer walk on the Nantlle Ridge.

6/ Moelwyn Mawr

From below in the industrial, quarry scarred landscapes of Blaenau Ffestiniog, Moelwyn Mawr doesn’t look like much. But not only does this landscape have a fascinating story to tell (Cwmorthin is part of the newly-designated Slate Landscapes of North Wales UNESCO World Heritage Site), but keep climbing up to reach a really wonderful summit with stunning panoramic views over Snowdonia.

7/ Cadair Berwyn

The Berwyns have a feeling of the wild west about them which is hard to put your finger on. Maybe it’s the boggy badlands at their base, or the poorly maintained stiles and tales of UFOs (yes, really). But these mountains offer lofty views of the east of Wales that are otherwise hard to come by. The view from Cadair Berwyn at 827m overlooking Llyn Lluncaws, over the expansive rural borders, is captivating. A long, and boggy route from Llandrillo takes in Cadair Bronwen and the stone circle, before heading over to Cadair Berwyn and back through forestry to Llandrillo.

8/ Pen yr Ole Wen

If you’ve explored the Snowdon Range, climbed Tryfan and posed for the obligatory photo on the Cantilever stone on the Glyderau, but have yet to venture to the Carneddau, Pen yr Ole Wen is the perfect introduction. The views from here over the Ogwen Valley are magnificent, and you really get the feeling of being high in the mountains here. A great walk goes via Cwm Lloer and includes a very small amount of easy scrambling. Return the same way or continue on to Carnedd Llewellyn and down to Ffynon Llugwy via Bwlch Erw Farchog - some trickier down scrambling required here.

9/ Glamorgan Ridgeway

The Glamorgan Ridgeway walk is an established trail from Margam to Caerphilly in South Wales, traversing 43km of beautiful upland scenery, dipping into the valleys from time to time. The contrast between quiet countryside and the large towns which much of the trail overlooks is striking. From the highest points there are wonderful views out to the Bristol Channel; this walk is a real treat being within easy reach for people in all parts of South Wales.

10/ Moel Ysgyfarnogod

Moel Ysgyfarnogod is as much of an adventure to reach as it is to say, even for a welsh speaker! Accessed through impossibly narrow winding lanes and quiet trails in a very tranquil part of Snowdonia, this small, unassuming peak overlooks the Dwyryd estuary, some ancient celtic rainforest, and traditional stone-walled farmland. A wonderful route up goes via the ancient stone circle Bryn Cader Faner.

11/ Mynydd Mawr, Pen Llyn

Looking towards Ynys Enlli from Mynydd Mawr

Far on the fingertip of the outreaching arm of Pen Llyn in north west Wales, is Mynydd Mawr, which despite it’s name, is actually only 150m above sea level. Nevertheless the panorama of views out to Ynys Enlli, to Ynys Mon and south along the vast sweep of Cardigan Bay, makes you feel as though you’ve arrived at lands end. The Wales Coast Path runs this way, or you could follow the track from the parking area for a less challenging walk.

12/ Blorenge

Occupying the space between the industrial South Wales Valleys and the wilder Black Mountains to the North, Blorenge looks out over the Usk Valley and Abergavenny, with great views of Sugarloaf and even as far as the Wye Valley. There is a relatively easy walk here from the top car park, with a lot of view for your effort; or climb up from Abergavenny if you fancy a real leg stretch.