Walks in Wales by train

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Route from Llandeilo station through the town with woodland pockets to the National Trust's Dinefwr Park.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Dinefwr Park: National Trust estate of parkland, ancient woodland and a medieval castle on the edge of Llandeilo.

Parc Penllan: Llandeilo town park with a bandstand.

Coed Castell: Woodland managed by the Wildlife Trust on the edge of Llandeilo.

Coed Tregib Nature Reserve: Ancient woodland nature reserve accessible from opposite side of Llandeilo station.

Time: 1h30–3h

Warnings: Short section on the main track to Dinefwr Park has no separate pavement; take care of passing cars.

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Old drovers' routes past Rhandirberthog and Cefnrickett farms, crossing the Tywi at the elegant 1773 Dolauhirion Bridge, with views to the Brecon Beacons and Carmarthen Fans, into the market town of Llandovery.

Warnings: Hill section with limited facilities en route.

Walk details: Heart of Wales Line Travellers (PDF).

Flat Wales Coast Path circuit around Cardiff Bay out to the barrage, with views back to Cardiff, Flatholm Island and across to Devon on a clear day.

Waterway: four fifths beside rivers and canals.

Wales Millennium Centre: Landmark bronze-clad arts centre on the Cardiff Bay waterfront.

Pierhead Building: Grade I listed red-brick Victorian dock office on the bay.

Senedd: Welsh Government parliament building on the Cardiff Bay waterfront.

Norwegian Church: White-painted timber church built for Norwegian sailors, now an arts centre.

Captain Scott Monument: Memorial to Captain Scott's 1910 Antarctic expedition, which set sail from Cardiff.

Cardiff Bay Barrage: Tidal barrage closing off Cardiff Bay, with a wide promenade across it.

Time: 1h30–3h

1 lunch spot: Mermaid Quay

Warnings: Lower waterside path is not fully accessible due to its surface.

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Wales Coast Path circuit around Nells Point, Whitmore Bay and Friars Point, mostly flat apart from a steady climb at the start.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Nells Point: Coastal headland east of Whitmore Bay with the old National Coastal Institution building on top.

Breakwater Lighthouse: Lighthouse marking the entrance to Barry Harbour, visible from the coast path.

Whitmore Bay: Main Barry Island bay with sandy beach and seafront promenade.

Friars Point: Headland on the west side of Whitmore Bay with views across the Severn Estuary.

Time: 1h–2h

Warnings: Steady climb at the start.

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Easy walk through Aberdare town centre to Aberdare Park, with an optional extension to Dare Valley Country Park.

Aberdare Park: Historic Victorian public park with play areas, wildlife and an ornamental pond.

Dare Valley Country Park: Country park in a reclaimed mining valley to the west of Aberdare; an optional walk extension.

Time: 1h–2h30

1 lunch spot: Aberdare Park Café

Warnings: Follows a busy road for a fifth of the walk.

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Hilly section with extensive climbing and views to the Radnor Forest, past Rhos Farm, St Michael's Hall and the historic thatched Quaker meeting house at The Pales.

Warnings: Exposed hill walking with sustained climbs and few facilities.

Walk details: Heart of Wales Line Travellers (PDF).

1 lunch spot: the Royal Oak

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Coastal headlands, pebble and sandy beaches, flat rock-shelf beaches, low cliffs, striated limestone cliffs, parkland, quiet cliff paths, wetland and historic town centre.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Time: 5h30–10h30

Warnings: Check tide timings.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Flat tarmac route between Trehafod and Pontypridd stations through Rhondda Heritage Park, Barry Sidings Country Park and Pontypridd town centre.

Waterway: three fifths along the Afon Rhondda.

Woodland: half under tree cover.

Rhondda Heritage Park: A former colliery turned mining museum at Trehafod, telling the story of the Rhondda coalfield.

Barry Sidings Country Park: A reclaimed colliery site in the Rhondda valley, now a country park on the flat path to Pontypridd.

Ynysangharad Park: Pontypridd's main park, home to the National Lido of Wales.

Time: 1h–2h30

1 lunch spot: Barry Sidings Country Park Café

Walk details: Transport for Wales (tips, photos and turn-by-turn directions).

Recommended: One of the prettiest Slowways I have walked. One of the prettiest routes around, sticking to the Heart of Wales Trail and using quiet country lanes through pretty little valleys, woodlands and streams. Lots of ups and downs across small hills and valleys but nothing challenging and with a few steep sections; some muddy stretches. Follows the Heart of Wales Trail; the section through Goleugoed and Llwynywormwood is particularly pretty; rich in buzzards, kites, rabbits and squirrels; good bus and (replacement) train links.

Time: 3h30–7h

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Heart of Wales Line Travellers (PDF).