Walks near Swansea by train

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: 3h (1h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

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).

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: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

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).

Recommended

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended

Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: Far reaching views on Maesteg and the Llynfi valley. A walk primarily following the eastern bank of the River Lynfi, on an old tram road around the Garth and through fields with limited gradient and with a short climb up to Betws and a final off-road cycle lane into Sarn. A 100m section of narrow road walking at Betws. Runs through Bryngarw House and Country Park, over 100 acres of meadows, gardens and mature woodland. Both Sarn and Maesteg have train stations for a rail-and-trail option.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: Pubs and a shop in Betws to break up the journey; a café at Bryngarw House.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: A flat and fairly easy walk.

Coastal: three quarters along the coast.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A flat walk through former industrial land where nature is starting to reclaim the coast.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 3h30 (2h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.

The nature around the area was breathtaking; Beautiful walk through rolling countryside. A peaceful walk along quiet country lanes and mulchy green lanes (holloways) through rolling countryside, descending into remote valley bottoms, crossing brooks and climbing back up. A little more bumpy than expected; lanes are quiet of traffic and not too wet or muddy and with boggy fields avoided. Reached via the Heart of Wales line. Rich in wildlife, with sightings of owls, deer, foxes and a toad. Carreg Cennen Castle is worth a visit or detour. Llandeilo has cafes, craft shops and a bakery.

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: No facilities en route; Llandeilo has cafes, shops and a bakery.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

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

You can see all the way around Swansea Bay and across the sea to Exmoor on a clear day. A scenic, very largely off-road walk on woodland and hill trails, climbing high onto Mynydd Dinas to the national coast path with sweeping views over Swansea Bay and the steelworks and across to Exmoor. A steep descent into Port Talbot with many wooden steps; trails are tree-rooty and muddy in short sections. Follows the Wales Coast Path along the top of Mynydd Dinas; picks up Baglan and Briton Ferry as jumping-on points.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: Shops at Briton Ferry are a short detour off-route.

Warnings: A steep descent with lots of wooden steps into Port Talbot; short tree-rooty and muddy sections hinder wheeling. Keep an eye out to get under the M4 and cross a busy road correctly near Port Talbot.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Gorgeous off road route along the cycle path with far reaching views. A flat, easy and almost entirely off-road coastal walk along the Millennium Coastal Path and with far-reaching views over the Gower and several spots to drop down onto the beach. Well-signed and shared with cyclists. Follows the Wales Coast Path and National Cycle Network route 4. Plenty of picnic spots.

Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.

Time: 4h (2h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Lunch: Cafes at Burry Port harbour and Llanelli beach.

1 end-of-walk reward: the St Elli's Bay

Warnings: The path is part of the Sustrans national cycle network and cyclists frequently pass at speed, so take care with dogs off the lead or small children.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

A walk following the Sustrans cycle route and with a 2.5km section on a quiet single-track country road just outside Kidwelly (passing places and a grass verge for most of it). Path quality improves greatly from Pembrey Country Park onwards; considered a good all-season route. Follows the Sustrans cycle route. Passes Pembrey Country Park.

Coastal: three fifths along the coast.

Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: The single-track country road outside Kidwelly may carry cars and farm traffic.

Walk details: Slow Ways.