Walks near Swansea by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Swansea and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Swansea.
Barry to Llantwit Major (Glamorgan)
45 minutes from Swansea, with one change.
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).
Port Talbot Parkway to Briton Ferry (Glamorgan)
15 minutes direct from Swansea.
Recommended
Walk details: Railwalks.
Cardiff Central to Barry (Glamorgan)
45 minutes direct from Swansea.
Recommended
Walk details: Railwalks.
Rhoose Cardiff International Airport to Llantwit Major (Glamorgan)
1 hour from Swansea, with one change.
Maesteg to Sarn (Glamorgan)
45 minutes from Swansea, with one change.
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: 3h–6h30
Lunch: Pubs and a shop in Betws to break up the journey; a café at Bryngarw House.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Barry to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport (Glamorgan)
1 hour from Swansea, with one change.
Ammanford to Llandeilo (Carmarthenshire)
45 minutes from Swansea, with one change.
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: 3h30–7h
Lunch: No facilities en route; Llandeilo has cafes, shops and a bakery.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Reverse direction: Heart of Wales Line Travellers (PDF).
Neath to Port Talbot Parkway (Glamorgan)
15 minutes direct from Swansea.
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: 3h30–7h
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.
Port Talbot Parkway to Maesteg (Glamorgan)
15 minutes direct from Swansea.
Pembrey and Burry Port to Llanelli (Carmarthenshire)
30 minutes direct from Swansea.
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: 2h30–4h30
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.
Kidwelly to Llanelli (Carmarthenshire)
30 minutes direct from Swansea.
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: 5h–10h
Warnings: The single-track country road outside Kidwelly may carry cars and farm traffic.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Kidwelly to Pembrey and Burry Port (Carmarthenshire)
30 minutes direct from Swansea.
A flat route primarily following National Cycle Network Route 4 on tarmac and compact surfaces and with quiet country lanes and a stretch on the main road out of Kidwelly. Good for accessibility and navigation but hard on the knees with so much tarmac. Follows National Cycle Network Route 4. A signposted diversion into Pembrey Country Park is available. St Mary's Church and Kidwelly Castle are worth a visit near the Kidwelly end. A resident kingfisher near the Ashburnham Hotel.
Time: 2h30–5h
Warnings: Follows a busy road for a quarter of the walk. A small rise on the main road out of Kidwelly, with a narrow pavement in places; it is more than a quarter of the route before getting off the main roads.
Walk details: Slow Ways.
Reverse direction: Railwalks.