Walks you can reach from Tonfanau by train

Wales Coast Path circuit across Barmouth Bridge and around the Mawddach estuary to Fairbourne, returning via a seasonal Easter-to-October ferry.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

The Barmouth Bridge: A Grade II listed railway viaduct across the Mawddach estuary; at 820m it is the longest timber viaduct in Wales, with a walkway alongside the line.

Fairbourne: Coastal village home to the Fairbourne narrow-gauge heritage railway.

Time: 2h–4h

1 lunch spot: Fairbourne Railway café

Warnings: Return ferry to Barmouth runs Easter to October only.

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

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 2h–3h30

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Similar walk: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Recommended: Fantastic route with amazing views. A varied landscape of hills, estuary, meadows, woodland and beach. The hills around Barmouth are steep and strenuous and with quite a few stiles along the way. Frequent buses and trains run between Harlech and Barmouth for the return. Carry your own food and drink.

Time: 6h–12h30

Lunch: Carry your own food and drink; little is available on the route.

Warnings: The hills near Barmouth are steep, and there are numerous stiles.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended: An inland walk, climbing hills then descending to Fairbourne.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: Flat walk with a choice of beach or golf course routes.

Coastal: almost all along the coast.

Time: 1h30–3h30

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: A walk via Dyffryn Ardudwy, then over a beach and wetland.

Coastal: three fifths along the coast.

Time: 3h30–7h30

Lunch: Café at Dyffryn Ardudwy midway.

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended: Mainly an estuary walk, also passing Talsarnau.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

Time: 3h–6h

Walk details: Railwalks.

Wonderful views; Stunning views on a good day. A scenic, reasonably direct hill walk over the hills following the Wales Coast Path, with wonderful views, several fairly steep climbs and mostly sheep fields and country/forest lanes. Can get muddy when wet; stiles and ladder stiles make it walkers-only. Follows the Wales Coast Path for most of the way, cutting off the detour into Fairbourne. Passes long-abandoned buildings and disused slate quarries.

The Barmouth Bridge: A Grade II listed railway viaduct across the Mawddach estuary; at 820m it is the longest timber viaduct in Wales, with a walkway alongside the line.

Time: 6h30–12h30

Warnings: Several steep climbs; some stiles and ladder stiles; can be muddy in wet weather. The A493 approach into Barmouth has no pavement and the road to the railway bridge can be busy; Barmouth Bridge has a toll. Waymarking is inconsistent, so carry a GPS or paper map. Follow Wales Coast Path signs over the GPX track at three detours.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Many good views. A reasonably direct hill walk, mostly on the Wales Coast Path though not very coastal, on good paths and tracks and lanes with several steep climbs and panoramic views. A rough track between farms can be a quagmire; some sections muddy and used by trail bikers. Mostly follows the Wales Coast Path. Passes close to Aberdovey, which can shorten the route by about 3 miles. The route can be split at Aberdovey.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 7h–14h30

Lunch: A pub at Pennal, roughly midway (no shops there).

Warnings: Several steep climbs; a rough track between Cefn-cynhafal and Bwlch farms can be deep mud. Short sections on the A493 have no pavement; take care. A navigation aid or paper map is useful.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Absolutely glorious route, beautiful, all kinds of terrain and natural beauty. A long, strenuous and glorious route following the Wales Coast Path the whole way, taking in coast, estuary, hills, lush wooded valleys, salt marshes and an ancient raised bog. Very steep and undulating with lots of up and down, stiles and steps and including paths hewn out of the rock and a final climb up Constitution Hill; recommended to split over more than one day. Follows the Wales Coast Path the whole way, well signposted. Crosses an ancient peat bog that helped earn the area UNESCO Biosphere status; wildlife includes butterflies and otters. Can be split over several days using the train at Borth and Dyfi Junction.

Time: 10h–20h

Lunch: Pubs and cafes at Borth, plus an ice cream at Clarach Bay.

Warnings: This is a strenuous walk with a lot of steep hills at either end, with stiles and steps.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Lovely section of coast path. A clearly signed coastal route following the Wales Coast Path the whole way, involving stiles and a lot of unmade dirt paths. Some parts follow roads and generally on safe pavements; the final stretch into Harlech is flat. A high tide can inundate the section at Glastraeth. Follows the well-signposted Wales Coast Path the whole way. Good facilities and public transport (bus and train) at both Porthmadog and Harlech.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

Time: 4h30–9h30

Warnings: Very high tides can flood the section at Glastraeth in places. Depending on whether you follow the cycle path or footpath across the Cob, there may be an awkward road crossing at the end (the cycle path avoids this). Stiles and unmade paths.

Walk details: Slow Ways.