Walks you can reach from Abergavenny by train

Walk details: Rail Rambles.

Opening section of the Heart of Wales Line Trail over fields and through kissing gates on the Shropshire Way, past Hopesay Common and the village of Aston on Clun with its dressed Arbor Tree.

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

Reverse direction: Rail Rambles.

Recommended: So much to see on this gorgeous walk. A great, relaxing route following the well-signed, well-maintained and accessible Shropshire Way, with a detour west to stay away from A-road noise. There is one steep climb up Stoke Wood near Stokesay Castle, a lovely woodland walk at Aldon Gutter, quiet country lanes and field crossings that may get boggy; fairly easy walking after the climb. Follows the Shropshire Way. The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre has a cafe, toilets and museum. Good train service between Craven Arms and Ludlow.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 4h30–9h

Lunch: Cafe and toilets at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and Stokesay Castle. Ludlow is a great town for foodies and markets.

Warnings: Care crossing the busy A road at Stokesay - the only A-road crossing. One steep climb up Stoke Wood. One field near Wetmore may get boggy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Recommended

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended

Walk details: Railwalks.

Some fantastic scenery. A long, glorious walk through beautiful Herefordshire countryside, mostly off-road on well-signposted named trails, with farmland, vineyards, orchards and the peaceful Haugh Wood. A decent level of fitness is needed for the length, climbs, scrambles, steps and stiles and narrow bridges. Muddy in places after rain; the first 10 km out of Hereford can become boggy. Passes the Mordiford Dragon Trail sculptures and the Lugg Stank raised bank. Few rest stops before the half-way mark at Woolhope, so bring supplies. Well wooded with plenty of shade on hot days.

Time: 7h–14h

2 lunch spots: the Moon, or the Crown

Warnings: Parts can become inaccessible following heavy rain and flooding, particularly the first 10 km out of Hereford where the Wye and Lugg can burst their banks. Some climbs and scrambles are not suitable for less able walkers; there are stiles and narrow bridges. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Stunning views from the top of Ragleth; some incredibly beautiful scenery; fabulous views. An up-and-down, varied route over a good mixture of paths, tracks, bridleways, hollow ways and lanes, with a steep climb over Ragleth Hill and stunning views from the top, then easier valley walking past brooks and through woodland and old estate grounds. Some muddy paths and occasional flooded stiles/gates after rain; a steep, loose and slippery descent off the hill; narrow underused paths with nettles. Coincides at times with the Roman road and an old drover's way.

Time: 4h30–9h

Lunch: A pub at Marshbrook, roughly halfway.

Warnings: Two crossings of the busy A49, both with no pedestrian crossings or traffic lights. The descent off Ragleth Hill is very steep on loose, slippery steps and could be difficult when wet. Some muddy paths and flooded stiles/gates after rain; narrow underused paths with nettles.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Fantastic views from the tops - especially at Hopesay Common and Holloway Rocks. A hilly route mainly on grassy, waymarked long-distance paths with a little quiet lane walking. Rough and muddy in places, with a fair few stiles. Around 2, 500ft of ascent including two long and steep climbs. Mostly follows the Heart of Wales Line Trail; passes through hamlets such as Aston on Clun, Clunbury and Hopton Castle.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 6h30–13h30

Warnings: Two long and steep climbs towards the Knighton end; rough and muddy paths and a number of stiles.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A walk across low-lying boulder-clay farmland with relatively little variety, much of it on the Herefordshire Trail; some fields are difficult to cross because of mud, standing crops or ploughing right up to the hedge line. Takes you high in places for good views; badly maintained stiles and boggy bridges and one tricky traveller's-site crossing. Follows the Herefordshire Trail for much of its length. The route is shadowed by a railway line and a village bus route, useful for splitting the walk. Passes nationally significant glacial landforms (moraines) from the last ice advance.

Time: 5h–10h

Lunch: A shop in Richard's Castle; the Castle Inn there does not appear to be open.

Warnings: Several poorly marked and confusing sections, especially around Moor Park School and Burnt House Farm, with no working gates (climbing required), little signage and awkward boundary crossings. Crosses the Manchester–Cardiff railway line twice. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Awesome views across the Severn estuary and Gwent Levels. A long, mostly off-road coastal walk along the Wales Coast Path, with sweeping views across the Severn Estuary and Gwent Levels and plus a few stretches along busy roads going in and out of the two cities. Very exposed to the elements throughout. Mostly follows the Wales Coast Path. Wildlife includes kestrels, curlews and grass snakes; 7,000-year-old footprints have been found on the estuary shore. The Lighthouse Inn at St Brides Wentlooge is currently closed.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

Time: 6h30–12h30

Lunch: There are no places to get food or water on the route, so bring everything you need.

Warnings: A fifth urban. The route is very exposed, so wind, rain or heat will be strongly felt. There are no refreshment or water stops the whole way, so carry everything you need. A few stretches along busy roads at the city ends.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Reverse direction: Railwalks.

Stunning 360 degree views. A long, scenic route with great variety - woods, ridges, commons and farmland - and excellent far-reaching views, but much of it is genuinely seasonal: low-lying sections and woodland tracks become deeply flooded and boggy after heavy rain. Climbs through Wellington Wood and onto Westhope Hill are steep and with one wooded path turning to a slick of red clay mud; arable field paths can be hard to find when in crop. A seasonal route, best in dry conditions. Brierley features a man-made lake with wildfowl and a hill fort with intact ramparts. Local bus transport allows point-to-point walking. Wellington's pub has closed but the community shop/post office has drinks, snacks and a toilet.

Time: 7h30–14h30

1 lunch spot: the Wellington Post Office and Community Shop

Warnings: Low-lying sections near Broadward Bridge and the gravel works north of the A49 flood severely and become impassable after prolonged rain - effectively a dry-season route. Steep, slippery clay climbs through Yoke Wood and to Westhope Hill. A stile with barbed wire across it before Wellington Wood. Indistinct arable-field paths. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A walk of two parts: well-defined paths and ginnels through the Brackla housing estate, then off-road field, woodland and quiet country-lane walking. Some sections are steep, with stiles and steps and ground that can be boggy in the woods even in dry weather. Part of the route follows the Bridgend Circular Walk. Pencoed has trains to Bridgend, Swansea and Cardiff, so the walk can be done in either direction.

Time: 2h–4h30

Lunch: Pubs, cafes, shops and supermarkets at Brackla triangle and in Pencoed.

Warnings: Heol Simonston is busy with fast traffic and the crossing points have poor sight lines; cross with great care. The high-banked lanes near Coed y Mwstwr have no verge. There are several stiles and steep, difficult ground approaching the M4 tunnel; using the underpass at Princess Way is simpler and safer than the road crossing. Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.