Walks you can reach from Risca and Pontymister 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).

Recommended

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

Walk details: Railwalks.

Recommended

Time: 9h (7h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Canal towpath with open moorland and with substantial climbs.

Time: 8h (6h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Panoramic views. Hill and moorland paths and with substantial climbs.

Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Walk details: Railwalks.

Panoramic views. Mountain paths with woodland, open moorland and with strenuous climbs and descents; stony in places.

Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

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: 8h (6h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

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.

Impressive stretch; impressive.

Coastal: two thirds along the coast.

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

Walk details: Railwalks.

Great views. Open moorland with woodland; boggy in places.

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

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

Warnings: Can be very muddy or boggy.

Walk details: Railwalks.

The beautiful Mon & Brec canal towpath. For most of the way an easy, flat walk along the green and atmospheric Monmouthshire & Brecon canal towpath, surprisingly rural and full of wildlife. The towpath is paved but a little knobbly in the middle section and can be slippery with leaf-fall on slopes. Urban sections with underpasses, overpasses, ramps and steps bookend the canal at both Cwmbran and Newport and with a series of locks on one uphill stretch. Much of the Newport end is signposted as cycle route 47. There is plenty of waterfowl along the canal.

Waterway: three quarters along the Monmouthshire Canal.

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

Warnings: Several busy roads must be crossed to get out of central Cwmbran; most have controlled crossings but not all, including a fast roundabout on unmarked crossings.

Walk details: Slow Ways.