Walk the Wales Coast Path: route, map, guidebooks

WALES IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD with a continuous, official waymarked path around its entire coast.

Walk the Wales Coast Path (or Llwybr Arfordir Cymru, in Welsh): 870 miles/1400 kilometres of unbroken, unspoilt, coastal walking around the entire coast of Wales. Use our interactive mapping, detailed route information, official guidebooks and map atlases to plan your day walks, weekend trips or end-to-end journey along this iconic coastal path.

The breath-taking coastal route – from Chester to Chepstow – is split into seven main sections, each of which takes roughly a week to walk.

Key stretches of the Wales Coastal Path are accessible for bicycles, pushchairs and wheelchairs, too.

Together, they make the Wales Coast Path one of Europe’s best long-distance trails.

Best Wales Coast Path sections to walk

Beginning on the Dee estuary near Chester, the long distance Wales Coast Path hugs the North Wales Coast, passing ancient Flint and Conwy Castles and the spectacular Great Orme with its trams, rare blue butterflies and feral goats, to run along the Menai Strait.

Having circled the lovely Isle of Anglesey — much of which is a National Landscape (previously called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or AONBs) — the Path skips past medieval Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to round the remote Llŷn Peninsula with sacred Bardsey Island (The ‘Island of 20,000 saints’) at its tip. From Porthmadog, the Wales Coast Path pushes south, past the Italianate fantasy village of Portmeirion, along the coastal fringe of the mountainous Snowdonia National Park with its vast, half-wild estuaries, and on through Ceredigion and the long sweep of Cardigan Bay.

The Wales Coast Path then rounds Pembrokeshire — Britain’s only coastal National Park — on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path. The Pembrokeshire coast is strikingly beautiful with rugged cliffs, sea arches, blow-holes, stacks and offshore islands. Striding through Carmarthenshire, the Welsh coastal path loops around the lovely Gower Peninsula (another worthy National Landscape) into Swansea Bay.

Beyond the 14 miles of photogenic limestone cliffs that make up the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, the South Wales Coast path runs on to Cardiff, proud capital of Wales. From there, it’s only a short hike down the broad, tidal Severn estuary to the Georgian market town of Chepstow on the Welsh-English border.

Wales Coast Path: Free Interactive Map

Our free interactive map of the Wales Coast Path shows the full 870-mile route, colour-coded by main sections and day walks. Each day section marker links to detailed walking notes, so you can plan your coastal walking weekend in North Wales, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire or South Wales.

  • The colour-coded highlighted line shows the route of the Wales Coast Path.
  • The seven Main Sections (North Wales Coast, Anglesey, Llyn, etc) are colour-coded to match the Official Guides.
  • Day Sections are marked with pointers – each linked to one of more than 80 detailed Day Section pages.
  • Seven levels of the latest Ordnance Survey mapping.
  • Zoom in for detailed, large-scale mapping.
  • Drag map to explore other areas.
  • On a mobile, click on the arrow icon to see your exact current location (turn on geo-location).

Walkers’ experiences on the Wales Coast Path …

Hear from people who have walked the Wales Coast Path end-to-end or in sections and discover why this long-distance coastal walk is one of the UK’s most rewarding routes.

“Wales is beautiful, regardless of the weather … and I would recommend the experience to anyone planning a similar trip.”

Zoe Wathen, the first woman to walk the whole Wales Coast Path

“Walking around Wales was by far the most awe-inspiring , perspective-changing experience of my life.”

Dave Quarrell, first person to complete the Wales Coast Path and Offa's Dyke together

“I loved every inch of the Wales Coast Path.”

Rosie Unsworth, Long distance walker

“The most important thing if you go on a trip like this is to forget the hectic pace of everyday life, to get a free mind … I would always do it again!”

Thomas Leber, Early end-to-end walker

“I just loved (nearly) every minute of this epic walk. A truly remarkable journey.”

Peter Bray, first over-75 year old to walk the whole Wales Coast Path

“I experienced stunning scenery, amazing history, and some intriguing folklore. Dig out your walking boots and enjoy all the Wales Coast Path has to offer.”

Steve Plant, end-to-end charity walker

“The Wales Coast Path took me on an amazing, ever-changing coastal adventure. I promise, you’ll never look at Wales in the same light again.”

Steve Webb, early Chester to Chepstow walker

Ready to walk? Along the way you’ll experience the very best of Wales: stunning scenery, stirring history, ancient Welsh culture and language, and wildlife in abundance. If you tackle only one big walk in your life, make it this one.

The Wales Coast Path really is unmissable.

Wales Coast Path route
What to see on the Wales Coast Path
Wales Coast Path walking plan

Best sections of the Wales Coast Path

Looking for inspiration? Discover just some of the many amazing places along the Welsh coast.

Green Bridge of Wales sea arch
Harlech Castle on teh Wales Coast Path
Three Cliffs Bay on the Wales Coast Path
South Stack lighthouse, Anglesey - on the Wales Coast Path
Wales Coast Path on Instagram
The Isle of Anglesey has 125 miles / 200 kilometres of stunning coastline dotted with vast beaches, sandy coves and dunes.

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Easter break is almost here! ✨

Where in Wales will you be making half term memories?

#WalesCoastPath #LlwybrArfordirCymru #VisitWales #CroesoCymru #Cymru #Wales #DiscoverWales #WalesCollective #WalesOnline #WalkingBooks #EasterHolidays #HalfTerm

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📍 Mumbles Pier at sunset 
📸 Vanessa Ferreira 

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Discover ten of the very best pub walks along the beautiful South Wales coast with our popular pocket-size guidebook.

📖 Available from local walking book stockists & online from walescoastpath.co.uk

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Trwyn Du Lighthouse (Penmon Point Lighthouse) was built in 1838 in the channel between Puffin Island and Penmon Point, Anglesey. 

📸 Mitchell Orr 

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📍The coastal path overlooking Cardigan Bay / Bae Ceredigion
📸 Danny Thomas 

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A birds eye view of Menai Bridge ✨

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The seven Official Guides to the Wales Coast Path – your best friends when planning to walk the coast path, be it in day sections or in one go!

The Official Guides are available from local walking book stockists & online from walescoastpath.co.uk

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Cardiff Bay offers an interesting urban landscape when walking the South Wales section of the Wales Coast Path.

📸 Nick Fewings, Unsplash 

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Porthclais harbour, Pembrokeshire ❤️

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