Wales Coast Path

The Wales Coast Path is a continuous long-distance walking route that follows the entire coastline of Wales, officially opened in 2012. It links beaches, cliffs, estuaries and coastal towns to create one of the longest continuous coastal routes in the world.

Walkers encounter varied coastal environments from rugged cliffs and headlands to wide sandy beaches and sheltered estuaries, with sections passing through national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The route is divided into waymarked sections of varying difficulty, allowing for day walks or multi-day coastal traverses.

The path was developed through collaboration between Welsh government bodies, local authorities and conservation organisations to improve public access to the coast and to promote sustainable tourism. It unified many existing local and regional coastal trails into a single continuous route.

Running around the entire coastline of Wales, the path connects southwestern sections such as the Gower and Pembrokeshire coasts with northern stretches including Llŷn and Anglesey, traversing estuaries, peninsulas and coastal towns throughout the country.

• Length and opening year: Extends continuously around the entire Welsh coastline at about 870 miles (approximately 1,400 kilometres) and was officially opened for public use in 2012.
• Management and routing: Managed through a combination of national agencies and local authorities, the path links established coastal trails, villages and protected coastal areas across Wales.

What to See #

• Pembrokeshire Coast: Pembrokeshire Coast, a rugged southwestern coastal section featuring cliffs, coves and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
• Gower Peninsula: Gower Peninsula, the first area in Britain designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with varied coastal walking and beaches.
• Llŷn Peninsula: Llŷn Peninsula, a long northwestern promontory with a mix of cliffs, beaches and Welsh-speaking coastal communities.
• Anglesey: Anglesey coast, the path loop that traverses diverse coastal landscapes and connects to island communities via causeways and bridges.