Wales Coast Path Amusement Park

Long-distance coastal trail along Wales' entire shoreline

Following the entire Welsh shoreline, the Wales Coast Path links cliff-top walks, fishing villages and sandy estuaries across some 870 miles. Walkers travel for day hikes, birding and coastal towns.

Main image
Wikivoyage banner

Wales Coast Path at a Glance#

Address: Starts Chepstow, Monmouthshire and ends Queensferry, Flintshire (entire route across Wales)

Website: https://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk

Admission: Free

About 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.

How to Get to Wales Coast Path#

Major rail hubs like Cardiff, Swansea, and Bangor connect to many trailheads. Chepstow is reachable by train from Cardiff; the north end at Queensferry is near Chester and the North Wales coast rail line. Local buses and seasonal ferries serve many coastal towns along the route.

Tips for Visiting Wales Coast Path#

  • Do sections rather than the whole thing unless prepared for 870 miles; the Pembrokeshire Coast, Anglesey circuit, and Gower Peninsula are excellent 1-5 day choices.
  • Use the official Wales Coast Path website to plan tides; some estuary crossings are best timed for low water.
  • Hop on regional trains - the Cambrian Line and Heart of Wales Line connect to several path junctions; Park-and-ride at smaller coastal towns to avoid parking headaches.

Best Time to Visit Wales Coast Path#

The path is walkable year-round; choose season by weather tolerance and desired crowd levels. Tides and storm surge are the biggest variables.

Late spring - early summer
May-June · 9-18°C (48-64°F)
Longer daylight and blooming hedgerows. Fewer midges than in mid-summer.
Summer
July-August · 12-21°C (54-70°F)
Warmest weather but most crowded at popular sections; coastal festivals and ferry services run at full speed.
Autumn
September-October · 8-16°C (46-61°F)
Dramatic light, calmer seas, and quieter trails - very good for photography.

Weather & Climate near Wales Coast Path#

Climate

Wales Coast Path's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 2°C to 19°C. Abundant rainfall (1280 mm/year), wettest in November.

Air Quality: AQI 30 Good
Best Time to Visit
JuneJulyAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
28°
Warmest Month
-8°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor 2° - 7° 1° 131 mm overcast 95% 5.3 m/s 0.0 low 8.1h
February Poor 2° - 7° 1° 94 mm overcast 94% 5.1 m/s 0.1 low 9.7h
March Poor 3° - 9° 2° 107 mm overcast 91% 5.0 m/s 0.4 low 11.7h
April Acceptable 4° - 11° 5° 74 mm overcast 87% 4.3 m/s 0.8 moderate 13.8h
May Acceptable 6° - 15° 11° 68 mm overcast 85% 4.3 m/s 1.2 high 15.5h
June Good 9° - 17° 13° 83 mm partly cloudy 85% 3.9 m/s 1.5 high 16.5h
July Good 12° - 19° 15° 84 mm overcast 85% 3.9 m/s 1.4 high 16.0h
August Good 11° - 19° 15° 101 mm overcast 87% 3.8 m/s 1.1 high 14.5h
September Good 9° - 16° 13° 110 mm overcast 89% 4.1 m/s 0.7 moderate 12.5h
October Acceptable 7° - 13° 10° 137 mm overcast 92% 4.7 m/s 0.3 low 10.4h
November Poor 4° - 10° 4° 148 mm overcast 94% 4.6 m/s 0.1 low 8.6h
December Poor 3° - 8° 2° 143 mm overcast 95% 5.0 m/s 0.0 low 7.5h

Nearby Attractions to Wales Coast Path#