One area I particularly love to hike is the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
From dramatic coastlines, heather-strewn moorlands, and steep ridges to plunging river valleys and dense pine forests, Wales has an unbeatable range of walks waiting to be discovered.
This small but mighty country is a hiker’s dream, with loads of short treks and loop walks. The best part? You don’t need to hike for days to discover Wales’ epic landscapes.
There are routes you can tackle in a single day that range in length and difficulty. While summer is obviously a brilliant time to strap on your hiking boots and explore Wales, spring is a great time for blooms and newborn lambs in fields.
One area I particularly love to hike is the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, which has won multiple awards and accolades for its high-quality beaches, sustainability efforts, and conservation work.
There are 240 spectacular square miles just waiting to be discovered here, with the Pembrokeshire Coast Path featuring 186 miles of epic coastline. You can plod the entire route or hike shorter sections and loop trails.
According to the National Park, over 200 circular walks are available, including half-day, short, and easy access walks.
Some of the most popular walks in the area include the St Davids Head circuit, the Bosherston Lily Ponds walk, and the Dinas Island circular walk.
Other great options are the Porthgain to Abereiddi section and the scenic circular walk from Saundersfoot to Tenby.
One of my favourite walks here is the Bosherston and St Govan’s Walk. On this easy coastal walk, you’ll also find many secluded bays, caves, arches, inlets and blow-holes.
There are also stacks that are the result of wave action on the limestone cliffs, which are great for sea birds, including ravens, martins and oystercatchers. Wildflowers abound; the squill and sea lavender are particularly beautiful.
Follow the trail to St Govan’s head to find a secluded chapel hidden on a wild and windy beach. Walking down to St Govan’s chapel today, you can still see ‘bell rock’.
Legend has it that if you make a wish while standing in the rock cleft, it will come true – as long as you don’t change your mind before you turn around.
Once you’ve visited the unique chapel, you can walk along the clifftop to St Govan’s Head. Two of Wales’ finest beaches, Broad Haven South and Barafundle, are nearby if you want to extend your scenic walk and stomp along the shoreline.
If you’re doing the full loop via St. Govan’s Chapel, keep going and follow the path towards Bosherston Lake and village.
You can refuel in Bosherston at the St. Govan’s Inn. You’ll find country pub vibes, a varied menu featuring local ingredients and home cooking, and a decent selection of well-kept cask-conditioned ales here.
Just a short drive away is the Stackpole Inn, a hangout for celebrities and an award-winning pub, restaurant and rooms. This super-popular venue is highly rated on TripAdvisor and is loved by locals and tourists. Read about this hike here.
Another of my favourite short treks in Pembrokeshire combines sea views, ruins and a lush fish and chip shop in a tiny hamlet – the Abereiddi to Porthgain walk in Pembrokeshire, which is very enjoyable in winter.
This 6.3-km out-and-back trail is well known to cliff divers and is generally considered an easy route. It’s suitable for a range of walkers, from beginners to experienced hikers, and has one of Wales’ best fish-and-chip spots along the way.
Your route can begin at either end, but I prefer to start at Abereiddi, which has a paid car park and toilet facilities. From the pebble-strewn car park, you’ll follow the waymarked trail over the cliffs towards Porthgain.
Along the way, you’ll pass the famous Blue Lagoon, a cliff diving hotspot that was once the main slate quarry for the St Brides Slate Company, which operated here until 1910. The leftover slate gives the water its stunning aqua-blue hue that photographers love.
Once you have passed the lagoon, keep following the cliff path that traces the craggy shoreline. The easy coast path continues over open grassland, skirting along the cliffs with gorgeous ocean views.
You’ll soon reach Porthgain, a fishing port described by The Guardian as “a prime spot for escaping the ills of the universe,” which once exported roadstone all over the UK and is now home to a pub, gallery and some of the best fish and chips in Wales at the Shed. For the latest restaurant news and reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here
The Shed has won acclaim from Sunday Times writer Giles Coren, who called their fish and chip offering “as good as cod or haddock and chips can be”.
He added that it’s “light, fresh and crispy but not with one of those deep bronze, inedibly crunchy, stupidly show-offy batters you find in your urban gastropub.” Chef Stephen Terry has also praised the “really good fish and chips” here.
Bag a table and look out over the harbour while you tuck into some fresh seafood, such as monkfish and prawn curry or halibut with samphire and shallot, served with lemon and caper butter.
Another favourite of mine is a coastal walk that features a pancake shack on the beach. Situated on the south-east coast of Pembrokeshire, Saundersfoot is surrounded by the protected landscape of the National Park and lies directly on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
From the town, you can join the coast path and walk all the way to Tenby or do a shorter 5.1-km out-and-back trek from Saundersfoot Beach to Monkstone Point, which features some inclines through a wooded area as you trace the shore. You can follow the coast’s path signs or download the trail on the AllTrails app.
It starts at the coastal village of Saundersfoot. Considered a “compact version of Tenby,” the swish seaside town has a sandy beach, ranked among the best in the UK in The Times’ 2025 annual Best UK Beaches guide, and is described as a beach that “rewards explorers”.
Saundersfoot might sit in the shadow of flashy neighbour Tenby, but don’t let that fool you; this compact coastal spot has a unique charm of its own.
It has a proper sandy-blue-flag beach, harbour packed with places to eat, and cracking coastal walks leading to secluded coves and smugglers’ tunnels.
Start your hike at Saundersfoot Beach, head towards the harbour and follow the route past the St Brides hotel.
You’ll continue along the Glen Road from the hotel until you reach the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which you’ll follow through the peaceful Glen Woods as it ascends over the craggy shoreline towards Monkstone Point. You can read more about this walk here.
Hiking in Wales tips
Serious hikers should consider using a detailed OS Explorer map to find walking routes and public rights of way in Pembrokeshire and throughout Wales. You should also download the what3words location app as an extra safety measure.
Remember to also bring water for long walks. Download the Refill Wales App to find locations to fill your reusable water bottle with tap water for free.
The weather can be wildly unpredictable here in Wales, so wherever you hike, pack waterproofs and a hot tea or coffee flask.
That’s especially true when hiking in a mountainous region where conditions can change rapidly. Ramblers Cymru is also an excellent resource for walking tips, routes, and details on group walks in Wales.
It’s vital to carry a range of essentials for hiking in Wales, especially in the colder months. Even experienced hikers should be prepared for the unexpected.
Do your research when comparing hiking backpacks. The general rule for outdoor bags is that the pack size you’ll need is usually linked to the length of your trip.
Typically, you want a pack between 10 and 25 litres for day hikes, but always go a bit bigger than you think you might need for an epic coast walk so that you can bring all the essentials. Gotta make sure there’s room for a family-sized bar of chocolate, right?
Look for high-quality hiking bags with features such as a bottom-access compartment, front and side pockets, a hip belt, inner and outer lid pockets, a walking pole attachment, and, preferably, one compatible with hydration packs.
Pack a head torch, compass, map, water bottle or hydration pack, whistle, first aid kit, mobile phone, and warm layers.
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