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Backpacker Magazine – June 2010
Hiking Wild Wales
Don't be fooled by the cozy pubs and low elevations. The birthplace of mountaineering overflows with challenges, from rugged peaks to history-laden coastal treks.
Harlech Castle, built by Edward I in the 1400s.(Steve Howe)
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Tags:
- Hiking |
- Camping |
- Backpacking |
- Wales |
- Europe |
- International |
- Adventures |
- Destinations |
- England |
In recent years, Wales has chiefly made news for its young princes, William and Harry. But a century ago, the world knew this craggy, storm-blasted edge of the British Isles for its celebrity climbers. It was here that George Mallory, Sir Edmund Hillary, and other Himalayan pioneers honed their skills. We traveled to Wales for our 2009 Editors’ Choice Awards testing and discovered that, between gear-mangling storms, it’s also a hiker’s paradise. Follow our adventure guide, and you’ll traverse knife-edge ridges, skirt shoreline cliffs, and walk through King Arthur’s ancient stomping ground. Then step off the trail and into a pub. Any route that follows in the footsteps of these mountaineers rightfully ends with a pint.
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Tiptoe along oceanside bluffs with views across the Irish Sea.
Snowdonia National Park
The highest peak. The wildest ridges. The largest lake. Find them all in Wales’s alpine heart.
Brecon Beacons National Park
Cross a sprawling preserve of broad mountains, lonely ridgelines, and lush river valleys.
Offa’s Dyke Path
Follow a long-distance trail along the once-violent, now-bucolic border between England and Wales.
Plan It: Wales
WILD WALES: ULTIMATE TRIP PLANNER!
Get GPS tracklogs, photos, gear picks, photos, video, and more in our Wild Wales special section!
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International Travel
From Nepal to New Zealand, we have stories and tips to help you plan the perfect 'life list' trek abroad.
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READERS COMMENTS
Just spent 10 days in Wales the 1st part of September. Highly recommend visiting this little appreciated corner of the United Kingdom. Plane to London, rented a car. Drove to Hay-on-Wye, 2nd hand book capital of the world. Great little village, great B&B's. Pictuesque, quiet, friendly. Hiked on Offa's Dike through beautiful farmland. Only had one day to briefly hike in the beautiful Brecon Beacons with amazing wind swept views. Hiked Mt. Snowdown. Thought I saw Gandalf charging down the mountain to save the day in the valley below but no, just countless sheep and beautiful heather covering the lower hillsides. Never could understand how hiking on a 3500 ft. mountain could help hone your skills for Everest, but I have a little more appreciation now. I would say this mountain sits in the path of a lot of harsh weather, a lot like Mt. Washington I suppose. Was very windy and wet on the one nice day we hiked to the top but it just added to the fun. Local told us people always travel to Ireland, but Wales is very similar and just as beautiful. I was glad we visited Wales. Want to visit again.
October 1, 2011
Posted: Oct 01, 2011 Diane And Steve
Wales is wet, especially North Wales/Snodownia. Just completed a week with HF Holidays at Bryn Corach in Conwy. Great walks/three levels/good accommodations/foods/guided walks. However, there is water everywhere, with copious summer rains. Waterproofs are essential!
Posted: Aug 09, 2010 Robert
Cardiff is the best gateway into Wales. It is the capital, many great places to see...and from the US flights via Amsterdam are a good deal, especially when you consider transit from London, and Londen Hotel bills. Visit Wales this summer.
Posted: Jul 13, 2010 Karl Welsher
The city of Bristol is also a good gateway, especially if you're near a Continental hub. Newark-Bristol(EWR-BRS) is the flight routing. We used it from VA for a West Country trip. About 20-30 minutes through customs and passport lines. An express bus from the airport links to rail and coach services.
Bristol itself is worth a visit.
Posted: Jul 12, 2010 Debby
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